How to support The 10,000 Families Study

Thank you for your interest in supporting our effort to understand and improve the health of Minnesota families!. You can support our Study in many different ways.  

Below are some ways you, your organization or your community can help us, but we welcome ideas you may have about other ways to support our efforts.

Please use our Connect with us form to share your ideas, requests, and opportunities, or email us at [email protected]. Please provide details that may help us understand and respond!

1. Feedback
   The 10,000 Families Study listens to thoughts and ideas that can help the study grow.  We want to hear what we are doing well and what we could improve. Any detail and recommended solutions you can provide are helpful!
    
2. Volunteering
   We are very appreciative of people from students to retirees who want to use their skills, passion, and time to help us.  Below are some opportunities: 
   • Engaging with the public at events that 10,000 Families attends or holds*
   • Helping with data collection at the Health Visits*
   • Special projects
     
     *Generally requires online CITI training. Please Connect with us for more information! 
      
3. Spreading the word about 10,000 Families 
   We welcome requests to inform the community about the study and what we are learning. We can send brochures and wording you can use in announcements. Please let us know about social media groups, news outlets, and organizations you recommend we connect with.
    
4. Holding an event
   If your community or organization would like to learn more about the 10,000 Families Study, we are available for face-to-face or online presentations. 
    
5. Funding
   The 10,000 Families Study has many moving parts that require ongoing financial support for their sustainability and expansion
   • For individual donations: 
     • Online
       Please click here to make your online donation
     • Mail
       Please make checks to either:
       • University of Minnesota Foundation, with memo saying: 10,000 Families Study; or 
       • 10,000 Families Study
       • Please mail to:
         University of Minnesota Foundation
         P.O. Box 860266
         Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266.
     • Gift match
       If you work for an employer who will match your gift, please follow the employer’s matching instructions.
       For additional questions about matching gifts, please contact Shawn Keenan, Director of Development at the University of Minnesota Foundation, at [email protected] or 608-317-8269.
   • For corporate or organizational contributions:
     There are a variety of mechanisms for businesses and organizations to support the 10,000 Families Study financially.  Please contact the Study Coordinator Andrea Hickle ([email protected]) for more information.
      
   • Grants
     We welcome recommendations of grants and other funding opportunities with private and corporate foundations or the government.
      
   • Endowments
     The 10,000 Families Study welcomes endowments for the long-term sustainability and expansion of the study. If you are interested in creating an endowment, please contact Study Coordinator Andrea Hickle ([email protected] or 612-626-0370) for more information.
      
6. To learn more about ways to financially support the 10,000 Families Study
   Please contact Shawn Keenan, Director of Development at the University of Minnesota Foundation, at [email protected] or 608-317-8269.
    
7. In-kind donations (Contributions of goods, services, other non-cash donations)
   Some examples of in-kind donations are: sponsoring 10,000 Families events, complimentary exhibit registration at community events/conferences, translation and interpretation services, and others.