ICMIF member Thrivent and baseball team the Minnesota Twins have announced a multi-year partnership – including a new fund that provides USD 200,000 annually to select local nonprofits, naming rights to the team’s club level of the home stadium, Target Fields, and a rebranded annual ticket plan – that will inspire a new model for collaborative community impact. Through a newly created Twins and Thrivent joint fund, fans will be able to direct donations to featured nonprofits each year via in-ballpark voting.
Additionally, Target Field’s club level – one of the ballpark’s premier year-round destinations – has been renamed as the Thrivent Club, and the team’s annual ballpark pass ticket plan is now rebranded as the Twins Pass presented by Thrivent.
“As a financial services company that puts generosity at the heart of saving and investing, we’ve been helping people use their finances to lead lives of service and faith for more than 120 years,” said Carolyn Sakstrup, Thrivent’s Chief Growth and Generosity Officer. “Our partnership with the Minnesota Twins unites two hometown brands to inspire generosity and help people give back to causes they care most about. The Minnesota Twins and Thrivent both care deeply about strengthening the community and we look forward to reimagining community-directed impact programmes together and creating meaningful experiences for Twins fans at Target Field.”
“The Minnesota Twins and Thrivent have a shared goal of helping people build a better tomorrow through meaningful acts of generosity, and this partnership brings together two legacy Minnesota brands to create a new model for community impact,” said Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter. “Alongside Thrivent, a purpose-driven financial services leader, we’ll introduce Twins fans to impactful nonprofit organisations and invite them to vote on how and where to direct our philanthropic dollars. We believe a partnership of this scale is unique in Major League Baseball and we’re confident it will not only create a positive impact in our communities for years to come, but also inspire acts of service and generosity across Twins Territory.”
Fan-directed philanthropy
Through the new, joint fund, the two brands will provide USD 200,000 annually in philanthropic donations to at least 20 nonprofit organisations. Recipients will change each year to align with that season’s philanthropy focus areas. Each featured nonprofit will be selected and vetted by the Twins and Thrivent, and all will receive funds. Contributions will range from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 per organisation and be determined by in-ballpark fan voting held throughout each season.
This innovative and fan-directed approach – at a size and scope believed to be unique in Major League Baseball in the USA – will engage fans in attendance during every Twins regular season home game at Target Field.
Additional programme details include “Maximising Impact” where each season, the Twins and Thrivent will feature a generosity theme and direct USD 160,000 to nonprofits whose work aligns with the impact area. “Active Minds and Active Bodies” is the theme for the 2024 season and 16 nonprofit organisations were chosen because of their efforts to inspire a love of play and a love of learning among youth in Twins Territory.
Additionally, each nonprofit organisation will receive extra exposure in the stadium through public service announcements.
Read further details of the partnership and what it means for fans and the non-profits that will be supported through the partnership here.
