The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is cutting about 260 jobs and exiting some of its community programs due to a decline in fundraising and a 17 percent loss in its endowment fund.
The job cuts will affect about 260 of St. Paul-based Wilder’s 650 employees. Many of the jobs are part time, however, so the number of full-time-equivalent jobs (FTEs) that being cut is about 200 of 525.
The organization will stop supporting programs such as children’s placement services (foster care and children’s residential services), home health agency and homemaker services (primarily serving elderly), employment services with correctional facilities, housing management services and neighborhood leadership programs.
The job and program cuts will trim Wilder’s annual budget by about 35 percent.
Moving forward, the foundation will continue its work in the key areas of helping children and families, assisting elderly, and community research and leadership.
“The Wilder Foundation is taking this proactive approach in defining a new strategic direction due to changes in service delivery, shifting priorities of funders and the very challenging economic times facing all organizations,” said Tom Kingston, foundation president, in a press release. “We are refining our programs and operations to align for the future — focusing our services on where we can have the greatest positive impact within the east-metro area.”
Wilder shared the news of the job cuts with its employees Tuesday. On Monday, they met with the editorial boards of both major daily newspapers in the Twin Cities so they could explain the cuts, embargoing the news until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Email This Page!