Search Through Financial Assistance Grants in Minnesota in the U.S.

Guiding Philosophy

The guiding philosophy of Benton Telecommunications Foundation is to invest in values, ethics and character formation; to support the efforts of those who are successfully making a difference in people lives, and to help build the communities in which we live. The Foundation believes in sharing the blessings which have been bestowed on its contributors and in celebrating the spiritual reciprocity between donors and receivers working collaboratively to make the world a better place.

Benton Telecommunications Foundation Grant - Requests under $2,000

Areas of Interest

• Healthy Living:
  • Programs and initiatives which promote an integrated approach to healing and wellness including the mind, body, heart and spirit.
• Basic Human Needs and Services:
  • Programs and initiatives which provide funds and assistance to suffering individuals and families who may need the following due to poverty, illness, sudden loss of property, or the result of a natural or civic disaster.
    • Food
    • Shelter
    • Clothing
    • Transportation
    • Healthcare
• Educational and Personal Development:
  • Programs and initiatives for youth and adults leading to personal growth, societal impact and a deeper understanding of the world and its’ diverse cultures.
    • Emphasis on youth leadership and mentoring.
• Community Development:
  • Programs designed to develop and improve communities, with an emphasis on the municipalities located in Benton County, Minnesota.

The Foundation considers the following factors in review of applications:

• The potential benefit of the proposed activities of the particular population to be served and to the community as a whole.
• The capacity of the organization or individual to achieve the desired results.
• The adequacy of the projected budget and time period for achieving the desired results.
• The likelihood of future support for ongoing operating costs from other sources.
• The level of financial need of people whose circumstances may be the result of a natural, civil or personal disaster.
• Others factors which are deemed relevant by the Foundation and are reasonable related to the charitable purposes of the Foundation.

Clean Vessel Act Grants (CVA)

This program was created by the United States Clean Vessel Act of 1992 to evaluate the existing conditions of sanitary disposal for boaters and to provide financial assistance for the improvement of marina sanitation facilities where they are needed.

Program purpose

To encourage the development or improvement of marina sanitation facilities for boaters in order to maintain and improve water quality in public waters.

Business registration

All CVA Grant Application grant applicants (both private businesses and government entities) must be a legal owner of the property and also be registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State. If you are NOT registered, please visit this website to register prior to submitting your application for this grant. NOTE: Applications will not be accepted if this requirement is not met.

Level of assistance

Up to 75% of total eligible costs. NOTE: The sub-recipient must pay for project expenses in-full and meet all terms of the grant agreement and sub-recipient contract prior to seeking reimbursement.

Grants That Change Lives

The Community Sharing Fund is how the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation responds to emergency needs in our community.

The Fund partners with more than 100 community organizations to identify families and individuals facing short-term financial setbacks. A small grant from the fund can prevent a tailspin that results in unemployment or homelessness.

Building a better tomorrow

At Edina Realty we know real estate is rooted in our communities. And, an investment in our neighborhoods gives us all a better place to call home.

The Edina Realty Foundation offers financial support to non-profit organizations that provide housing and homelessness prevention services in communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Their mission is to support those who serve homeless individuals, children, and families, as well as organizations focused on preventing homelessness.

Since its inception in 1996, the Foundation has raised more than $12 million. Over 95% of funds raised go directly to organizations working to end homelessness.

Our funding is made possible by:

• Agent and employee contributions
• Year-round fundraising events
• Contributions from Edina Realty Home Services

Our Mission

To support and improve the lives of the homeless in the communities we serve.

Everyone deserves a place to call home. 

To support and improve the lives of homeless people in the communities we serve. 

That’s what Edina Realty agents and employees set out to do when they established the Edina Realty Foundation in 1996.

The Edina Realty Foundation offers financial support to non-profit organizations that provide food, emergency shelter, medical care, job readiness training and more to the homeless across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

More than 95% of all funds raised go directly to organizations that support the homeless or work to prevent homelessness.

Program Areas We Support

• Housing & Shelter
• Programs & Education
• Emergency Services
• Financial Assistance

WBD Opportunity Funds

Each year WBD invests in projects/activities/organizations with specific efforts aligned with our mission to Grow Businesses, Create Jobs and Build Communities. While the amount of investment varies depending on the success of the organization each year, WBD is committed to identifying and supporting a variety of efforts throughout our service area.

Investments shall be consistent with the shared WBD/504 mission of creating and retaining jobs.

Following are several examples;

• Workforce development and job training programs
• Providing capital and/or financial resources to under served markets
• Small Business Incubators
• Technical Assistance Provides such as Small Business Development Centers, Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and/or the Service Corps of Retired Executives
• Contributions to other local nonprofits that provide grants and/or entrepreneurial training to small businesses or scholarships to students for participation in such entrepreneurial training programs
• Revolving Loan Funds as direct loans or matching funds for a federal, state or local program
• Downtown revitalization projects
• Financing economic impact studies to enable or document local economic development efforts

These examples are guidelines, but other efforts that support the growth or development of small business that creates jobs will also be considered.

Funding

Typical WBD investments range from $5,000 - $50,000. WBD will consider a multi year commitment in some cases.

We can approve an exception to the indirect costs rule up to 10% of the total budget depending on the project and specific circumstances. We will work with final candidates to discuss these possible costs in later application rounds.

Our fiscal year begins October 1st. Since our investments are directly tied to our business success, we do not know exactly what our budget for investing until our annual Audit is completed. However, we will make an estimate in February and refine the estimate as the year progresses. All commitments for investments will be completed each year by Sept 30.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

Battlefield Preservation Fund

Grants from the Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning

Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach

Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

Old National Bank Foundation

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The Foundation is part of Old National's overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. We believe in supporting where our clients, team members and shareholders live and work.

Funding Priorities

Our funding targets innovative programs that enhance the quality of life within our communities in support of the following four strategic initiatives: Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment. We prioritize programs that serve underrepresented communities and low- to moderate-income people. 

Examples of funding priorities with measurable outcome focus areas include:

Affordable Housing

• Increase Homeownership Opportunities: We seek initiatives that enable individuals and families to purchase homes through accessible financing, down payment assistance, and homeowner education.
• Support Critical Home Repairs and Revitalization: We fund programs that ensure safe, habitable housing by assisting with essential repairs for homes
• Promote Multi-Family Housing Developments: We prioritize programs that develop or sustain affordable rental units

Economic Development

• Small Business Development and Growth: We aim to support programs that help small businesses scale, access resources, and build sustainable growth plans.
• Capacity Building for Technical Support: We encourage projects that enhance the capability of organizations offering technical support to small businesses and nonprofits.
• Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching: We support programs that offer entrepreneurship education, business coaching, and professional development for new or aspiring business owners.

Financial Education

• Old National Bank’s Real-Life Finance e-learning curriculum provides robust financial education training for community partners

Workforce Development

• Access to Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning: We support workforce readiness through initiatives offering hands-on training, particularly in trades and high-demand fields.
• Job Creation, Employment Entry, and Retention: We support projects that connect individuals to stable employment and increasing levels of income. This can include higher education with dual credentialing, leadership and professional development

Financial Empowerment

• Financial Wellness: We fund long-term initiatives that reduce barriers to banking and credit access, especially for underbanked groups. This can include culturally relevant and multilingual outreach, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling with the goal of financial independence
• Community Lending Access: We support organizations that provide access to affordable microloans, emergency loans, and community cooperative lending as safe and sustainable alternatives to predatory loans

About

Through its grantmaking and other policy-focused efforts, the Foundation seeks to:

• Racial Equity: Incorporate the voices of, and achieve more equitable outcomes for, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities in the Great Lakes region.
• Economic Mobility: Improve the ability of individuals in the Great Lakes region to move up the economic ladder within a lifetime or from one generation to the next.
• Next Generation: Incorporate the voices of, and improve outcomes for, the next generation of Great Lakes residents, defined as young people born after 2000.

Education & Economic Mobility Grants

The mission of the Education & Economic Mobility Program is to close income and race disparities in college and career success through equitable access to high-quality education. We invest in local, state and federal policies that aim to ensure historically underserved young people 1) have effective educators; 2) graduate high school with academic and career momentum; and 3) attain affordable college credentials with economic value. In the short term, we will invest in research, policy development, and advocacy to help young people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Educators

Evidence is clear that teachers and principals are the main in-school driver of student success. Yet, young people of color and those from underserved communities often have inexperienced, unqualified, or ineffective educators. To ensure historically marginalized students have top-notch and diverse educators, the Foundation invests in research, policy development, advocacy, and technical assistance to: 1) use data to better align educator supply and demand; 2) diversify the educator pipeline; 3) build strong pathways from high school into teaching; and 4) spread innovative school staffing models that attract educators, boost retention, and improve student outcomes. Our investments focus on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and national efforts.

College and Career Readiness

There is overwhelming evidence that a college degree significantly improves life outcomes. Yet not enough high school students—especially young people of color and those from underserved communities—are prepared to succeed in post-secondary. To help students get on the right path, the Foundation supports federal and state policies to: 1) align K-12, higher education, and workforce systems; 2) increase access and success in rigorous courses; and 3) increase access to high-quality work-based learning activities connected to careers with family-sustaining wages.

Post-Secondary Success

A post-secondary degree remains the surest path to social and economic mobility. Yet colleges fail to enroll and graduate students of color and students from low-income households at the same rate as White and wealthier students. This contributes to racial and socioeconomic disparities in education and career outcomes. To address these disparities, the Joyce Foundation supports federal and state policies that: 1) scale proven student support models to improve community college outcomes; 2) preserve access for students of color and rural students to affordable, high- quality public college options and labor markets that require college degrees; 3) seek racial and family income representativeness at selective public universities; and 4) narrow gaps in post-graduate financial outcomes for students of color and low-income students.

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is a regional grant-making agency that supports the arts through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature and The McKnight Foundation. The Council distributes grant awards to artists, arts and other non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and local units of government and provides technical assistance for these grants. 

About This Grant

Formerly known as Operating Support Grants. Essentials Support Grant amounts will be $3,000 to $5,000.

Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) Key Areas

Following the direction of the Minnesota State Legislature, the ECRAC Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will support activities in three key areas. ECRAC ACHF Legacy arts project funding may be spent only on arts and arts access, arts education, and arts and cultural heritage. The fund is intended to create a strong arts legacy in Minnesota.

Arts & Arts Access

ACHF funding will support artists and arts organizations in creating, producing, and presenting highquality arts activities; to overcome barriers to accessing high-quality arts activities; and to instill the arts into the community and public life in this state. Such grant activities may be, but are not limited to:

• Investing in activities that make the arts available to persons who might not otherwise have access due to economic, geographic, or physical barrier.
• Ensuring that artists and arts organizations have sufficient financial support to create high quality art.
• Investing in the long-term health and vitality of the arts sector by supporting capacity-building and professional development.
• Investing in efforts that enable residents to connect with arts/arts experiences and performances.
• Investing in efforts to fully integrate the arts into local community development efforts.
• Investing in efforts to integrate the arts into local and regional economic development planning.
• Investing in public art that is available throughout the region. (ECRAC encourages applicants to utilize Forecast Public Art and to include their consulting services in the grant budget.)
• Recognizing and rewarding artists/arts organizations/arts providers for exceptional artistic quality and service to their audiences and/or the region.

Arts Education: Investing in lifelong learning in the arts

ACHF funding will support high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for residents of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. Such activities may be, but are not limited to:

• Investing in efforts that enable residents to connect with arts learning opportunities and residencies.
• Ensuring that artists/arts organizations/arts providers are able to invest in professional development and workshops.
• Ensuring that arts learning opportunities and professional development are achieving intended outcomes through ongoing assessment and evaluation.

