Foundation

AGC of Minnesota Foundation

The AGC of Minnesota Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides scholarship aid to students who have a career interest in construction, and to related organizations that support the Minnesota construction industry.

First AGC of Minnesota Endowed Scholarship:

The Kraft Construction Scholarship

Martin Kraft (L) and Arnie Kraft (R)

In the 1940s, Martin E. Kraft took a bold leap of faith and launched an excavating, grading, and road-building business in Minneapolis. With Martin in the field, his wife Eunice ran the business from their home in South Minneapolis where she managed the books, payroll, and operations—all while raising six children. Together, they laid the foundation for a business and a legacy that would impact generations.

Their son, Arnold R. Kraft, grew up immersed in the business. Arnie and his wife Jane went on to build their own construction company and played an active leadership role in the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Minnesota, serving on its board and committees. Their dedication later evolved into a safety training business, where Arnie continues to serve the industry as a Certified Safety Professional and an OSHA/MSHA Instructor.

The Kraft Construction Scholarship is a tribute to this remarkable family and the enduring spirit of builders, doers, and leaders. Managed by the AGC of MN Foundation, the scholarship supports students pursuing careers in construction management, engineering, and the skilled trades—ensuring the next generation has the resources and encouragement to carry the torch forward.

To celebrate the scholarship launch, the Kraft family will award two $2,500 scholarships this year to post-secondary students who are preparing to build careers in the construction industry. Much more than a financial gift, the Kraft Construction Scholarship Endowment stands as a testimonial to the Kraft family values of hard work, opportunity, and community.

In honor of Arnie Kraft’s 90th birthday this month, we invite friends, family, and community members to contribute to the endowment via the form below. Your support will ensure the Kraft family's legacy lives on—impacting students and shaping our industry for generations to come.

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Scholarship applications are now closed for 2025.

AGC of Minnesota has a strong tradition of providing scholarships to outstanding students studying for careers in the construction industry. AGC has three scholarship categories: AGC Foundation Scholarships will be awarded to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in a construction field.

In addition, three legacy scholarships are awarded annually:

The Charles S. McCrossan Scholarship is awarded to a Minnesota resident majoring in a construction career with an emphasis on civil engineering and/or road/bridge construction management. C.S. McCrossan founded his own Minnesota-based highway/heavy civil company in 1956 and over the last 50+ years, the business has grown into a diversified general contractor company which continues to be owned and operated by the McCrossan family. Charles S. McCrossan passed away in 2017, leaving a legacy of industry advocacy and giving.
The Kraus-Anderson Insurance Scholarship was created in honor of the legacy of Kraus-Anderson insurance executive Dennis Diessner, a long-time AGC of Minnesota Foundation volunteer. This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding individual pursuing a professional degree in commercial construction at an accredited post-secondary institution.
The Kraft Construction Scholarship is new in 2025. The Kraft family has spent their lives making an impact on the construction industry in Minnesota. Martin E. Kraft was an entrepreneur who took a risk in the 1940’s, buying equipment and taking on projects in Minneapolis which culminated in an excavating, grading, and road building business that he ran with his wife Eunice. With Martin in the field, Eunice held the business together from their home office in South Minneapolis, handling payroll, payables, and invoicing, all while raising their six children. Arnold R. Kraft developed his knowledge and skills working for his father on a large variety of construction projects in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Arnie and his wife Jane went on to start and run their own construction business and were active in the AGC of Minnesota, serving on the board and many committees. Later in life, their efforts transitioned to a safety training business, where Arnie is a Certified Safety Professional and an MSHA and OSHA approved Instructor.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by June 20, 2025. Scholarship recipients will attend the annual AGC Golf Tournament on Friday, August 1, 2025 (Keller Golf Course) to be recognized and receive the award.

If you have any questions about the AGC of Minnesota Foundation or scholarships, please contact Jenny Moore.

GIVING BACK THROUGH PLANNED GIVING

Consider making the AGC of Minnesota Foundation part of your planned giving! By designating the Foundation as a preferred charity in your estate planning, you benefit the entire construction industry in Minnesota through the sponsorship of construction education.

The construction industry is populated by a great many entrepreneurial stories where family-owned businesses have prospered into successful enterprises. Many of those success stories are rooted in personal dedication, sacrifice, education, and opportunity borne of collective activism and industry engagement. Giving back to those who have contributed to our success is too often an afterthought, when what is needed is foresighted planning. A “road map” showing where to go and how to engage.

Thinking about end of life decisions to distribute assets where you prefer is not easy. To give direction for those thoughts and to identify a pathway for giving back to the industry, the AGC of Minnesota Board of Directors has approved a Legacy Giving designation. The Legacy Giving document allows people to designate the AGC of Minnesota Foundation as a beneficiary of various estate assets or other gifts and memorials, clarifying the specifics of where those gifts should be applied.

The construction industry is often described as a big family of family-owned and operated businesses. Thank you for considering AGC of Minnesota's Legacy Giving option to pass your legacy to the next generation of industry leaders!

Contributions are tax-deductible, and may be mailed to:

AGC of Minnesota Foundation
525 Park Street, Suite #110
St. Paul, MN 55103