Best Cook County Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Nonprofits and public entities working on coastal conservation and community projects in Cook County, Minnesota can seek US $10,000 - US $100,000 to protect, restore, or responsibly develop Lake Superior coastal resources. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources funding can support planning, research, public access, education, recreation, and habitat or shoreline restoration efforts.

Nonprofit and fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) organizations doing biodiversity conservation work in Cook County, Minnesota can seek US $5,000 - US $50,000 for one-year projects. The Biodiversity Fund small grants support habitat preservation and restoration, vulnerable species and ecosystem protection, community-based research, climate adaptation planning, and locally rooted environmental education in the Duluth-Superior region.

The Animal Assisted Therapy Fund, in memory of Cordelia Anne Brinton, supports animal-assisted therapy to aid individuals facing mental and emotional challenges. By prioritizing the well-being of animals in therapeutic settings, this fund promotes programs that enhance emotional growth through animal interactions. Eligible organizations include those providing mental health services and animal therapy programs, particularly within specified regions in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Examples of supported organizations range from local therapy centers to animal rescue initiatives.

The Lupa Animal Wellness Fund, managed by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, offers grants to support programs for dogs and cats, focusing on issues like cruelty, emergency care, and pet overpopulation. Grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and government entities providing services within the Boreal Waters Community Foundation area. Priority is given to organizations demonstrating financial need, contributing to animal welfare and care initiatives.

Mission Catholic dioceses holding major Catholic events in Cook County, Minnesota and other pre-approved areas can apply for Catholic Extension’s Francis Grants to support episcopal ordinations, diocesan anniversaries, papal visits, or a bishop’s continuing education. Funding goes directly to approved poor dioceses, not to individuals or separate Catholic organizations.

The Sandbulte Family Higher Education Endowment Fund, supported by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to bridge the Opportunity Gap through innovative proposals in science, engineering, and business education. This fund focuses on enhancing student support systems, improving transitions from high school to higher education, and fostering partnerships between educational institutions and the workforce. Eligible organizations include the College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College, and the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The John T. & Elizabeth C. Adams Arts Fund Grant, established by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, aims to enhance artistic quality in the Duluth-Superior area. It supports programs that enrich performances and artistic services, promoting cultural growth. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities in the region, which encompasses parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as specific tribal nations. The fund is committed to fostering community through the arts.

The Fund for Women and Girls, established by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, aims to empower women and girls to lead fulfilling and safe lives. It supports organizations that provide educational and financial assistance, advocate for gender equity, and ensure safety from violence. Eligible projects include building repairs, legal services, and career development programs. Priority is given to services in Duluth and Superior, fostering community development and support for women and girls.

Great Lakes tribes and their designees working on aquatic invasive species management in Cook County, Minnesota and the broader Great Lakes Basin can receive US $20,000 - US $100,000 to develop or implement Tribal AIS Plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports planning, outreach, enforcement, and control projects that prevent or reduce invasive species transfer into the Great Lakes.

Mission

The Biodiversity Fund supports efforts to maintain and strengthen biodiversity in the Duluth-Superior region through preservation and restoration of habitat, help for particular species and ecosystems, planning for changing conditions, research and education. The purpose is to consider now the value to future generations of the species and ecosystem diversity that will remain when/if human population stabilizes.

Biodiversity Fund

The Biodiversity Fund supports projects that preserve and restore habitats, assist vulnerable species and ecosystems, plan for environmental change, and promote research and education in the Duluth-Superior region.

The fund aims to protect the region's biodiversity through conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

Biodiversity Fund- Large & Multi-Year Grants

The Fund may also support larger initiatives of up to $50,000 per year for up to three years, for projects that require sustained investment to achieve meaningful, long-term impact. ‍

Multi-year requests should demonstrate:

• A clear long-term vision with defined milestones that allow progress to be assessed prior to subsequent years of funding each year
• How the work will scale, adapt, or deepen impact over time
• Strong partnerships, stewardship plans, or systems-level outcomes
• A plan for sustainability beyond the grant period

What We Mean by Biodiversity

‍Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, encompassing the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems and the complex relationships that sustain them. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, climate resilience, and human well-being by providing essential services such as clean air and water, natural food systems, nature-derived medicines, and climate adaptation and regulation.

