INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT PAUL
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Department of Indian Work
In 1952, a group of church leaders from several denominations initiated ministry within the Twin Cities American Indian community. In 1968, this ministry became part of the Minnesota Council of Churches as the Department of Indian Work. In 1974, the Minnesota Council decentralized its Indian programs and the St. Paul Department of Indian Work (DIW) has operated as a part of Interfaith Action since that time. DIW has a proven record in developing and implementing programs based on needs and solutions identified by the American Indian community, and is now an umbrella for several key initiatives, including a food shelf and clothing closet, youth enrichment, and diabetes prevention and self-management education.
Project Home
Project Home provides safe, comfortable overnight shelter for homeless families. 40 beds are available every night. Congregations and other organizations provide space and volunteers to help operate the shelter. Project Home is an ongoing program, offering shelter 365 nights per year. Interfaith Action began providing shelter in 1997, and, our shelter program has only grown since its inception.
The families who stay with Project Home literally have no where else to go. Project Home is a fundamental component of Ramsey County’s Continuum of Care plan. We are the only shelter for families when the County's primary emergency shelter for homeless families--Catholic Charities Family Service Center--is full (most of the time), or when families have come to the end of the 30-day time limit at the Family Service Center. Most of the families who stay with us stay less than four weeks, and during the last year, only five of the 580 families we served met the federal definition of "long term homeless." We serve a temporarily, transitionally homeless group of people who need a safe place to stay while they get back on their feet.
Opportunity Saint Paul
Opportunity Saint Paul harnesses the transformative work of volunteers to strengthen economic mobility and reduce poverty in our city. This unique program matches dedicated volunteers with pre-selected nonprofits that have proven records of effectively addressing barriers to economic mobility. In addition, we provide these motivated volunteers with quality learning opportunities that build community and advance understanding of how to make a meaningful dent in poverty.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT PAUL
Board of directorsas of 1/24/2022
Cynthia Lesher
Retired (Xcel Energy)
Term: 2020 - 2023
Yohuru Williams
University of St. Thomas
Term: 2020 - 2023
Roger Katzenmaier
Wilkerson Guthmann
David Misemer
3M Company
Bill Brady
U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems
Jen Miller
Normandale Community College
Sharon DeMark
Minnesota Philanthropy Partners
Kirk Kleckner
Valuation USA
Bruce Nerland
Morgan Stanley
Steve Magistad
Charles Schwab
David Stewart
Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church
Chris McHugh
Therapeutic Services Agency, Inc.
Javen Swanson
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Lao Lu Hang
Propel Nonprofits
Diane Benjamin
Child Care Aware of MN
Nancy Burke
FuturePerfect Career Counseling
Joyce Esther
Normandale Community College
Marc Issaacson
Augsburg College
Suzanne Kelly
Minneapolis Public Schools
Seymour Mansfield
(Retired) Foley and Mansfield
Erin Murphy
Saint Catherine's University
Awale Osman
Bush Foundation
Eric Rutten
The Church of St. Peter Claver
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: