Blandin Foundation and Trust to meet with court

Officials from the Charles K. Blandin Residuary Trust and the Blandin Foundation will participate in a public hearing before Judge Margaret Marrinan on April 21 regarding grant-making from 2009 through 2011. At the 9:30 a.m. meeting in Ramsey County District Court, they will consider a new way to report and verify that the foundation is meeting its commitments to the communities of its local giving area, which include Itasca County, Remer, Hill City, Blackduck and Northome. The overviews occur every three years. Given the foundation’s role in oversight of the state’s charities, officials of the Minnesota Attorney General’s office participate in Blandin Foundation reviews.

Beyond the review, the court has asked Blandin Foundation and the trust to recommend a new method of annual, independently verified reporting of its grant-making. In 2003, the foundation and others agreed to distribute a minimum of 55 percent of grants in the local giving area. Since then, a court-appointed special master, attorney and accountant Peter Ullmen, has provided Judge Marrinan and the Minnesota Attorney General with an annual report of the foundation’s compliance with this and related commitments. The court has found that Blandin Foundation consistently has complied with the 2003 order and exceeded its commitments, the foundation said in a news release.

“We look forward to meeting again with Judge Marrinan and updating her on the foundation’s work,” said Dr. Kathy Annette, Blandin Foundation president and CEO. “Healthy organizations are transparent and accountable, and Mr. Blandin had great foresight in building regular court reviews into the plans for his trust and foundation.

I am also honored that, when many local community members have questions or concerns, they feel free to raise them with us directly. I hope that all in our local communities know they are welcome to reach out to us. It is because many people care deeply about Mr. Blandin’s legacy that we are among the healthiest private foundations in the country.”

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