RCMG Board Structure is Changing

A structural change is coming to the leadership team in Ramsey County.

Background

In 1995, the volunteer leadership of our program created a 501(c)(3) Minnesota nonprofit corporation for the Ramsey County Master Gardener program. The legal name of this nonprofit is “Ramsey County Master Gardeners.” It is a separate legal entity from the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program (which is why the name of this organization did not change when the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners requested the Ramsey County Master Gardener program name change). The bylaws of the nonprofit state that all active, emeritus active, temporary inactive and interns who have completed Ramsey County Master Gardener (now called Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers, or RGEVs) program requirements are members of this nonprofit organization. As a member of the nonprofit, you are eligible to vote on proposed changes to the bylaws. The nonprofit organization currently: (1) manages fundraising, including the annual plant sale (where the majority of our annual revenue is raised), (2) budgets for and reimburses volunteer program and project expenses, (3) provides grants to organizations, including the University of Minnesota Extension for program intern financial assistance, and (4) serves in a governance and fiduciary role by overseeing the nonprofit’s funds to ensure they are used for appropriate purposes.

The organization is legally governed by a member-elected board of five directors and currently consists of the Board Chair (Beth Fritcher), Vice Chair (Maggie Maggio), Secretary (Laurel Watt), Treasurer (Kathy Passe), and Finance Committee Chair (Julie Bechtold). The board of directors meets monthly along with program committee leadership that includes the Education, Membership, and Marketing/Communications Co-Chairs and Darren Lochner, the RGEV Program Coordinator (this combined group is referred to as the “combined board”).

Request from the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Program leadership

Over the past several years, the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener leadership team (in conjunction with Extension personnel) has been working to create uniform financial processes among the 87 county Master Gardener programs, with all revenues and expenses flowing in and out of University of Minnesota accounts. Because we are the only county Master Gardener program in Minnesota that has a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization overseeing funds raised and used by the Ramsey County program, this integration has been challenging.

In order to mirror processes used by other counties, University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener leadership has asked the Ramsey County Master Gardener nonprofit to restructure by segregating finances and separating the combined board into two distinct leadership teams – one leadership team will oversee the nonprofit organization, have fiduciary responsibility for the financial health of the organization, and fundraise, and the other leadership team will oversee the program’s volunteer activities, education, projects, and volunteers. University of Minnesota Extension has also requested that RGEV projects use its budget and purchasing processes.

Implementation steps

Earlier in 2026, the combined board met with University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener program leadership to develop a timeline and process for this restructuring. The separation into two leadership teams is scheduled to take place over the summer. The nonprofit organization’s governing board recently met to determine next steps to comply with the agreed-upon restructuring process:

• STEP ONE. Divide the current combined board of directors into two leadership teams: (1) the legal governing board of the nonprofit organization, and (2) program leadership that will be under the direction of the RGEV Program Coordinator. The July 2026 board meeting was the last “combined” meeting of these two teams (operationally the teams will continue to support each other wherever possible).

• STEP TWO. Segregate finances. Beginning on January 1, 2027, program and project purchases will be made through the University of Minnesota Extension program and not the Ramsey County Master Gardeners nonprofit. The nonprofit’s governing board is recommending a one-year pilot where it will make an annual restricted grant to the University of Minnesota Extension to be used solely to finance 2027 RGEV programs, projects and expenses, including financial aid for interns’ core course expenses. The outcomes of this approach will be evaluated by the nonprofit’s board of directors in 2027.

Status of the nonprofit organization

The nonprofit organization will remain in place, and its governing board will provide fiduciary oversight of funds to be used to support Ramsey County volunteer initiatives and manage fundraising. The governing board will continue to provide RGEVs with regular updates on the nonprofit’s financial health and award grants for projects and initiatives that meet the nonprofit’s approved guidelines. All RGEVs are encouraged and welcome to run for open board of directors’ positions, attend board meetings, and assist the governing board with its duties.

What this means to you as a volunteer

For most of you, this change will not affect your volunteering. If you work with program finances, you will need to become familiar with and follow the University of Minnesota Extension’s process for budgeting and purchasing of program-related supplies. Those of you who want to serve by sharing your passion for gardening with residents of Ramsey County will be free to do so, and those of you who enjoy the behind-the-scenes work of managing the finances and fundraising are encouraged to lend the nonprofit organization your time and talents. You will also be welcome to apply for grants from the nonprofit organization, assuming your projects/initiatives meet grant guidelines.

As mentioned earlier, under the current structure you are a voting member of the nonprofit organization after successfully completing intern program requirements. Members of the nonprofit organization will be asked to vote on the following items in October:

(1) Elect directors to fill open governing board of directors’ positions for the nonprofit organization.

(2) Separate the fiduciary roles of the nonprofit organization from program leadership roles and approve a board-led structure instead of a member-led structure. This means the organization will no longer have individual members and instead will be governed by a board of directors. This will streamline organizational decision-making and allow most RGEVs to focus on volunteer activities instead of fiduciary obligations. This restructuring will require approval of amendments to the nonprofit organization’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.