Letter from the Executive Director

With the end of 2011 approaching, it’s a natural time to express our gratitude, to reflect on this past year’s achievements, and lay the groundwork for the year ahead. Our 2010-2011 Annual Report is complete, and with eight-more pages than last year, thanks to more supporters and an incredible list of accomplishments, we want to acknowledge our friends that made this all possible.

I want to thank our dedicated Board of Directors and incredible staff, who not only go above and beyond what is asked of them with their time, but also contribute financially. I am proud to share that we have 100% financial participation from our entire team. We are all passionate about the issue we work on and our approach. We are a unique organization that combines education, youth leadership and advocacy to advance solutions to climate change.

Thanks to your support and interest in our work, you have also made a tremendous impact on hundreds of educators, youth leaders and defended policies that protect our health, environment and advance the clean energy economy.

We have big plans for 2012, such as revamping our climate education resources, increasing our outreach in Minnesota and across the Midwest, and so much more. We’ll need you again to make this a reality. Right now, however we just want to say thank you.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Charities Review Council

Will Steger Foundation has been awarded the Charities Review Council’s “Meets All Standards” Seal indicating that we meete all sixteen of the Council’s Accountability Standards in the areas of Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity and Fundraising.

You can read our full report at our page on on the Charities Review Council web site.

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GoodSearch

Search the web with GoodSearch and benefit the Will Steger Foundation: You can donate a few cents per day to WSF without spending a dime. GoodSearch.com is a search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine. Just go to GoodSearch.com and enter "Will Steger Foundation" as the charity you want to support.

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GuideStar

The Will Steger Foundation is recognized as a charitable 501(c)3 organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and is incorporated and registered as a charity in the State of Minnesota. Read more about the Foundation's financial and other activities at GUIDESTAR, a database of more than a million nonprofit organizations.

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Will Steger Foundation Annual Reports

Published each fiscal year, the Will Steger Foundation Annual Reports detail our accomplishments throughout the year, financial information and contributions.

View the archive

Provide In-kind Support

Every year, in-kind products and services provided to the Will Steger Foundation allows us to grow our programs. The following are a few categories of products and services always needed to help us conduct our work:

• Office supplies
• Food and travel services
• Legal services
• PR/marketing support
• Database management
• Event management
• Corporate/business outreach and sponsorship
• Development support

Volunteer Opportunies

As a community-based organization, the Will Steger Foundation is dependent on volunteers who are dedicated to our mission. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and hard work of our nearly 50 volunteers, who make invaluable contributions to our success.

• Volunteer or intern with our K-12 Education and Emerging Leaders Programs
• Volunteer in our office by providing administrative and development support
• Provide seasonal project/event support

For information about volunteering, please visit our volunteer page or contact Janet Brown/Office Manager.

WSF Wishlist

Please consider one of the fully tax-deductible donation items below:

• iPad for individual donor presentations
• LCD projector - 2010 or later for group presentations
• Macbook or Macbook Pro laptop - 2010 or later
• Bookshelf - light color wood
• Small dorm-size refrigerator
• Small energy-efficient space heater

Workplace and State Campaigns

You can also give to the Will Steger Foundation via many state and employer workplace campaigns. Our identification number changes from campaign to campaign so look for us under “W" for Will Steger Foundation. We are proud members of:

1% for the Planet Campaign	Minnesota Environmental Fund (WSF Press Release)

We are also already registered within the nonprofit index at the following local companies:

• Ameriprise Financial
• Community Shares Thomson Reuters

Employer Matching

Many employers sponsor programs to match charitable contributions made by their employees. Talk to your employer and make your donation go twice as far.

If interested, complete and sign a matching gift form from your employer and send it with your donation to:

Will Steger Foundation
2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you still cannot find us, or if you have any questions about workplace giving.

Thank YOU for all of your support with Give to the Max Day yesterday! We were ranked number 24 in small nonprofits and we brought in $15,288 from over 60 friends!

More info...

Abby Fenton, Youth Programs Director for the Will Steger Foundation gives the keynote address at Midwest Powershift 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Watch the video...

What if you could help the Will Steger Foundation win $1,000 just by giving 10 dollars or have your donation matched dollar for dollar? On November 16, Give to the Max Day, you can.

More info...

Join Will Steger on December 7 and 8 for two events on Clean Air, Climate and Health in Princeton and Grand Rapids, MN. Fresh Energy’s J. Drake Hamilton will describe effective clean energy solutions. Faith reflections will be offered by Bishop Thomas Aitkin, Northeastern Minnesota Synod–ELCA.

More Info...

When we left the U.N. climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009 without a legally binding agreement that cuts global greenhouse gas emissions, we knew that the road ahead would be just as difficult for each subsequent negotiation.

Letter from the Executive Director

Thank you for supporting our August fundraising campaign – we raised over $20,000 and ended our fiscal year in a strong financial position!

We are gearing up for a very busy fall and want to make sure you know about a number of great events we have coming up locally and nationally:

• Sept. 20 - Green Ideas & Ham Breakfast with Don Shelby and Dr. John Abraham
• Sept. 24 - Moving Planet Day of Climate Action
• Oct. 2-6 - Climate Ride in California
• Oct. 27 - The Changing Arctic: International Cooperation and Development Symposium

Our Clean Air Act Defense work will continue this fall. We organized a letter on behalf of attorneys in Minnesota asking Senator Klobuchar to support a strong Clean Air Act, which could be part of Congress’ efforts to weaken it in the Senate this fall.

The Will Steger Foundation has launched an exciting initiative that brings climate change to the local level, here in Minnesota! Minnesota’s Changing Climate (MCC) includes a new curriculum for grades 3-12, an online classroom, educator professional development, outdoor exploration tools, and ongoing support.

Finally, in case you missed our August events, or if you want to experience them again, you can now watch videos from our Summer Institute for Climate Change Education and public forum, Sense of Place in a Changing Climate.

We hope to see you this fall!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director