Arts & Cultural Heritage: Building bridges between Minnesotans through arts and culture

ACHF funding may be used for events and activities that represent the diverse ethnic and cultural arts traditions, including folk and traditional artists and art organizations, represented in this state. Such activities may be, but are not limited to:

• Providing Region 7E residents with opportunities to celebrate our cultural heritage through events and activities that represent the range of Minnesota’s ethnic and cultural arts traditions including festivals.
• Ensuring that Region 7E residents are able to experience folk/traditional arts of diverse cultures by supporting the work of folk and traditional artists/arts organizations.

What is Funded?

ECRAC ACHF Essentials Support Grant proposals may include the following expenses based on your organizations identified needs and proposed outcomes.

• General operating expenses (e.g. – facility rental (not purchase) costs, operational insurance, Directors and Officer’s insurance, office or art supplies and equipment, utilities, general (not project specific) advertising, and phone or internet service, etc.)
• Board and staff training in non-profit or art best practices.
• Long range planning consultations (except fundraising).
• Purchase of equipment or small capital expenses necessary to the mission of the arts organization. (3 quotes (1 from a Minnesota vendor) and an equipment use plan are required for all capital expenses over $500.)
• Expenses related to ADA compliance, or upgrades, in the facility used.
• Memberships in organizations such as your local chamber of commerce, GPS 45:93, or the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits, etc. Travel (within Minnesota) for staff and board members to attend meetings, conferences, or trainings provided by these or other membership organizations.

This grant program is NOT intended to fund specific arts projects or events. Its purpose is to provide funding for organizations’ ongoing operating expenses such as those named above: facility rental expenses; utilities; office or art supplies; equipment; organizational and/or D&O insurance, etc. Organization art project grant requests must be made through the Small/Art Project Assistance Grant Program and/or the ACHF Organization Grant Program.

Please contact ECRAC staff if you have questions regarding which program is most appropriate for your grant request.

Mission

The Four Cedars Environmental Fund provides financial incentives that initiate, stimulate, enrich and assist programs and organizations involved in the protection, preservation and education of the unique natural resources found primarily within the western Lake Superior watershed. The fund supports programs and organizations with capital requests, start-up costs, technical assistance and project/program support.

Examples

• The University of Wisconsin-Superior, located in Douglas County, Wisconsin
• The Sigurd Olson Institute at Northland College, located in Ashland County, Wisconsin
• The McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• Sweetwater Alliance, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The Great Lakes Aquarium, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The Sustainable Farming Association of Northeast Minnesota, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota
• The research vessel L.L. Smith of the Lake Superior Research Institute, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota

The Laura Jane Musser Fund was established by the estate of Laura Jane Musser of Little Falls, Minnesota to continue the personal philanthropy, which she practiced in her lifetime.

Environmental Initiative Program

The Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities. 

The Fund's goal is to promote public use of open space that improves a community's quality of life and public health, while also ensuring the protection of healthy, viable and sustainable ecosystems by protecting or restoring habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund encourages the use of a community-based approach with broad and active local stakeholder participation in both planning and implementation stages of projects concerning the environmental preservation and sustainable use of public open spaces. It has been our experience that projects designed through this process have a greater chance of acceptance and lasting success.

The Musser Fund is likely to make a total of 5 to 7 grants in the Environmental Initiative this year. This is a very competitive granting initiative.

Funds will be available for: 

• Planning (UP to $8,000)
• Implementation (Up to $35,000)

Planning Grant Requests: Planning grant applications must demonstrate commitment to a broad-based, active community process for the design and use of local publicly-owned open spaces.

Note - The planning stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation grant. 

Implementation Grant Requests:  Implementation grant applications must demonstrate clear evidence of local community active participation and support.

Community Wealth Building Grants

Weaving together financial, intellectual, cultural, and social assets for healthy communities.

About Blandin Foundation and 2025 Grantmaking

Mission: We connect, fund, and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.

As one of the few foundations in the nation devoted exclusively to rural needs, Blandin Foundation has shifted our strategic focus to better meet rural Minnesota’s urgent challenges. The COVID pandemic and racial turmoil accelerated many of the economic and social disparities that originally inspired our collective passion for rural philanthropy, and we realized we had to take bold steps to meet the moment. Our intent is to support rural communities and Native Nations in tapping courage, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to rebuild connections that have long been a source of their strength and identity.

Community Context for our Focus on Community Wealth Building

We know that land ownership inequality is growing, wealth and income gaps persist, and that this inequality harms economic growth. Community wealth building’s focus on collaborative work aimed at reducing disparities and support for projects that promote equitable access and outcomes will help push back against these harmful trends. Knowing that Community Wealth Building concepts were developed in urban settings, one objective of this grant program is to gather data from partners’ community wealth-building activities to more deeply inform rural practice and impact.

What is Community Wealth Building?

In a nutshell, it is building the rural bases of knowledge, money, workforce, entrepreneurship, and investment – and keeping those powerful resources close to home. Its goal is to reduce disparities in outcomes that too often fall along the lines of place, race, and class.

Community Wealth Building is a community development approach that considers the full spectrum of assets needed for healthy communities – financial, intellectual, environmental, cultural, and social – and weaves them together in a way that roots all development locally, focusing on sustainable, shared community benefit and reducing disparities.

Outcomes We Seek

Affordable Housing and Housing Stability

• Increased Affordable Housing Units:
  • Creation, preservation, or rehabilitation of a significant number of affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income residents, particularly in communities facing housing shortages in Itasca County.
• Improved Housing Stability for Disadvantaged Populations:
  • Reduction in housing instability and homelessness through initiatives that provide direct support services such as rental assistance, legal aid, and tenant education for marginalized groups (e.g., low-income, Indigenous, and people of color communities). Increases in the number of homeowners from historically underserved populations and from lower-income households as a core household wealth-building strategy.
• Green and Sustainable Housing Development:
  • Development of energy-efficient, climate-resilient housing projects that reduce long-term living costs for lower-income families and address environmental justice concerns.
• System Capacity Building:
  • Expand local expertise, organizational capacity, and access to capital to accelerate and sustain long-term capacity for strategic development of affordable housing in rural communities.