This grant recognizes that healthy natural ecosystems and sustainable native plant and animal communities are deeply interconnected — environmental degradation often exacerbates social inequities and instability of communities of habitats and ecosystems. Community-led solutions strengthen ecological outcomes.

Biodiversity Fund Priorities

Funded projects should demonstrate strength in several of the following areas. Not every project must address all principles, but competitive proposals will show clear alignment across multiple dimensions.

• Upstream & Preventative Focus
  • Projects address root causes rather than symptoms.
  • Prioritize prevention, restoration, and long-term solutions
  • Reduce risk and vulnerability for people, species, and ecosystems
  • Anticipate environmental and social change rather than reacting after harm occurs
• Collaboration & Community Voice
  • Projects are grounded in authentic partnership.
  • Build cross-sector collaboration (e.g., nonprofits, Tribal Nations, schools, governments, researchers, community groups)
  • Center the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience, including Indigenous knowledge and local ecological expertise
  • Share power in design, decision-making, and implementation
• Equity-Centered Impact
  • Projects advance equity for both people and place.
  • Prioritize historically marginalized communities and/or vulnerable species and ecosystems
  • Focus resources, decision-making power, or stewardship closer to impacted communities
  • Recognize how environmental harm and social inequity intersect
• Systems, Policy & Practice Change
  • Projects have transferability and relevance beyond a single site or program.
  • Improve institutional practices, policies, land-use decisions, or resource flows
  • Strengthen community-level systems related to housing, food security, climate adaptation, education, or conservation
  • Demonstrate potential for replication, scaling, or broader adoption
• Sustainability & Capacity Building
  • Projects plan for impact that lasts beyond the grant period.
  • Strengthen organizational, community, or ecosystem capacity
  • Build skills, infrastructure, stewardship, or long-term management plans
  • Promote ongoing care, monitoring, or adaptive management of natural systems
• Evidence of Change & Learning
  • Projects contribute to shared learning and understanding.
  • Use data, research, community knowledge, or storytelling to demonstrate impact
  • Measure ecological, social, or systems-level outcomes
  • Share lessons learned to inform future equity-, resilience-, and biodiversity-focused work

The Minnesota Department of Health is offering funding for innovative HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programs aimed at reducing HIV transmission in rural communities. With a total of up to $600,000 available, the initiative seeks to increase HIV screenings, referrals, and prescriptions, ultimately promoting health equity and supporting the local END HIV MN plan. Organizations that can effectively implement and evaluate these programs are encouraged to apply.

The Agriculture Education Grant, funded by Compeer Financial, aims to enhance high school agriculture programs by providing up to $4,000 for classroom equipment and educational initiatives. This grant promotes hands-on learning and modern technologies, ensuring students are well-equipped to explore the evolving agricultural landscape. Eligible applicants include high school agriculture departments within a specified 144-county territory, with a focus on schools that have not received funding in the past two years.

The Emergency Response Equipment Grant Program by Compeer Financial aims to bolster rural communities by providing funding for essential emergency response equipment for volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance departments. With grants up to $4,000, this initiative ensures that first responders have the necessary tools to protect and serve their communities effectively. Eligibility is limited to rural departments in the 144-county territory, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most.

The Farmers Market Grant Program by Compeer Financial aims to support organizations enhancing services at farmers markets. Grants of up to $1,000 are available for marketing efforts, technology upgrades, and vendor education. Eligible applicants must be bona fide farmers markets with at least three vendors of locally-produced products and must operate in the designated 144-county area. Priority is given to markets that have not previously received funding.

Nonprofits, public entities, Tribal governments, churches, and fiscally sponsored projects in Cook County, Minnesota can apply for Boreal Waters Community Foundation’s Wirtanen Family Fund, awarding up to US $4,000 for social justice and community awareness initiatives. Funding can support anti-discrimination work, peace and justice education, cross-cultural exchanges, and efforts addressing hunger, homelessness, and emergency aid locally.

Nonprofit and fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) organizations serving Cook County, Minnesota and nearby tribal communities can apply for Boreal Waters Community Foundation’s Anishinabe Fund, awarding US $5,000 - US $10,000 for projects rooted in Anishinabe knowledge and culture. Programs that respectfully center Anishinabe people in community improvement efforts may be eligible.

