The Minot Area Community Foundation’s president will be retiring in early 2020, after nearly 20 years of leaving a legacy of giving throughout the Minot region. Ken Kitzman joined five others as founding board members for the Minot Area Community Foundation when the foundation became a public charity on March 16, 2000 and was hired on as the president at that time. He will be retiring March 30, 2020.
Under Kitzman’s leadership, the community foundation has grown to be the center for community giving in the region, surpassing $40 million in assets and grant gifts while managing more than 100 donor funds. In 2018 alone, the foundation has granted more than one million in donations to benefit a wide range of groups and endeavors.
“It will be really hard to leave the foundation in 2020. Thank you to so many generous people over the years who have made it possible for the Minot Area Community Foundation to have such a positive impact on our region,” said Kitzman. “We are truly a better place to live because of all the great things that our community has done, and will continue to do, as a result of the donor funds that pass through the foundation and make a lasting impact in our community.”
During Kitzman’s tenure with the Minot Area Community Foundation the following projects are some of the key milestones that are making a difference.
- Community engagement efforts in 2004, set the vision for MACF as the center for community giving
- Led 2011 flood recovery charitable efforts – more than $7 million raised
- Lead gift to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center - 2013
- Lead gift to Roosevelt Park Zoo renovations - 2018
- Lead gift and largest foundation gift to date to Magic City Discovery Center - 2018
“Ken’s leadership has made it smooth sailing, despite tough times in Minot over the last ten years,” said MACF Board President Tom Probst. “We will miss Ken and his passion for all things dealing with charitable giving in the region. He has been at the heart of making the Minot Area Community Foundation the center for community giving.”
The MACF Board of Directors will be announcing next week the next steps in the process to replace Kitzman.
