Mn Fundraising Initiative has an all-volunteer Board of Directors.
Board of Directors & Officers
Jessica Musta
President
Term Aug 2025 - Dec 2026
Contact Information
Email address: jessicam@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
I have been volunteering with Non-Profits since 2018 and joined MNFI in 2019. Prior to volunteering with Non-Profits and MNFI, I was the Bloomington Fastpitch Tournament director from 2015 to 2018. As a Tournament Director, I worked within our community to provide youth softball teams with opportunities to compete competitively along with raising funds to support the softball organization.
Professionally, my background is in Operations Management and Legal Project Management. My experience in these areas provides insight into making positive board decisions that impact our volunteer opportunities and venue experiences.
As a board member with MNFI, my goals are to ensure that we have good relationships with our venues, volunteers have access to training, and that the organization remains fiscally responsible to continue to provide grant opportunities.
I have seen first-hand the grant opportunities that MNFI has been able to offer and I’m excited to be a part of this growing and evolving organization.
Chris Johnson
Secretary
Term Jan 2025 - Dec 2026
Contact Information
Email address: chrisj@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
My goal in being a member of the MNFI board is to be a voice for the volunteers. I have been volunteering since the Twins and Vikings played at the Dome and joined MNFI in June of 2019. I want to use my 15+ years of experience volunteering with NPO’s to help with our groups decision-making process and to help set expectations for our volunteers.
During the day I work for Bell Bank in the Mortgage department and manage a team of 5 managers and 53 loan processors/assistants. Each and every day I strive to be the best manager I can be. I am trust-worthy, honest and believe in coaching up my staff to be the best they can be.
I have 2 girls , Erin is 24 and Sarah is 21. Dance has been my whole life! Both of my girls have been involved in studio dance since the age of 3, continued dancing on the high school dance team and then on the University of Minnesota Duluth dance team through College Graduation. I was always involved at the studio working the front desk or applying rhinestones to costumes. When my girls were on the high school dance team I was also a volunteer member of the booster club. I worked with the coaching staff and parents to give the team the best season possible.
I have been married to my husband Brian for 28 years. When I am not volunteering we enjoy riding our motorcycle, spending time at the race track (drag racing) and hanging out with friends.
I look forward to working with our volunteers and the continued success of MNFI!
Patti Cross
Treasurer
Term Jan 2025 - Dec 2027
Contact Information
Email address: pattic@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
I have worked as a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and have worked in various fields of medicine. On a daily basis, I am involved in many team decisions and am continuously advocating for my patients. I believe that hard work and determination is the key to making the life you want.
I started volunteering with an NPO about 4 years ago, and have very much enjoyed the people we have met and am grateful for the experiences we have been able to provide our children. As a parent, I try daily to instill a strong work ethic in my children, and I feel as adults we need to remind ourselves of the importance of working hard.
I want to be a member of the MNFI board to be involved in the decision-making that can expand the reach that our nonprofit grants can have across the broader Twin Cities community. I believe I can offer valuable insight from my nursing experience working with families, and other professionals in a collaborative way. I look forward to the exciting future of MNFI.
Angie Keay
Treasurer
Term Aug 2025 - Dec 2026
Contact Information
Email address: angiek@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
Forrest Pryde
Board Director
Term Jan 2025 - Dec 2027
Contact Information
Email address: forrestp@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
Hello MNFI!! My Name is Forrest Pryde I am married to Jamie Pryde who also volunteers, and we have a 13-year-old daughter named Morgan. Morgan is on the JV competition cheer team, school band, she is currently taking piano lessons, and tumbling classes for cheerleaders. My wife Jamie and I started volunteering in 2015 first with a different NP then with MNFI. We heard about this opportunity through another family that volunteered and thought why not give it a try. Combined, we have worked close to 1000 events at 17 different venues. We have raised funds for everything from school supplies and field trips to cheer nationals’ fees and registrations. Being part of a volunteer organization has allowed us to say “yes” to a lot more than we otherwise would have. I decided to run for the MNFI board in 2024 because I wanted to give back and I wanted to have my voice heard. If I wanted to make changes or be part of what makes MNFI great, then I had to step up and do my part.