Community-Based Economic Development

• Local Business Growth and Job Creation:
  • Support for community-based businesses, particularly those owned by people of color, Indigenous individuals, and women, leading to new living-wage job creation and economic opportunities for marginalized groups.
• Strengthened Community Land Ownership:
  • Increased access to community land trusts and co-operative business models, giving local communities, especially people of color and Indigenous populations, greater control over their land and economic resources.
• Increased Economic Diversification:
  • Enhanced economic resilience through the development of new industries or revitalization of key sectors in rural areas, such as sustainable food systems, clean energy, or creative industries, benefiting rural communities.
• Whole-community Development:
  • Support Indigenous approaches to wealth—rooted in relational, cultural, and environmental well-being— that build not only financial capital but also value the health of relationships, the stewardship of natural resources, and the preservation of language, cultural knowledge, and traditions to build community.

Workforce and Talent Development Systems

• Improved Workforce Participation:
  • Increased participation of underrepresented groups (especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), rural women, immigrants, and low-income residents) in the workforce through tailored job training programs, apprenticeships, and support for re-entry populations.
• Industry-Specific Workforce Development:
  • Development of workforce pipelines in high-demand sectors like healthcare, housing construction, renewable energy, and technology, with pathways that are specifically inclusive of rural residents with greater barriers to success.
• Leadership Development for Underrepresented Groups:
  • Increased representation of BIPOC, women, and rural populations in leadership roles in both the public and private sectors through mentorship programs, leadership training, and capacity-building initiatives.
• K-12 and Higher Education Partnerships:
  • Enhanced collaborations between local schools, community colleges, and businesses to create career pathways for youth, particularly in underserved communities, including mentorship programs, internships, and dual-credit opportunities. Emphasis on collaborative regional approaches versus support for individual programs or organizations. Pathways should lead to living-wage work.

Equitable Access to Capital

• Increased Access to Small Business Financing:
  • Strengthening the rural economic development ecosystem to support small businesses and entrepreneurs from marginalized communities in Itasca County and across rural Minnesota, particularly those owned by BIPOC, women, and low-income individuals.
• Community Investment Funds:
  • Creation of community investment funds that pool resources from residents and local organizations to fund community development projects and businesses that directly benefit local residents, with a focus on rooting economic activity and wealth building in Minnesota’s rural communities.
• Financial Empowerment and Capital Access Education:
  • Increased financial empowerment programs aimed at BIPOC and low-income communities to improve financial management, investment strategies, knowledge of household wealth-building pathways, and access to credit for both businesses and households.
• Partnerships for Equitable Economic Investment:
  • Formation of strategic partnerships between local governments, financial institutions, and community organizations to increase investment in rural communities, prioritizing equitable access to capital for underserved populations.

Cross-cutting and Community-Level Outcomes

• Reduction of Racial and Economic Disparities:
  • Demonstrable reductions in economic disparities across racial, class, and geographic lines, with a focus on lifting up communities of color, Indigenous populations, immigrant communities, and rural low-income residents in Itasca County and across rural Minnesota.
• Strengthened Social Cohesion and Community Leadership:
  • Increased capacity of local community leaders, to advocate for and drive economic development and policy change that addresses racial, economic, and geographic disparities and emphasizes community benefit and inclusive prosperity.
• Improved Public Health and Economic Well-Being:
  • Measurable improvement in health outcomes (mental, physical, economic) through the combined impact of affordable housing, access to quality jobs, financial stability, and reduced systemic barriers.
• Sustainable Rural Development:
  • Enhance rural resilience by integrating climate adaptation, sustainable practices, and long-term economic sustainability into all community wealth-building efforts in rural, underserved areas.
• Community-focused Procurement and Purchasing Practices:
  • Grow resilient local and regional rural economies by prioritizing procurement for local businesses and producers, supporting conditions for increased economic activity, living-wage job growth, and inclusive, locally-created wealth.

Funding Range

Please request an amount that speaks to what you need to complete your proposal. Typical grant awards will be between $25,000 and $150,000. Funded projects can have a timeframe of up to 3 years. Requests over $250,000 may follow a different timeline for review and approval.

We expect funding decisions to be made around the end of May 2025; however, depending on the volume of proposals received, the timeline may shift.

Please see FAQs on the Grant Eligibility & Applications page for additional guidelines and information.

Small Communities Grants

Funding resources, skills, and needed system changes in rural Minnesota’s smallest communities.

Our Small Communities Grant Program is a program focused on reaching small, often overlooked places, and providing funding for the resources and skills they need to solve community issues. It is one important way we can improve community well-being and begin to reverse decades of fiscal policies and practices that have harmed rural places and the people who live there.

The Small Communities Grant Program will build on the pride rural residents feel for their communities. Rural connection and interdependence can be powerful community forces. When people work together to solve community issues, they create trust, ownership and buy-in which again translates to success with completing projects and initiatives, and ultimately strengthening the community. Activities funded by our Small Communities Grant Program should drive positive economic, physical, and social change in a rural community.

Blandin’s Value Framework

Build Rural Capacity

• Strengthening the resources and skills rural MN needs to address community problems and opportunities. We are focusing our funding and programming on strategies that produce measurable, sustainable outcomes in our three impact areas and those that can demonstrate coordinated, regional impact.

Build Connection

• Enabling can-do communities that are rich in people-to-people connections and generate opportunity at the individual, community and state levels. Connected individuals stay healthier, are happier, achieve higher education, improve their job outlook and are more likely to have long-term economic upward mobility. Connected communities thrive amidst change, both unintended (disaster, economic uncertainty) and proactive (future-forward community initiatives).

Focus Areas

Planning

• Planning for a small communities initiative.
  • Engage community in evaluating its financial, cultural, and natural assets to support community development planning.
  • Plan and design programs, inclusive community events, public spaces, and community amenities that improve wellbeing and increased livability.
  • Research to support community planning or increased access to grants and other financial resources.

