September 5, 2024; New Brighton, Minnesota —The Wilson Foundation, a Minnesota charitable entity with approximately $190 million in assets, announced that Executive Director Jean Sazevich will step down at the beginning of 2025 after nearly three years of working with the Foundation. Sazevich was first engaged as a consultant and then assumed the role of the Foundation’s first Executive Director.

During her tenure, Sazevich worked with the Board of Directors to establish an efficient operating infrastructure and provided the professional guidance needed so that the Foundation could effectively focus resources on its primary goal of empowering individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and to advance environmental sustainability through actions that address climate change.

“When establishing the Wilson Foundation, it was essential to create and manage strategic grantee partnerships as well as collaborative initiatives within the local philanthropic community. Jean used her extensive connections and experience to integrate the Foundation into the local fabric of likeminded philanthropic partners. We are now fully engaged in a variety of charitable activities and well positioned to maintain a strong and reliable presence in the charitable landscape within Minnesota,” said founder John Wilson.

Sazevich will remain with the Wilson Foundation into January of 2025 to ensure that all ongoing activity continues without interruption. 

“The Board of Directors is very grateful for the expertise and leadership that Jean provided to the Wilson Foundation and for Jean’s guidance going forward as we build upon her efforts,” said Terry O’Reilly, a founding board member and Treasurer of the Wilson Foundation.

About the Wilson Foundation Minnesota

The Wilson Foundation is a private foundation based in New Brighton Minnesota. It was founded in 2021 by John Wilson, an innovator in the field of cell and gene therapy, and founder and CEO of Wilson Wolf Manufacturing, ScaleReady, and CellReady.

The Wilson Foundation Minnesota does not accept unsolicited grant requests. For more information, visit www.wilsonfoundationmn.org.

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