Best Grants for 501(c)(3) in Minnesota

The Asian Cultural Council's New York Fellowship offers a transformative six-month program for artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia. Participants engage deeply with New York City's vibrant cultural landscape, attending performances, exhibitions, and workshops while building networks with local communities. This unique opportunity fosters peer-learning and individual artistic development, encouraging fellows to incorporate their experiences into their practices and contribute to their home cultures. The fellowship emphasizes exploration, exchange, and support, culminating in a rich cultural immersion.

The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund, managed by Refed Inc., supports innovative solutions to minimize food waste and reduce methane emissions, a cost-effective strategy for climate action. This fund prioritizes initiatives that enhance food recycling and improve supply chain efficiency in the beef and dairy sectors. By focusing on proven methods, the grant aims to accelerate impactful changes in the food system, ultimately fostering sustainable practices and collaborative efforts to combat food waste.

The Bush Fellowship empowers individuals across various sectors to amplify their leadership and drive community change. Offering up to $150,000 over two years, it supports personal growth and networking for selected Fellows. Applicants must be at least 24 years old and residents of specific states or Native nations. The program is competitive, with over 600 applications in recent years. It emphasizes equitable leadership and a commitment to making impactful changes within communities.

Entergy’s Open Grants Program aims to enhance community well-being through funding initiatives in arts, education, social services, and community improvement. The program prioritizes support for organizations that serve diverse populations, including children and low-income communities. Eligible entities must have 501(c)(3) status or equivalent nonprofit recognition. Applications should be submitted three months in advance, allowing ample time for review. Entergy focuses on projects that foster self-sufficiency and enrich local neighborhoods.

The Minnesota Hospital Registered Nurse Loan Forgiveness program aims to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in underserved areas. Funded by the Minnesota Department of Health, it offers forgiveness for qualified educational loans, with a minimum eligible debt of $6,000. Registered nurses in nonprofit and public hospitals are eligible, provided they live in Minnesota. The program supports healthcare access by alleviating financial burdens, ensuring more nurses can serve communities in need.

The National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) aims to protect coastal communities through nature-based solutions, enhancing habitats while addressing the growing threats of climate change. Established in 2018, the fund focuses on restoring vital ecosystems like marshes and reefs to mitigate flooding impacts. With rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity, NCRF invests in community-led projects that foster resilience, ensuring both people and wildlife can adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The Bush Prize: Native Nations honors Native-led organizations committed to innovative solutions in their communities. Grants can reach up to $500,000, covering 25% of the organization’s previous fiscal year expenses. This annual award emphasizes collaboration and resourcefulness, supporting entities that are deeply valued in their communities and have proven success in addressing challenges. The program, a partnership with four community grant partners, aims to empower organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 23 Native Nations.

Federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to increase charter school quality and authorizer accountability. The three objectives identified in MDE’s application to ED are designed to support a landscape of high-quality/high-performing charter schools that all parents from all communities can access by making informed decisions about the best education choices for their children through empowered access to information.

Native Language Revitalization Grant

Grant purpose

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) makes funding available to school districts, charter schools, and Tribal contract schools in Minnesota to provide language instruction in Dakota and Anishinaabe languages or another language indigenous to the United States or Canada, pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 2025, 1st Special Sess. chapter 10, article 6, section 6, subdivision 5.

Funding

Funding is made available through Laws of Minnesota 2025, 1st Special Sess. chapter 10, article 6, section 6, subdivision 5. MDE estimates that up to $13,500,000 is available for the initial grant round. Any funds remaining after the initial round will be available for subsequent grant rounds. Applicants are encouraged to apply during the initial round as the timing and funding available for subsequent rounds will be determined after the first round is complete.

Applicants are encouraged to request no more than $500,000 for the two-year grant period. However, applicants may request more than $500,000 if they can clearly demonstrate the need for such funding.

The Connecting Joy Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to enhance the hospital experience for children battling illness through engaging gaming programs. This initiative supports children's hospitals and nonprofits by funding equipment, staffing, and connectivity, ensuring children can enjoy gaming at their bedside. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the program focuses on offering joy and distraction, helping young patients cope with their hospital stays while facilitating connections with peers.

The Dunkin’ Prom Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to bring joy to teenage patients unable to attend their own prom due to illness. By funding hospitals to host prom-like events, the program ensures these patients experience this significant milestone. Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, supporting the creation of memorable events with themes, food, entertainment, and formal wear for the teens, making a positive impact in their lives.

