Mni Sota Fund Announces Executive Transition
After eight years of transformative leadership, Kit Fordham will be stepping down as Executive Director of Mni Sota Fund on June 30. Under his direction, the organization has grown into one of the most impactful Urban Native Community Development Financial Institutions in the country.
Here are some words from Kit as he prepares to move onto his next chapter:
“Dear friends and colleagues!
I’m thrilled and nervous to share some big news: June 30th will be my last day at Mni Sota Fund. This job has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am grateful to have grown alongside this crucial organization.
In partnership with a dynamic board and incredible staff, and with the support of many of our region’s most visionary philanthropists, Mni Sota Fund has made the leap from a startup into a $17 million dollar Community Development Financial Institution and one of the largest investors in Native individuals and businesses in Minnesota. We are also poised to break ground on a new Wealth Building Center on Franklin Avenue. Mni Sota Fund is in excellent shape, and it is the right time for new leadership to write the next chapter.
Speaking of our team as it moves into the future: I’m happy to share that Andrea Reese will be Mni Sota Fund’s Interim Executive Director! For more than a decade, Andrea was one of those team members I’ve proudly worked alongside. Since leaving our team, Andrea has stayed close, while serving as one of our board members. Mni Sota Fund is in great hands, and the community will be the beneficiary of all that is to come.
What’s next for me? For now, I’m thrilled to spend some time with my partner, to paddle on our rivers, and to explore what life holds for me next. As I dream up what my next chapter looks like, I’m thrilled to be in conversation with you all, so don’t be surprised if I pop up in your inbox. My wildest dream is to continue to be your co-conspirator, thought partner, and friend.
With the deepest gratitude, Gitchi Miigwech to you all,
Kit Fordham”
Andrea Reese, Interim Executive Director
Kit’s impact on Mni Sota Fund has been profound and will carry well into the future. Our Board Chair, John Williams, offered the following words in celebration of Kit’s legacy and the transition ahead:
John Williams, Board Chair
“Dear Community,
Kit Fordham has demonstrated extraordinary leadership over the past eight years. Under his visionary guidance, we’ve grown from a $30,000 start up into a $17 million dollar Community Development Financial Institution.
Kit led us through the CDFI certification process, built a resilient and high-performing team, and fostered a culture rooted in innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the Native community. Of all his accomplishments, Kit is most proud of the team he built—brilliant, dedicated people who will continue to carry this work forward with integrity and passion.
While we’re sad to see Kit go, we are thrilled about what’s ahead for both him and for our organization. Andrea Reese, a Citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, will serve as Interim Executive Director. Andrea was a senior leader at Mni Sota Fund for over a decade, ultimately serving as Deputy Executive Director before taking the helm at City of Lakes Community Land Trust as CEO. Even while away, she remained an active and trusted member of our Board of Directors.
Andrea steps into this role at a time when our finances, team, and programs are stronger than ever. Her charge will be to continue this momentum, guide our growth, and prepare the organization for a permanent executive search—all while staying rooted in our mission to build Indigenous wealth across Minnesota.
Please join us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Kit for his transformative contributions, and in giving Andrea a warm welcome as she leads us into our next chapter.
Sincerely,
John Williams”
