“We have to make sure we have a safe community, good parks and recreational [services], a strong educational system and that our residents have a good relationship with law enforcement, educators and community leaders.” — Tracie Huhn-Carr, new executive director of Edina Education Fund.
Tracie Huhn-Carr started July 1 as the new executive director of the Edina Education Fund, joining the organization as it celebrates its 20th anniversary of supporting Edina Public Schools.
The nonprofit Edina Education Fund is dedicated to the continued academic excellence of the Edina Public Schools. It secures private, supplemental funding to support invaluable educational experiences and innovative projects in the Edina Public Schools.
The Ed Fund was founded in 1995 by a group of parents to advocate for computers in Edina elementary classrooms. Now, the organization serves as a necessary force to help ensure the caliber of educational programs people have come to expect of the Edina Public Schools is maintained.
Huhn-Carr, a native of the Twin Cities, joins the Ed Fund with 17 years of nonprofit experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University and her master’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix. After completing her studies, Huhn-Carr said she spent the first nine years of her non-profit experience in Arizona.
“The first seven years of my career, I was in direct service,” she said. “I worked primarily with victims of domestic abuse, homeless runaway youth, families that were struggling with a variety of issues, from basic needs to mental health issues.”
Huhn-Carr then moved into program management. And for the last 10 years, she has focused on implementing sustainable fundraising programs, improving operating efficiencies, creating effective programs and helping nonprofits increase the community’s engagement in their mission.
Huhn-Carr said she has taken on a leadership role for various organizations that provide services ranging anywhere from education to environmental and from domestic violence to mental health. Having worked in a lot of different areas, she said she does not have a favorite one because each area plays an important role in the proper functioning of a community.
“I have come from a place of realizing that in order for our communities to be whole, healthy and thriving, we have to look at the whole aspects of [it],” she said. “And we have to make sure we have a safe community, good parks and recreational [services], a strong educational system and that our residents have a good relationship with law enforcement, educators and community leaders.”
Huhn-Carr said she has enjoyed playing a role in nonprofits in all of those areas, adding that she has served on a number of boards and has 15 years of board service experience for various organizations in Minnesota and Arizona.
But as the new executive director of the Edina Education Fund, Huhn-Carr said she is eager to learn more.
“My favorite thing [about the new position] is that is it new for me,” she said. “I love learning, which is why I am excited to work in education, and being the new executive director means I get the perfect excuse to get on everyone’s calendar.”
Valerie Stidman, the Edina Education Fund board co-chair, said she is excited to have Huhn-Carr leading the organization.
“[We are excited] to have Tracie increasing our positive footprint on the Edina Public Schools and on our great community,” Stidman added.
Huhn-Carr said her role is to ensure the organization is engaged in the community and is staying true to its mission and goals, which have come about through very strong partnerships with the Edina Public Schools.
“They are our key partner,” she said. “And we exist to keep Edina Public Schools [running], everything we do is in partnership with the district.”
The Edina Education Fund plays a significant role in funding many of the activities, opportunities and scholarships provided by Edina Public Schools. The Ed. Fun offers innovation grants, which are then used to implement programs that are new and innovative.
In additional to these innovation grants, the Ed Fund acts as a fiscal sponsor for a number of groups and organizations in the Edina Public Schools that do not have a 501c status, meaning these groups cannot solicit donations. The Ed Fund accepts donations on their behalf, then granting out the money to the groups in an effort to further support Edina Public Schools and opportunities for students.
The Ed Fund also plays an important role in the funding of scholarships offered to students.
“We act as the funding arm for many scholarships,” Huhn-Carr said, adding that many people don’t know that a lot of these scholarships are actually coming from the Edina Ed Fund and its donors and not solely from federal and state dollars.
Huhn-Carr said she hopes to build new partnerships and learn more about what people love about the Ed Fund. She also hopes to increase the community’s awareness of the organization because although many know of the Ed Fund, many also do not.
“I want to do more than we have done in the past and have a greater positive footprint on this community and a greater impact,” she said.
“We know that when schools are thriving and education [is good], young people are being served in so many areas in their lives and that impacts lower crime rates, higher levels of volunteerism; all of these things stem from having a really solid education system,” Huhn-Carr said.
Reporter Eva Thomas is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.