Allen R. "Mike" Frischkorn is the new executive director of the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools.
The Eden Prairie resident was hired for his extensive experience in fundraising and government relations, most recently as executive director of the National Association of Towns and Townships.
That work brought him to Minnesota, he said.
The association sent him to Duluth for a conference, where he was seated beside current wife Monica.
"That was 2003." They were married in 2006. Monica is a managing editor for Pearson Group in Bloomington. He retired and they moved to Eden Prairie to be near her work.
Then he saw the advertisement for the job with FEPS.
"I've been getting antsy being retired," he said. He looks at this part-time position, which started April 1, as an "opportunity to give something back to the community."
FEPS president Anne Byrne said in a news release that Frischkorn would help the foundation "grow to the next level."
The group presents its Legacy Awards next week. In addition to work on that he said he has been working on a budget and developing plans for growth.
"We’re looking to develop a very aggressive growth plan," Frischkorn said.
The group plans to take its operating budget from $50,000 a year to $200,000 and to take its endowment from $250,000 to $3 million over five years.
"We're the biggest school system in the state," he said, and should have the largest foundation.
The foundation's dollars support scholarships to students and grants to develop innovative teaching programs, he said.
Last year, the foundation received $190,000 in grant requests, but could only give away about $30,000.
Frischkorn's previous experience includes 13 years as a lawyer and lobbyist with GTE Corp., which became Verizon. He also headed other organizations like the Telecommunications Industry Association, Environmental Industry Associations and American Film Marketing Association.
Frischkorn lives with his wife Monica and two of their six daughters in Eden Prairie. Daughters Amy and Ann Marie are students in the Eden Prairie schools.
You can contact Frischkorn at 952-975-7205 or mfrischkorn@edenpr.org. Be advised, he said, he plans to contact you soon for a contribution.
"We really have not done a massive campaign in the past, but one is in the works and we’re going to be mailing to alumnae, parents with children in the schools and others," he said, "to try to get money for our endowment and for our annual fund as well.
"We exist, we’re doing good things for the schools and … we need community support to do that."
"The Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools is a 10-year-old, nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to enhancing the legacy of excellence in Eden Prairie Public Schools. FEPS sponsors the Taste of Eatin’ Prairie and the Legacy Awards, and is governed by a volunteer board of community members, parents, current and retired staff and EPHS graduates," the release said.