Frey Foundation Announces Hire of New Impact Director of Education
Team now in place to advance Frey Foundation’s two impact priorities – Housing and Education
The Frey Foundation of Minnesota is delighted to announce that Libby Rau has joined our team as Impact Director of Education. Libby is the most recent addition to a team that has been evolving since 2019 to lead the next generation of collaboration and impact at the Frey Foundation.
In her role as Impact Director of Education, Libby will lead efforts to build relationships with amazing community partners and steward the Frey Foundation’s Education funding portfolio. In 2023, 20 organizations received $840,000 in our Education impact area.
“We’re proud of the team that has come together at the Frey Foundation, driven by a spirit of curiosity and appreciation for the significant responsibility we have to do this work well,” said Flor Treviño Frey, Frey Foundation President.
Libby brings a diverse background in nonprofit and philanthropic leadership, impact evaluation and specific expertise in the youth- and education-related sectors. Most recently, Libby was the Senior Innovation Officer at Youthprise, a role she held for over a decade, playing a critical role in the growth of that organization’s incredible work. Libby has a Master’s Degree in Philanthropic Studies and is passionate about building depth and capacity in the nonprofit sector through relationship building and human centered design practices.
The Frey Foundation of Minnesota now has a team in place to strengthen and deepen its commitment to two priority impact areas – Housing and Education – and to lean further into its commitment to creativity and innovation, testing new approaches and investing in the emerging ideas of our community partners.
“It’s rare for a family foundation to continue into a third generation. With the ongoing support and multi-generational engagement of the Frey family, we are excited about the next chapter and grateful to have a team of individuals who bring excellence, humility and passion to our work every day,” Treviño Frey said.
Meet the new Frey Foundation team:
Flor Treviño Frey – President
Flor was elected President of the Frey Foundation of Minnesota in 2021, becoming the third generation to lead the Foundation. Flor brings a diverse mix of corporate, small business, nonprofit and philanthropic experience to her role. Prior to joining the Frey Foundation in 2019 as a Senior Director, Flor held marketing, strategy and operations roles at 3M, GE Capital and PEI Management and was a small business owner for more than a decade. She began her career at the American Cancer Society, making her return to the philanthropic sector a full circle moment. Flor holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Flor’s unique background propels a natural curiosity and interest in seeking diverse perspectives, leaning into the Frey Foundation’s role as a collaborative, creative partner and funder.
Brian Pittman – Impact Director of Housing
Brian leads the Frey Foundation’s Housing impact area, stewarding relationships across a diverse array of partners and leading the Frey Foundation’s Housing funding portfolio. In 2023, 21 organizations received $927,000 in this impact area. Brian joined the Frey Foundation in 2022 after nearly two decades in applied research, consultation and evaluation at Wilder Research.
Notably, Brian’s deep expertise and experience in the field of applied research include a significant role administering the triennial Minnesota Homeless Survey conducted by Wilder Research. This complex, detailed research has become an anchor of data and insight that the public, private and nonprofit sectors rely on to make strategic decisions. Brian holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Hamline University where he also served as an adjunct faculty.
Libby Rau – Impact Director of Education (bio above)
Cara Jones – Executive Support and Operations
Cara supports Flor day-to-day as well as provides back-office support and guidance to the team, ensuring that each step of the grant-making process runs smoothly. Cara is a creative problem solver, bringing a rich background in the arts, health and wellness, and IT fields, with a strong foundation of entrepreneurial experience. She is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds a master’s in Strategic Intelligence from the American Military University.