Best Financial Assistance Grants in Minnesota

Benton County, Minnesota nonprofits and community groups can receive up to US $2,000 for healthy living, basic needs, education, and community development projects. Benton Telecommunications Foundation provides Minnesota organizations with small grants for programs such as food, shelter, healthcare, youth leadership, and local community improvement, reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.

Individuals facing short-term health or human services emergencies in Dakota, Ramsey, or Washington County, Minnesota can receive up to US $1,000 in one-time financial assistance to prevent crises like unemployment or homelessness. Grants from The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation are accessed through partner community organizations, not by direct individual application.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing housing, homelessness prevention, or emergency support services in Minnesota can seek financial assistance through the Edina Realty Foundation. With a mission to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, this funder backs programs such as housing and shelter, emergency services, financial assistance, and related education across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Minnesota family medicine and pediatric clinics providing well-child visits can receive up to US $15,000 per clinic to implement the IMPLICIT Interconception Care Model and enhance maternal and perinatal health services. Focused on maternal and perinatal care, the Minnesota Department of Health invites clinics to embed screening, brief interventions, and referrals into routine pediatric visits over a three-year period.

Historic preservation 501(c)(3) organizations and government agencies partnering with a 501(c)(3) in Minnesota can seek funding for Historic Structure Reports through the Jeffris Heartland Fund, with awards of US $5,000 - US $50,000 covering 50% of report costs. Grants from Jeffris Family Foundation help advance planning for nationally or statewide significant historic sites in smaller communities.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups can seek up to US $15,000 for technical assistance and training to strengthen internal operations and capacity. Minnesota community organizations, especially BIPOC-led groups and those serving Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, Latinx and Black communities, can access funding through the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation’s Management Improvement Fund for consulting, planning, assessments and leadership development.

Grants from Bayer Fund help Minnesota health organizations deliver cancer and cardiovascular disease education, awareness, and support services for patients, caregivers, and at-risk populations. Eligible 501(c)(3)s and government units near Bayer communities may request program funding, including limited overhead and evaluation costs, for evidence-based initiatives completed within about one year.

Nonprofits and community organizations in central Minnesota counties can apply for Benton Telecommunications Foundation’s US $2,000 - US $25,000 grants to support healthy living, basic human needs, education, and community development projects. Programs serving Benton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, or Stearns County residents needing financial assistance for direct services may be eligible.

Arts-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and government units in Minnesota’s Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties can apply for general operating and capital support funding; awards cover administrative, operating, and capital expenses. Grants from Five Wings Arts Council are based on artistic quality, community access, financial health, and organizational stability.

The Samuel F. Atkins and Barbara H. Atkins Memorial Fund Grant, managed by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, supports projects that assist low-income individuals and address animal welfare. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, governmental entities, and tribal governments located in specific counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The fund prioritizes projects demonstrating financial need, including emergency services and training programs for the physically disabled. This grant exemplifies the foundation's commitment to enhancing community welfare.

Legal services nonprofits, solo practitioners, and small law firms pursuing impact litigation for economic, environmental, racial, or social justice in Minnesota can seek US $10,000 - US $50,000 in recoverable funding. The Impact Fund supports out-of-pocket litigation costs for class actions, multi-plaintiff, and environmental justice cases that aim to benefit communities facing systemic oppression.

Public agencies and 501(c)(3) or other nonprofits in Minnesota planning historic preservation projects can seek US $2,500 - US $5,000 for planning, education, and outreach activities. National Trust for Historic Preservation supports work like feasibility studies, design guidelines, community forums, capacity building, and innovative public programs that introduce new audiences to preservation.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and local governments in Minnesota can apply for up to US $35,000 to implement projects that restore and protect publicly owned open spaces while encouraging public use. With a mission to enhance ecological integrity, the Laura Jane Musser Fund supports community-engaged habitat restoration, park improvements, and sustainable public space initiatives with measurable outcomes.

