Finish Strong

Since 2010, our unique collaboration has strengthened and connected funders and efforts that support age-friendly philanthropy in our state.

Mission

Uniting funders to advance equitable opportunities for all Minnesotans as we age.

Core Values

AGING WITH DIGNITY

We value the inherent worth of older people and how their insights and experiences contribute to Minnesota’s social fabric and vitality

EQUITY AT THE CENTER

We value efforts that center equity, ensuring all people have an equal right to be full participants in all spheres of life as we age

STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY

We value collective power, built on authentic relationships, trust, transparency, and a willingness to mobilize together to amplify impact

SPIRIT OF POSSIBILITY

We value the continuous pursuit of wisdom through listening, learning, and broadening our thinking, while embracing possibility as a driving force for change

Organizing Strategies

STRONG RELATIONSHIPS

We build trusted connections among funders and the full diversity of voices aging across our state. 


POWERFUL CONVENINGS

We cultivate understanding, forge consensus, co-design solutions, and learn together.


SYSTEMS CHANGE

We mobilize collective expertise and philanthropic investments to support transformational efforts.


Membership Benefits

Although we come from a diversity of backgrounds and hold different priorities, we come together as a community of funders through virtual sessions held every other month (as well as two in-person meetings annually) with a commitment for these hallmarks: 

SHARING

We bring forward our individual voices, experiences and vantage points to help inform the broader work of our peers and partners. 

LEARNING

We focus on a continual process of identifying and understanding topics that increase our understanding of needs and opportunities to help our state age well.

CONNECTING

We build trusted relationships with each other and with experts from organizations and initiatives working across Minnesota’s aging sector. 


Members are connected to a distribution list, where we all share questions, updates, and resources.

2025 Membership


Join us!

As a member, you can expect to stay informed about emerging issues in the aging sector, learn from experts about complex topics, and collaborate on ways to break down barriers or build shared solutions. Together, we use our respective levers for change to advance transformational aging initiatives in Minnesota. 


Membership Criteria

We seek our members from the diversity of funders across Minnesota, welcoming broad representation from community, private, public, and corporate foundations as well as Area Agencies on Aging. To be eligible for membership, grant makers must offer grants or other financial support with some tie to the experience of aging. Membership is held at the organizational level, and each organization is asked to identify a representative to attend and serve as the primary contact.


Membership Dues

Based on a calendar year, recommended annual membership dues are an honor-based, sliding scale designed to ensure all organizations can participate. Select your appropriate range ($0, $100, $250, $500) based on the revenues from your foundation. Finish Strong is a program of the MN Leadership Council on Aging; dues can be remitted by check to “MNLCOA” at the address below. For additional documentation or details, contact adam@mnlcoa.org.


Questions

The Finish Strong Funders Network is co-convened by Kate Seng and Adam Suomalaof the MN Leadership Council on Aging. We welcome you to reach out to us today to learn more.

Measurements

  • Shared Frameworks – we advance community-developed metrics, such as the Multisector Blueprint for Aging or age-friendly domains.
  • Member Knowledge – we ensure that each member learns something new and/or shares something with the group in each interaction.
  • Member Attendance – we provide efficient agendas, comfortable logistics, and compelling discussions worth our members time and energy.
  • Member Growth – we will grow a community of funders who can see their work through an aging lens and work together to aggregate funding.
  • Member Value – we deliver strong relationships, meaningful engagements, and outcomes informed by and involving funders and the community.