[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 172 (Friday, October 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CAREER OF JON PRATT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNESOTA 
                         COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2021

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished 
career of Jon Pratt on the occasion of his retirement as Executive 
Director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. During his more than 
three decades of nonprofit advocacy work and leadership, Jon has made 
an enduring impact for residents of Minnesota and has uplifted the 
important and necessary work of nonprofit organizations across the 
country. As founder of Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, one of the 
largest statewide nonprofit associations in the country, Jon created a 
space to meet the needs of Minnesotans through the growing nonprofit 
sector--a space which today serves over 2,200 member organizations 
across the state.
  A lifelong Minnesotan, Jon began his career as a lawyer in 1977, and 
in the following decade gained valuable experience through several 
different jobs. He first organized a statewide lobbying program during 
his time at Minnesota Public Interest Research Group and traveled the 
Midwest while learning the ins and outs of foundation work as the 
regional field director for The Youth Project, a foundation providing 
grants and assistance to grass roots community organizations. And as 
campaign manager for future U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's bid for state 
auditor, he learned how critical it is to engage government to serve 
all Minnesotans. He then served as executive director of The 
Philanthropy Project where he led a coalition advocating for an 
increase in philanthropy efforts that benefited disadvantaged people 
across the state of Minnesota.
  It was these diverse experiences that led Jon to convene a group of 
local leaders of nonprofit organizations to establish the Minnesota 
Council of Nonprofits (MCN) in 1987. Only the third such trade 
association of its kind in the United States, MCN was launched to fill 
the increasing needs of nonprofits throughout the state, with the core 
belief that sharing information and working together across areas of 
common interest will be mutually beneficial and uplift the nonprofit 
sector as a whole. Today, MCN hosts classes and networking 
opportunities for both new and established organizations, helps groups 
secure grants and other funding, facilitates a jobs board to connect 
employers with those seeking a job in the sector, and advocates for 
public policy changes at every level of government.
  During his time with MCN, Jon was fundamental in helping elevate the 
status of Minnesota's nonprofit sector by establishing standards of 
excellence for nonprofits, codeveloping Grant Advisor--a rating tool 
for those seeking grants that provides free and honest feedback about 
the grant process, creating training programs and materials to 
strengthen the service work of organizations, and conducting years of 
research on the nonprofit sector to promote transparency and positive 
change in the field.
  I am grateful to have worked with Jon for many years on key state and 
federal policy issues as he led the way in advocacy work on behalf of 
the Minnesota nonprofit community. MCN was the largest employer group 
to support raising the state's minimum wage, they worked with the 
Minnesota Legislature to secure a non-itemizer charitable tax 
deduction, and through MCN's Minnesota Budget Project, led the charge 
to expand Minnesota's working family tax credit. Jon's advocacy also 
spreads beyond the immediate needs of the nonprofit world as he has 
been a constant voice for public good by opposing state voter ID bills 
and supporting human rights and equitable social programs.
  Jon has truly been a champion for nonprofits across the Nation and 
while his tremendous leadership at Minnesota Council of Nonprofits will 
be missed by many, his lasting contributions are sure to inspire the 
leaders and public servants of the future. Madam Speaker, please join 
me in honoring the exceptional career of Mr. Jon Pratt.

                          ____________________