Lori Schultz Named MinnCAP Executive Director
The Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP) Board of Directors is pleased to announce Lori Schultz as its new executive director. Schultz was selected from a large pool of candidates. She steps into her new role on August 18.
A Certified Community Action Professional, Schultz has served as the Executive Director of Tri-County Action Program, Inc., since 2013. In her 25-year tenure with Community Action, Schultz has held a variety of leadership positions in programs such as Head Start, Energy Assistance, Weatherization, Homeless Assistance, Outreach and Development and in Family Assets for Independence.
“The MinnCAP hiring committee is excited to announce our new executive director, Lori Schultz,” said Missy Becker-Cook, Chair of the Hiring Committee. “We had a great pool of qualified applicants, and the decision was not easy. That is a wonderful problem to have in today’s world of hiring. It is extremely exciting to know that Community Action in Minnesota has a great track record of helping people, changing lives and that we had so many applicants interested in our mission and purpose.
“Lori comes to this position with many years of management in Community Action and she truly lives the mission. Her dedication to helping people overcome the effects of poverty in Minnesota is outstanding, second to none and we feel fortunate to have her as our next leader of MinnCAP.”
As Tri-CAP Executive Director, Schultz has previously served as Chair of MinnCAP’s Board of Directors. She has also been involved in numerous state and national Community Action collaborations, recently serving as a facilitator at a six-state regional Community Action leadership orientation program.
“I am honored to join the Minnesota Community Action Partnership as its next Executive Director,” Schultz said. “I am excited to work with such an esteemed group of professional Community Action Agencies from around the state of Minnesota.”
Community Action was developed from the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that created national and locally-focused organizations that connect millions of children and families to greater opportunity. MinnCAP is the state association for all 24 of Minnesota Community Action Agencies. MinnCAP works to assist its member agencies to achieve their mission of eradicating poverty through advocacy, collaboration and training.
At MinnCAP, Schultz will build and maintain relationships with key partners including nonprofits, philanthropy, government agencies and elected officials. She will oversee a staff of three to implement policy and training initiatives that benefit the entire Community Action network in Minnesota.
“I believe the Partnership has tremendous opportunities to assist our network to grow, innovate and continue to fulfill the promise of Community Action which is to change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live,” Schultz said.
Schultz will become just the ninth Executive Director of MinnCAP since 1975. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in social work from St. Cloud State University.
MinnCAP has been led by Bill Grant since 2019. Grant is retiring at the end of July.
Learn more about Minnesota Community Action Partnership at minncap.org.
Contact: Communications Specialist Fellicia Smith at 651-236-8575 or felliciasmith@minncap.org