Carl and Eloise Pohlad and their family announced today changes in their efforts to support nonprofit organizations that will result in increased contributions and greater responsiveness to those who seek support. These changes were motivated by the family’s review of their past charitable efforts and their desire to focus giving in order to improve services for economically disadvantaged families and children.

Beginning in 1999, The Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation, The Minnesota Twins Community Fund and the Corporate Contribution program at Marquette Banks will be known collectively as “The Pohlad Family Charities.” The Pohlad family expects the combined contributions of these charities to be $5 million in each of the next three years.

Each Pohlad Family Charity will focus its giving efforts as described below. Within these focus areas, each organization will also be more pro-active in its giving -- seeking out opportunities for meaningful community investments.

The Pohlad family is also making internal investments, in staff and administrative systems, to implement the changes. The Pohlad Family Charities will share internal support systems so that the work of each will be coordinated, tracked and reported together. This will allow the family to periodically assess the impact and effectiveness of its contributions. Joint reporting should also increase knowledge about the charitable interests of the Pohlad family and the giving directed or influenced by them.

Each Pohlad Family Charity will issue new grantmaking guidelines before the end of 1998. Nonprofits interested in applying for support from any of the charities will receive information from, and submit requests to, a central location.

The Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation will focus its support on private nonprofit organizations that provide human or educational services. The Foundation board has also agreed to distribute significantly more than five percent of assets, the minimum required by Internal Revenue Service regulations, in each of the next three years. To achieve this goal, the Foundation will distribute all annual earnings, all contributions and a portion of its endowment. Since its inception in 1994, the Foundation has distributed $1.7 million, including $882,000 in 1998. The Foundation currently has assets of $14 million.

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund, incorporated in 1991, raises and distributes funds to charitable organizations. Changes to the Fund for 1999 and 2000 include: expansion of the board to include broad community representation; a program that provides competitive grantmaking focused on recreation and education programs for children; and significantly increased financial support for boys and girls baseball and softball programs in the inner city.

Board members for the 1999-2000 are: Robert C. Pohlad, Chair; Jerry Bell, Minnesota Twins; Kevin Cattoor, Midwest Sports Channel; Chris Clouser, Northwest Airlines; Ron Coomer, Minnesota Twins; Debbie Estes, Target Stores; Nancy Hite, Minneapolis YWCA; Dave Mona, Shandwick International; Steve Novak, State Senator; Frank Quilici, Headlites Corporation; Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins; and Jacqueline Reis, Minnesota Council on Foundations.

Since its inception the Fund has distributed almost $825,000 in cash and significant in-kind support to charitable organizations. The Fund plans to increase its fundraising activities in order to distribute more than $300,000 in each of the next two years and at least an equal amount of in-kind support. Private nonprofit and selected public organizations will assist the Fund in achieving its mission to improve and increase recreation and education opportunities for children.

Marquette Banks, owned by the Pohlad family, has been a member of the Minnesota Keystone Club, pledging two percent of pre-tax profits to charitable organizations, since 1991. Each year Marquette Banks located in the upper Midwest contribute more than $725,000 to charitable organizations through a decentralized giving program that allows decisionmaking at each bank location. Other banks owned by the Pohlad family and located in Arizona, Texas and Montana, annually contribute more than $150,000 to charitable organizations in their communities. Giving will continue at each individual bank and, beginning in 1999, Marquette Banks in Minnesota will jointly operate a competitive “corporate giving fund” focused on supporting organizations that develop or manage affordable housing in the state. Marquette employees will govern this corporate giving program and also oversee bank volunteer efforts.