Implementation

• Executing a small communities initiative.
  • Implementing community initiatives, including events, discussions and gatherings.
  • Creation, enhancement or revitalization of indoor and outdoor physical spaces, such as:
    • Community gathering and ceremonial places.
    • Community centers.
    • Downtowns/Main Street projects.
    • Repurposing buildings.
    • Redevelopment.
    • Addressing brownfields.
    • Libraries.
    • Revitalization and capital improvements.
    • Parks and trails.

Capacity Building

• Building small community skills and attracting resources.
  • Build the skills and resources of a community or organizations to drive positive economic, physical and social changes:
    • Grant-writing assistance.
    • Technical assistance.
    • Consulting expertise, including inter-generational knowledge sharing.
    • Leadership skill-building.
    • Research to support skill and resource-building.
    • Collaboratively changing how systems work and the outcomes they produce.

Outcomes We Seek

Proposed projects should impact one or more of the following objectives and should include a description of how your organization will measure progress toward those. It is acceptable to measure “what happened/what’s different” (qualitative data) along with or instead of “how many or how much” (quantitative) because impact in small rural communities is often challenging to demonstrate with numbers only.

• Bring about positive, visible change in the community, including increasing community/leadership engagement, planning, nurturing community pride and revitalization.
  • Possible metrics: visible community change in structures or enhancements, new construction, beautification, increased civic engagement, survey results showing increased pride in place.
• Engage in productive discourse around issues affecting small, rural Minnesota communities, including race, class, gender, and other self-identified divides.
  • Possible metrics: notable signs of a more connected, engaged and less divisive community, including possible survey results, social media tenor, examples of new community cohesion, policy changes or advocacy.
• Prepare for the future by enhancing community aesthetics and amenities, cooperating with neighboring communities for mutual benefit, and laying the groundwork for future development.
  • Possible metrics: visible community change in structures and amenities, established partnerships with other communities or partners, local business and job growth, and completing professional development and skill building and training opportunities.

Please see FAQs on the Grant Eligibility & Applications page for additional guidelines and information.

Funding Range

Please request an amount that speaks to what you need to complete your proposal. Typical grant awards will be between $25,000 and $150,000. Funded projects can have a timeframe of up to 3 years. Requests over $250,000 may follow a different timeline for review and approval.

We expect funding decisions to be made around the end of May 2025; however, depending on the volume of proposals received, the timeline may shift.

Travelers believes that strong communities are sustained by educational and economic opportunities — and we are dedicated to assisting our communities in generating those opportunities. With a focus on equity and inclusion, we target our giving and volunteerism to help improve academic and career success, develop thriving neighborhoods and create culturally enriched communities.

Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to achieve three outcomes: Academic & Career Success, Thriving Neighborhoods and Culturally Enriched Communities. Our primary focus is educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce. In addition, Travelers contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and that enhance lives and learning through arts & culture. 

Travelers accepts grant applications exclusively for Hartford, Connecticut and St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily for project, program and operating support and for limited capital opportunities.

Academic & Career Success

Because today’s student will be tomorrow’s co-worker, education is the primary focus of our giving. We support college and career readiness programs for underrepresented students from middle school through college and into career. 

A successful future starts in the classroom. But many people struggle to get the education they need to compete for quality jobs and to lead a fulfilling life. Our giving focuses on helping to provide a foundation for individual success and on building a skilled workforce for our industry and our communities.

Where We Give

Nearly half of our annual giving goes toward initiatives that help underrepresented students attain academic and career success. We seek to improve academic achievement gaps by focusing on low-income and minority students in grades five through 12, students in college and those seeking careers in the insurance industry.

Funding Priorities

Academic & Career Success: Travelers supports initiatives that improve academic achievement and career success for underrepresented youth, specifically targeted at public school students in grades five through 12, students in transition to post-secondary education, and students in post-secondary learning environments.

• Middle & High School Academic Achievement– Travelers funds initiatives that foster improved academic achievement for middle and/or high school students.
• Post-Secondary Preparation & Degree Attainment– Travelers supports organizations that are building awareness of and personal readiness for post-secondary education and educational initiatives that improve degree completion for underrepresented students.
• Career Awareness & Readiness– Travelers supports educational initiatives that are building awareness of and preparation for careers in insurance and financial services.

Mission

The mission of the Benton Telecommunications Foundation is to foster human development- spiritual, intellectual, physical and psychological- and to enhance the work of people and organizations devoted to exemplary service in the community.

Guiding Philosophy

The guiding philosophy of the Benton Telecommunications Foundation is to invest in values, ethics, and character formation; to support the efforts of those who are successfully making a difference in people lives, and to help build the communities in which we live. The Foundation believes in sharing the blessings which have been bestowed on its contributors and in celebrating the spiritual reciprocity between donors and receivers working collaboratively to make the world a better place.

The foundation emphasizes grant making in the following areas:

Healthy Living:

Programs and initiatives which promote an integrated approach to healing and wellness including the mind, body, heart and spirit.

Basic Human Needs and Services:

Programs and initiatives which provide funds and assistance to suffering individuals and families who may need the following due to poverty, illness, sudden loss of property, or the result of a natural or civic disaster.

• Food
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Transportation
• Healthcare

Educational and Personal Development:

Programs and initiatives for youth and adults leading to personal growth, societal impact and a deeper understanding of the world and its’ diverse cultures.

• Emphasis on youth leadership and mentoring.

Community Development:

Programs designed to develop and improve communities, with an emphasis on the municipalities located in Benton County, Minnesota.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.

NMF has open grants rounds through our mission-driven grants programs, as well as local funds in our family of funds. NMF is home to more than 430 community and component funds, many of which offer grant funding for groups and organizations to benefit their local communities.

The Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations

The HC COLA Charitable Fund provides financial support for charitable and educational programs, projects and activities that facilitate cooperation among member lake associations and to assist in encouraging environmentally sustainable use of lakes and watersheds that protect, preserve and enhance the quality of area lakes and their environs including funding for:

• Early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and aquatic vegetation surveys
• Research,studies or projects on water quality, and shoreland development, AIS prevention, and disseminating information thereof to member associations and the general public.
• Developing and presenting guidelines concerning the development, and preservation of the rivers, lakes, shorelands and other landsto agencies of the government, business and private individuals in order to bring about appropriate action for the effective use of these valuable natural resources.
• Support of acquisition of property for sustainable public use, e.g. Conservation Easements.
• Support for the establishment of individual lake association educational and charitable funds.
• Other charitable and educational activitiesthat support the HCCOLA and associated lake associations.

For every $1 contributed by HCCOLA Charitable Fund, applicant must match $1 toward the project. Matches can be comprised of volunteer labor, in-kind services, donated materials, and/or cash. In-kind match of labor / volunteers can be estimated at $25.00 per hour for unskilled activities.

Small Cities Development Program

Our Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) helps cities, townships, and counties with funding for housing, public infrastructure and commercial rehabilitation projects.

Program Goal

The goal of SCDP is to develop viable communities and provide a suitable living environment by expanding economic opportunities that principally benefit low-and-moderate income (LMI) households. The program accomplishes this goal by providing financial assistance to address the need for decent, safe, affordable housing, economic development, and adequate public facilities.

Background

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federal program that provides funding for housing, community, and economic development. In 1974, Congress passed the Housing and Community Development Act, Title I, which authorized the development of the CDBG Program. The Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), consists of two components:

• An entitlement program that provides funding directly to urban areas.
• CDBG Program that awards funds, through a competitive process, to eligible units of local government (UGLG) as sub-recipients.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is responsible for administrating the CDBG program, through the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP), for non-entitlement communities, per Minnesota Administrative Rules, Chapter 4300, Community Development Block Grants.

Housing Grants

Funds are granted to local units of government, which, in turn, lend funds for the purpose of rehabilitating local housing stock. Loans may be used for owner-occupied, rental, single-family or multiple-family housing rehabilitation. Loan agreements may allow for deferred payments or immediate monthly payments. Interest rates may vary, and loan repayments are retained by grantees for the purpose of making additional rehabilitation loans. In all cases, housing funds must benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

Public Facility Grants

Funds are granted for wastewater treatment projects, including collection systems and treatment plants; wells, water towers and distribution systems.

Comprehensive Grants

Comprehensive projects frequently include housing and public facility activities described above. In addition, comprehensive projects may include an economic development activity, which consists of loans from the grant recipient to businesses for building, rehabilitation related to facade improvements, code violations, and health and safety issues. The most common economic development activity is rehabilitation of local commercial districts.

Maximum Available

The maximum grant award for a Single Purpose project is $600,000. The maximum grant award for a Comprehensive project is $1.4 million.

Funds for the program are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the benefit of eligible non-entitlement local units of government (cities, counties, townships) through a competitive application process for a variety of community development needs.

Single Purpose Application

Single Purpose Application is used for housing projects, which include one or more housing activities designed to increase the supply or quality of dwellings suited for the occupancy of the individuals and families. Single purpose applications can also be used for public facilities projects. Public facilities projects include one or more activities designed to construct, reconstruct, or install buildings/infrastructure that serve a community or neighborhood area. Examples include water/wastewater treatment facilities, streetscapes, and public aesthetic amenities that are part of a larger renewal or beautification plan. Single purpose applications cannot exceed $600,000, including administrative expenses.

Comprehensive Application

The Comprehensive Application is used for projects that include a combination of at least two related activities, one of which must be a housing activity that will address community development needs. For multi-community applications, each communities proposed activities must meet the definition of a comprehensive project for multi-community applications to be eligible as a comprehensive project. These projects must benefit a defined geographical area. Total funding request cannot exceed $1.4 million and each activity within the application cannot exceed $600,000, including administrative expenses.

Dairy Business Planning Grant

The Dairy Business Planning Grant encourages business planning for Minnesota dairy farms and dairy processors.

Grants cover 50% of the cost, up to $5,000, to hire a qualified, independent third party to provide technical assistance services for evaluating the operation, transitional changes, expansions, improvements, and other business modifications.

Amount available

• We have approximately $83,000 available each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).
• You may request a grant amount between $500 and $5,000 per farm or processor.
• You are responsible for the other 50%.

Eligible Activities

Grant funds may only be used for hiring a professional to provide technical assistance services, such as:

• Evaluating the operation
• Legal advice for farm transition
• Developing plans for an expansion
• Assessing improvements and business modifications

The provider must also assist in creating a business plan report for you to submit with your reimbursement request. This report must include the following:

• Executive summary
• Short- and long-term goals and objectives
• Analysis of proposed business changes
• Financial projections on how the business plan will change operations on the farm or processor

Our Legacy

For more than 100 years, the Target Foundation (founded as The Dayton Foundation) has upheld the idea that the prosperity of a business is dependent on the prosperity of the communities in which it operates. It’s an important part of our history and our commitment to serve and support our neighbors.

In 2019, the Foundation expanded its support to address the growing urgency in our hometown, across the country and globally to help address widening socioeconomic gaps.

Target Foundation

We’re proud to continue our long legacy of support for communities in our hometown and around the world.

At the Target Foundation, we envision a world where all families and communities have the resources they need to determine and realize their own joy in life. It’s a reality that is out of reach for far too many families as they struggle for access to economic opportunity and stability, for equity and for the kind of empowerment that lifts up their communities. We believe we have a responsibility to work to remove structural barriers and help create access for those who have been left out. When we shift power to communities, they can more meaningfully participate in the economy, creating a world where all families can thrive.

Serving as a learning lab, the Target Foundation is committed to enabling shared prosperity and opportunity by upholding equity and inclusion for all communities. Guided by our deep commitment to community, we invest in leaders, organizations, coalitions and networks that expand economic opportunity equitably, enabling communities to determine their own futures. We support strategies that center and elevate the voices, stories and leadership of individuals and communities that have historically been silenced.