The Youth In Philanthropy Grant, offered by the Northland Foundation, invites youth in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties, as well as Superior, Wisconsin, to apply for up to $1,000. Projects must be initiated and executed by young people with adult support, addressing community needs while fostering youth leadership. This initiative encourages engagement with local schools and organizations, empowering youth to make a positive impact in their communities.

The Northland Foundation offers quarterly grants aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations in Northeast Minnesota and nearby Native nations. These grants provide flexible funding for general operations or specific programs that address community needs such as health, housing, and education. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, and local governments. The foundation prioritizes projects that promote equity, community engagement, and sustainable impact, ensuring that resources reach underserved populations.

Cook County, Minnesota health and rural care nonprofits can access funding through Medica Foundation to advance community-led health equity initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) charities, public/government agencies, and Tribal Nations headquartered outside the Twin Cities metro, with priority for free and community clinics addressing needs like dental, mental, maternal, senior, and primary care, including culturally focused services.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust Grants focus on enhancing the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. This private foundation supports innovative projects that go beyond basic care, ensuring the well-being of homeless and abused animals. Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status and be located in specific states, including Ohio and parts of Indiana and Michigan. The Trust emphasizes humane treatment and sustainable funding for animal welfare initiatives.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust offers grants aimed at enhancing the lives of animals in the Ohio/Great Lakes region. It prioritizes projects that foster animal adoption, behavior training, and humane education. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified and demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare. The Trust seeks innovative, collaborative initiatives that significantly improve the well-being of animals, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring a high quality of life for both individual animals and larger populations.

Cook County, Minnesota career and technical education instructors with a current CTE Endorsement or Out of Field Permission can access funding through Northeast Missouri Electric Power Coop for new or enhanced CTE courses or programs. Grants up to US $250,000 support career pathways, regional industry-aligned programs, technical skill development, and improved access to CTE opportunities for students in grades 5–12.

The Global Awareness Fund, managed by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, supports initiatives that foster understanding and cooperation among diverse cultures. Focused on issues like peace, justice, and environmental sustainability, the Fund backs projects such as educational programs, media productions, and community dialogues. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, governmental entities, and tribal governments serving specific regions in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This initiative aims to enhance civil society and promote global citizenship.

The Quetico Superior Foundation Grant supports the preservation of Minnesota’s Border Lakes Canoe Country and Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park. It funds diverse projects ranging from land preservation to youth programs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 organizations engaged in wilderness protection. The foundation aims to enhance the quality of wilderness preservation in the region, ensuring a lasting impact on environmental conservation. Interested groups should reach out for more information.

Cook County, Minnesota nonprofits and public entities working on Lake Superior coastal planning, outreach, technology, training, or youth education can access funding through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; awards US $1,000 - US $4,500 for short-term coastal management projects. Eligible activities include engineering plans, educational programs, conferences, and tools that strengthen coastal resource management.

Unity Fund

Mission

This fund serves as a catalyst for advancing equity and justice for people of African Heritage in our community. It invests in initiatives that expand access to opportunity, strengthen systems, and ensure African Heritage individuals can fully participate in and benefit from community life.

Priorities include:

• Advance racial equity and dismantle systemic racism
• Increase health, wealth, resiliency, and long-term sustainability
• Engage community members in efforts to end racism
• Address inequities within systems (e.g., housing, education, health, policing, transportation, wealth-building)
• Create physically, emotionally, and culturally safe spaces for people of African Heritage
• Raise awareness of systemic racial inequities through education, outreach, and cultural sharing
• Support leadership development for African American and African Heritage individuals of all ages
• Build relationships across diverse backgrounds to foster understanding and connectedness

Other Considerations

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Alignment with the fund’s mission
• Demonstrated community engagement and need
• Potential for measurable impact
• Contribution to long-term or systems-level change
• Collaboration where appropriate

Award Range

• Individual organizations: $5,000 – $10,000
• Collaborations of multiple organizations (lead organization as applicant): $5,000 – $25,000

The Minnesota Power Foundation Grant Program provides support to organizations focused on enhancing community health and vitality in service areas. Grants over $5,000 are reviewed quarterly by the Foundation's board. Eligible recipients include tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) and accredited schools, which must operate within the Foundation's designated service area.