Mark Abner

In college, Mark Abner started giving a few dollars to a variety of organizations, helping him feel like a small part of something much larger, a community of people who shared his interests. Collectively, their contributions helped those organizations fulfill their missions. From that moment, Mark wanted to remain connected to the magical act of philanthropy.

Mark soon learned there was an entire industry behind that work and that he wanted to be a part of it. His first foray into the field was with a political campaign. Now 30 years later, Mark’s career has included fundraising roles with Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Minnesota Public Radio, and the University of Minnesota. At BWF, Mark serves higher education clients along with those who have an environmental focus.

Mark was appointed by former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to serve a term on the Minnesota Clean Water Council, the citizens’ advisory board for allocating $100 million per year in Minnesota Legacy dollars designated for protecting and restoring freshwater resources.

In his spare time, Mark is a foodie and a wine connoisseur (he even has a Wine Professional Certificate) and enjoys traveling with his wife, Gabrielle, walking, consuming podcasts, and restoring his Arts and Crafts bungalow in St. Paul.