The Target Foundation is leaning into trust-based philanthropy to drive systems change, with values rooted in advancing equity, shifting power and building mutually accountable relationships. The Foundation’s capabilities allow it to work toward long-term solutions across complex and interconnected economic issues, grounded in the voices of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) as well as Global South communities and organizations.

Building on our legacy of giving in our twin hometowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and extending across the U.S. and in emerging economies around the world, we remain committed to listening, learning and building the kinds of relationships with partners that will shift systems to realize a world where joy is for all.

Hometown Racial Equity Grant

Advancing racial equity for underserved and under-resourced communities to enable shared prosperity and opportunity for all.

At Target Foundation, we believe a vibrant and growing economy is only possible when economic opportunities are available to all our neighbors. The Target Foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and shared prosperity in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the greater state of Minnesota.

In addition to supporting the overarching Minneapolis-St. Paul philanthropic ecosystem and addressing persistent and immediate community needs, the Target Foundation hometown program concentrates its investments in organizations working to address the specific systemic and structural barriers facing Black communities, Indigenous communities and communities of color. We do this in four priority areas: entrepreneurship and small business, workforce development, housing and asset building.

• Entrepreneurship and Small Business: The Foundation supports entrepreneurship initiatives that address current ecosystem gaps, drive inclusive practices and create access to knowledge, services, networks and capital for entrepreneurs at all stages.
• Workforce Development: The Foundation supports employment and technical training opportunities to ensure the workforce development system operates effectively and connects job seekers and workers with the skills they need to succeed.
• Housing: The Foundation supports efforts that increase housing availability, stability and access — creating pathways to greater opportunity.
• Asset Building: The Foundation supports organizations that improve the asset-building opportunities available to traditionally marginalized communities, especially those that are engaged in work to increase financial inclusion, wealth building and overall financial health.

Why We Care

Target is proud to have called the Twin Cities our home since its founding more than 100 years ago. Our commitment to our hometown region continues to be a signature legacy of the Target Foundation.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul region is home to more than three million people. The region’s assets include the natural beauty of its parks, woods and lakes; a deep, vibrant and robust history of craft, visual arts, music and theater; numerous longstanding international anchor corporations; and widespread and increasing racial, ethnic and cultural diversity.

There are many communities who continue to be at an economic disadvantage despite our region’s thriving job market and strong economy.

Similar patterns can be found across the nation — rising income inequality and persistent racial gaps in health, education, employment, income and wealth preventing all people from realizing their full economic potential. As the demographics of our region continue to shift, the costs of inequality will grow.

However, the Twin Cities not only mirrors what is happening throughout the United States, but in several key areas, our hometown actually fares worse. Recent statistics on home ownership, income inequality, wages, and educational attainment all paint a picture of glaring disparities that could impact the region’s long-term success.

Equalizing economic opportunities for communities of color is not just important for these families and communities but also critical to a vibrant and growing economy, which ultimately benefits all.

Compelled by this data, Target Foundation recognizes that everyone’s future depends on overcoming inequalities and has made racial equity the cornerstone of its hometown program.

Our Desired Outcome

In our hometown program area, the Target Foundation envisions racial equity that enables shared prosperity and opportunity for all. To achieve this vision, the Foundation believes that our hometown region needs:

• A strong frontline of Black-, Indigenous- and people of color-led direct service organizations that are well-resourced, connected and able to serve the most marginalized communities, lifting them out of poverty and into economic vitality.
• Well-coordinated and well-resourced multi-sector networks, coalitions and alliances that are catalyzing economic development in the Twin Cities’ poorest neighborhoods, while displacing no one and leaving no one behind.

Who do we want to impact?

• Black communities, Indigenous communities and other communities of color.
• Historically disinvested communities.
• Individuals with low income.

Funding

Estimated grant size will range from $25,000-$200,000.

Minnesota Housing Mission and Strategic Priorities

Housing is the foundation for success, so we collaborate with individuals, communities and partners to create, preserve and finance affordable housing.

Minnesota Housing’s strategic priorities are:

• Improve the Housing System
• Preserve and Create Housing Opportunities
• Make Homeownership More Accessible
• Support People Needing Services
• Strengthen Communities

Impact Fund Program Overview

The Community Homeownership Impact Fund (Impact Fund) provides funding for developers and administrators of single-family, owner-occupied affordable and workforce housing activity in communities across Minnesota. Resources are available through a competitive Request for Proposal published each spring.

The goal of the Impact Fund is to increase the supply of affordable, owner-occupied, single family housing, while maintaining the safety and habitability of existing owner-occupied, single family homes in communities throughout Minnesota.

Types of Funds Available

Interim Loan

A short-term, low-interest bearing loan made to assist an administrator with acquiring, demolishing, rehabilitating or constructing owner-occupied housing.

Deferred Forgivable Loans

Interest-free deferred loan financing is available to help eligible homeowners bridge affordability gaps not covered by first-mortgage or other funding sources.

Grant

Provided to bridge value gaps between a project’s total development cost and its fair market value or for other eligible activities where recapture of loan funds proves infeasible or unaffordable.

Funding Terms

All funded housing activities must result in safe, habitable, affordable single family owner- occupied housing that conforms to the Minnesota State Building code and local codes and regulations. Applicants are encouraged to form working partnerships with one or more entities to achieve the objectives stated in their proposal.

The type, terms and conditions of assistance will vary depending on the needs outlined in each proposal and the availability of funding resources. Generally, if an activity may be addressed through a loan rather than a grant, a loan will be offered.

Awarded projects must be completed within 20 months from the effective date of the contract. Awarded interim loans may have a Repayment/Expenditure Date of up to 26 months; however, the Agency may adjust the loan terms based on a financial feasibility analysis by Agency staff or requirements and conditions of other funding sources. The determination of financial feasibility is based on whether all sources of funding are available and sufficient to cover the total development costs of the housing.

