Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) this week announced the appointment of Benya Kraus as its next president and CEO, effective June 16. Kraus succeeds Tim Penny, who has served the foundation with distinction for nearly two decades.
A nationally recognized rural leader and social entrepreneur, Kraus brings a deep personal commitment to southern Minnesota and a career defined by advancing rural vitality across the country. As part of a sixth-generation family native to Waseca County, she embodies what it means to choose to live and work in rural Minnesota as a powerful, intentional commitment to community and opportunity.
“Benya represents not just the future of SMIF, but the future of rural philanthropy across Minnesota and beyond,” said Shawn Vogt Sween, SMIF board chair. “She brings an extraordinary combination of vision, humility, operational excellence, and a deep personal tie to our region. We could not be more excited for this next chapter.”
Benya most recently served as Network Advancement Director at Resource Rural, supporting a national portfolio of rural development organizations in securing nearly $300 million in federal and state grants over the last year. She previously co-founded and scaled Lead For America, a nationwide nonprofit investing in emerging rural leaders, and led strategic partnerships that secured over $60 million for broadband expansion, early childhood initiatives, and small-town revitalization projects. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in finance and entrepreneurship.
Benya is well known to the Blandin Foundation, starting with her work as Executive Director for Lead for Minnesota. She is instrumental in raising the profile of the work of digital navigators and encouraging young people to become navigators and small towns to work them through the Lead for Minnesota program. She is smart and focused on doing what’s right for rural Minnesota.