Kasie Grover
Board Director
Term Jan 2025 - Dec 2027
Contact Information
Email address: kasieg@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
Kasie Grover is a Patent Paralegal who is passionate about expanding access to opportunities for children and families in her community. She believes that when families have access to grants and resources, children can develop new skills and experiences without families having to sacrifice their stability. Kasie brings a collaborative spirit, strong organizational skills, and a deep commitment to helping others succeed. She’s eager to support initiatives that empower families, encourage learning, and create lasting positive change in the community.
Kerstin Wright
Board Director
Term Jan 2025 - Dec 2027
Contact Information
Email address: kerstinw@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
Hello, I am Kerstin Wright. I started working with MNFI in 2021 to help with my daughter Emilias dance classes. She is now a sophomore in college, and we work on her remaining balances after her scholarship. Emilia has worked with me since she was 14 and could work with me at Canterbury. MNFI has been praised by her job at Davannis’ due to her work ethic. I am so thankful for all we have been able to help her thru MNFI.
When I am not working or volunteering for MNFI, I work for a wealth advisor, spend time with my family, including all of the “zoo” we love and take care of.
We enjoy going to concerts, traveling, scary movies, and playing board/card games.
Our Staff
Martin Cross
CEO
Term Jan 2023 - June 2028
Contact Information
Email address: info@ mnfundraisinginitiative.org
In 2016, my wife Patti and I finally took the advice of a friend and joined an NPO group that specialized in fundraising via volunteer work. In 2019, after a lot of soul-searching, we decided to leave this group and start searching for an NPO group that offered everything we were looking for. We realized very quickly that this group did not exist, and, on June 2nd, 2019 we decided to open MNFI. My goal as a board member is to build the most welcoming, transparent, and professional NPO group in MN.
Outside of volunteering, I am the owner and operator of several businesses. I believe as a small business owner, I have a unique perspective to offer MNFI and its Board. As a Board member, I can use my business knowledge and expertise to help guide the organization in a forward-thinking direction. I see MNFI as an NPO that has huge growth potential, which will expand its grant outreach to the larger MN community.
Stacy Schelkoph
Grant Specialist
Term Mar 2025 - Dec 2026
Contact Information
Email address: stacys@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
I am currently the Director of a Contact Center at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis where I manage 65 staff. Our focus is on helping customers with Savings Bonds and Marketable securities purchases and redemptions. My day is filled with work on Strategic Direction, Staff Career Development, and Exploring Technologies to deploy.
I am interested in becoming a board member for MNFI because I would like to further apply my business knowledge to a non-profit that supports the community that I live in. As a previous board member for a High School Booster club, my experience helped me get the team everything they needed for a successful season. MNFI helps some of the same people, helping enrich the lives of our youth helps us all prepare them for becoming responsible young adults ready to become the new workforce.
Advisory Committee
We are currently looking for volunteers willing to help in this committee. Click here for more information.
The following individuals have generously donated their passion, time, and talents to support MNFI
- Amond Neuville (Founding Board Member)
- Elizabeth DiGrazia
- Heather Murphy
- Jamie Johnson
- Jana Kachmarek
- Joe Kubiatowicz
- Kelly McElderry
- Kevin Schmitt
- Martin Cross (Founding Board Member)
- Miranda Oliver
- Monica Fisher
- Stacy Schelkoph
- Tim Laughlin
- Vince Hull
Email – info@mnfundraisinginitiative.org
Call – 763-575-7585
A Non-Profit you can trust
When you give to MNFI, 96% of every dollar goes straight to our mission.
Scan here to donate to MNFI
When you give to MNFI, 96% of every dollar goes straight to our mission.
A Non-Profit you can trust
Scan here to donate to MNFI
A Non-Profit you can trust
When you give to MNFI, 96% of every dollar goes straight to our mission.
Scan here to donate to MNFI
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