About the Antioch Foundation 

Since 2000, The Antioch Foundation has provided financial support to innovative people and institutions across the U.S. and around the word to share the Gospel of Jesus and serve others in the areas of faith, education, medicine, and humanitarian need.

Our Mission:

To make a positive difference in the lives of others for the greater glory of God.

 What We Fund:

• Pilot programs, start-up costs, or building projects receive priority over operating budget items. 
• Most awards do not exceed $40,000 and are generally awarded for a one-year period. Multi-year grants are occasionally made for larger amounts.
• Evidence of project support from other donors is highly desirable.

Examples of previously funded grants include:

Faith: Church construction and remodel; audio, video, and online training materials production; summer youth programs 

Education: Classroom technology; tuition assistance; teacher training seminars; special education programs

Medicine: Hospital and clinic expansion; advanced technology; research; community health outreach

Humanitarian Need: Natural disaster relief; water filtration and purification; temporary housing; food distribution

The Management Improvement Fund

THE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND, A SPECIAL FUND OF THE SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS’ INTERNAL OPERATIONS.

The Management Improvement Fund provides grants of up to $15,000 to small and midsize nonprofits across the state of Minnesota for technical assistance and consultation to:

• Support new and vital capacity-building work
• Expand and improve organizational capacity
• Nurture Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leadership in the nonprofit sector

Since 1991, the Fund has provided $7 million to more than 470 nonprofit organizations.

Five Wings Art Council

As one of the eleven Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, the Five Wings Art Council is entrusted with the stewardship and distribution of funds acquired from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage (ACH) fund as well as funds allocated from the General Budget through the Minnesota State Legislature.

We embrace the vision, guiding principles, goals, and key strategies developed in partnership with the Minnesota Regional Arts Councils and the Minnesota State Arts Board. FWAC is committed to working together to accomplish this vision of this constitutional amendment. We do this through grant programs designed to support the work of community organizations to bring the arts to the citizens of their community. Five Wings Arts Council also grants funds from the McKnight Foundation to support the work of individual artists within our region.

The Five Wings Art Council administers grant programs for individual artists living in Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Morrison, and Wadena Counties. These grant programs have been established to provide assistance for artists at various stages in their career development, and for arts organizations.

General Operating Support Grants

The General Operating and Capital Support Grant program offers unrestricted grant funds to arts organizations, as well as arts affiliates of large institutions in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties that do not receive general operating support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and have a current 501(c)(3) with the IRS.

General Operating grant funds may be used for administrative, operating, and capital expenditures. General Operating grant fund levels correlate to the average of the expenses for the last two completed fiscal years. Grants are awarded based on artistic quality, commitment to community access, financial health, and overall stability of the organization.

Mission

Investing in the Arts throughout Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.

Vision

Over the next four years the CMAB will:

• Help to foster a thriving, collaborative and innovative arts community through partnerships and financial support.
• Strive for excellence in leadership and the responsible distribution of arts funding.
• Increase the quality of life in our region by engaging residents in the arts, enhancing education and improving arts access.
• Nurture artists’ professional needs and expand opportunities for them to create, showcase and profit from their work.

Values

Creativity and Artistic Integrity: The CMAB recognizes excellence in free and innovative artistic expression as integral to the intellectual and creative development of everyone. We value these qualities as principal criteria for our support to local organizations and individuals.

• Creativity and Artistic Integrity:
  • The CMAB recognizes excellence in free and innovative artistic expression as integral to the intellectual and creative development of everyone. We value these qualities as principal criteria for our support to local organizations and individuals.
•  Accessibility and Diversity:
  • The CMAB is committed to supporting a variety of artistic programs that serve many cultures, ages, genders and artistic disciplines in order to encourage a dialog of respect and understanding.
• Accountability:
  • The CMAB provides fair, professional and transparent support to organizations and individuals through distribution of funds in an ethical and legal manner open to public review and discourseribution of funds in an ethical and legal manner open to public review and discourse
• Lifelong Learning through the Arts:
  • The CMAB values opportunities for collaborations between artists, educators and community to convey artistic viewpoints in all disciplines of learning.
• Civic Engagement:
  • The CMAB believes a strong artistic presence is central to building healthy communities and is committed to promoting the positive economic and social impacts of the arts.

Arts Organization Development Grant

The Arts Organization Development program provides funds up to $10,000 to support activities and purchases that contribute to organizational sustainability, growth and improvement of nonprofit arts organizations in Region 7W.

These funds are also available to assist arts groups in establishing 501(c)(3) status.

Green Fertilizer Grant Program

The Green Fertilizer Grant Program provides funding to agricultural and rural electric cooperatives to invest in green fertilizer production facilities located in Minnesota. Program funds can be combined with available federal financial assistance programs, such as the Inflation Reduction Act Green Hydrogen Tax Credit (45V) or Department of Energy loan programs.

Definitions

• Green fertilizer – Means a nitrogen-based fertilizer produced from green hydrogen.
• Green hydrogen – Means hydrogen produced by splitting water molecules using either 1) grid-based electrolyzers that have matched their electricity consumption with wind or solar, or 2) electrolyzers connected directly to a wind or solar facility. The green hydrogen must have a carbon intensity not greater than four kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of hydrogen produced. This carbon intensity threshold aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Clean Hydrogen provisions.
• Carbon intensity – Means a measure of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for the process to produce a unit of energy or product. Carbon intensity is a way to compare environmental impacts of different fuels, products, and activities. The U.S. Department of Energy Argonne Laboratory GREET model assesses lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels and products like hydrogen.

See common Questions & Answers about the Green Fertilizer Grant Program here. 

Amount available

We have approximately $3.8 million available for eligible projects. The minimum grant award is $250,000 and the maximum grant amount is $3.8 million.

The total number of awards and the funding per award will be determined through a competitive proposal review process. Cooperatives may apply for funding to invest in multiple green fertilizer production facilities – each facility requires its own application.

This grant requires matching funds. Cooperatives must provide at least 50% of the total investment cost.