Grants help Minnesota public agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits plan community-driven projects for publicly owned open spaces, focusing on ecosystem restoration, habitat conservation, and public access. The Laura Jane Musser Fund offers planning grants up to US $8,000 for efforts with measurable outcomes, strong local participation, and long-term environmental and financial sustainability.

The Antioch Foundation Grant supports innovative projects that share the Gospel and serve communities in faith, education, medicine, and humanitarian needs. Established in 2000, it prioritizes pilot programs and start-up costs, with most awards not exceeding $40,000 for a one-year period. Grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, particularly those affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Evidence of support from other donors is encouraged to enhance funding opportunities.

Nonprofit organizations and select government initiatives in Minnesota working on education and economic mobility policy can apply for Joyce Foundation support for research, advocacy, and systems change. Funding focuses on effective educators, college and career readiness, and post-secondary success, especially for historically underserved young people and BIPOC communities in the Great Lakes region.

Minnesota local governments seeking funding for housing, public infrastructure, or commercial district rehabilitation can access the Small Cities Development Program, which offers US $600,000 - US $1,400,000 for eligible projects. Minnesota communities can access funding through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to benefit low- and moderate-income residents and improve local facilities.

Agricultural and rural electric cooperatives in Minnesota investing in green fertilizer production facilities can apply for Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Green Fertilizer Grant Program, with awards of US $250,000 - US $3,800,000. Funding supports renewable-energy-based green hydrogen fertilizer plants, with preference for projects showing strong financing, business readiness, and locations in higher-poverty counties.

Affordable housing providers in Minnesota and other Midwest states can apply for Enterprise Community Partners’ Midwest Asset Management University Cohort, a five‑month training and technical assistance program to strengthen asset and property management capacity. Up to 15 mission‑aligned organizations receive online CHAM training, peer learning, and post‑training support to better preserve long‑term housing affordability.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) public charities working on affordable housing, workforce development, economic development, or financial empowerment can apply for Old National Bank Foundation grants of approximately US $15,000. Programs must primarily serve underrepresented or low- to moderate-income communities within the bank’s Minnesota footprint and demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes and long-term sustainability.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations in Region 7E can use this operating support for rent, utilities, supplies, equipment, training, and planning. With a mission to strengthen regional arts and culture, East Central Regional Arts Council provides $3,000 - $10,000 to sustain arts access, arts education, and cultural heritage programming and capacity.

Grocery stores and small food retailers in Minnesota seeking to improve equipment or infrastructure for affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food access can apply for this program, with awards ranging from US $5,000 - US $75,000. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture funds physical improvements, equipment purchases, and related installation costs to better serve underserved low- and moderate-income communities.

The Blandin Foundation's Community Wealth Building Grants aim to empower rural communities in Minnesota by addressing economic disparities and fostering sustainable growth. Targeting low-income, diverse populations, the grants focus on collaborative projects that enhance affordable housing, promote local businesses, and improve access to resources. With funding ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the foundation seeks innovative solutions to strengthen community ties and support marginalized populations, ensuring a robust future for rural Minnesota.

The Family & Neighborhood Stability Grant by the McNeely Foundation aims to enhance the economic vitality and stability of youth and low-income families in East Side St. Paul. The foundation prioritizes organizations that provide financial literacy, supportive housing services, and employment training. It welcomes applications from tax-exempt non-profits and public agencies, focusing on programs that foster community development and individual empowerment. Grants are awarded primarily for program support, with a strong emphasis on data-driven strategies and community partnerships.

Minnesota public agencies and 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit organizations preserving battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures can access funding through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Grants of US $2,500 - US $10,000 support planning, professional consulting, capacity building, and public education or outreach initiatives that advance battlefield preservation efforts.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on economic opportunity, housing, workforce development, entrepreneurship, or asset building for underserved and low-income communities can apply for Target Foundation’s hometown grants of US $25,000 - US $200,000. Grants from Target Foundation help Minnesota organizations expand financial inclusion, job readiness, and housing stability, supporting broader financial assistance efforts statewide.