Minnesota Department of Health

Mission: Protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans.

Vision: The vision of MDH is for health equity in Minnesota, where all communities are thriving and all people have what they need to be healthy.

Noncommunity Transient Grant (Source Water Protection)

Noncommunity transient systems are defined as public water systems (PWS) that regularly serve an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year, but do not serve the same 25 people over that period of time. SWP activities that are funded under this grant program must support measures that address a potential contamination source that presents a high risk to a source of drinking water as determined by MDH. 

The fundamental goals of SWP are to prevent contamination from entering sources of public drinking water at levels that present a risk to people; and to provide long term, sustainable management of drinking water sources. SWP applies to all types of public water systems and is based on requirements in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and authorities granted to MDH by the state legislature.

This is a reimbursement grant. The PWS will be reimbursed once the project work item activities and the grant reporting requirements have been successfully met and MDH is satisfied that the project has been completed according to the terms of the grant agreement. 

The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program offers matching grants between $5,000 and $500,000 to organizations aiming to restore, protect, or enhance Minnesota's natural habitats. The program, managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, emphasizes projects that focus on prairies, wetlands, and wildlife habitats. A 10% match of non-state funds is required, and total project costs cannot exceed $1,000,000. Applications are reviewed bi-monthly until May 11, 2026, or until funding is depleted.

The Food Retail Improvement and Development Grant (FRIDG) Program by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture aims to enhance access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved communities. This program provides up to $50,000 in competitive grants for equipment purchases and facility improvements. Eligible projects include grocery stores and small food retailers, focusing on increasing the availability of culturally appropriate food. The initiative supports sustainable public-private partnerships to improve food access and consumption in low-income areas.

The NLSOT Postdoctoral Travel Award aims to support postdoctoral researchers from the Northland SOT region by covering travel costs to the national SOT Annual Meeting. This initiative encourages their participation in chapter activities, fostering professional development and collaboration. Eligible expenses include meeting registration, airfare, hotel accommodations, and meals, making it a valuable opportunity for emerging scientists to engage with the broader toxicology community.

The NLSOT Graduate Student Travel Award aims to assist graduate students from the Northland SOT region with travel costs to the national SOT Annual Meeting. This award encourages student involvement in local chapter activities and can be used for various travel-related expenses, including registration, airfare, lodging, and meals. By supporting student participation, the award fosters academic growth and networking opportunities within the toxicology community.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant by the NCAA Division III aims to increase diversity in assistant coaching roles by providing financial support to member institutions. Over two years, selected schools receive $15,000 to cover salaries, requiring a matching contribution. This initiative encourages ethnic minority and gender representation, allowing up to 11 institutions to benefit annually, thus enhancing inclusivity in collegiate sports.

The Albert G. and Olive H. Schlink Foundation, established in 1966, has significantly impacted Ohio's nonprofit sector by increasing its annual grant distribution from an initial $500 to over $1.4 million in 2023. The Foundation prioritizes organizations with ties to Erie and Huron Counties and emphasizes thoughtful evaluation of all grant applications. With a focus on community needs, it continues to honor the founders' legacy while adapting to the evolving demands of local nonprofits.

Eligible artists must identify as being of transgender experience and Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color, and we strongly encourage artists who also identify as disabled, LGBTQ+, and/or undocumented to apply. Projects should be in the development stage and can be fiction or nonfiction, including features or shorts. The applicant should be the main writer and/or director on the project and should identify as “emerging,” which Sundance Institute defines as yet to complete a long-form or major work in the specific discipline in question. 

Two artists will be selected from Minnesota or New York City.

Training registrations and stipend distribution for direct support workers

DHS, through its Disability Services Division, is seeking Proposals from qualified Responders to administer training registrations, enhanced rate and budget training verification and stipend distribution for direct support workers.

The term of any resulting contract is anticipated to be one year, from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2027. STATE may extend the contract up to a total of five (5) years.

Background

Direct Support Workers (DSWs) who provide services through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) programs Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) budget model, Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Choice, Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS), and the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) are eligible to receive stipends when they have meet certain requirements. Additionally, when DSWs complete qualifying trainings, the services they provide become eligible for an enhanced reimbursement rate or trigger an enhanced budget when they are provided to people using CFSS, PCA services, CDCS, or CSG who are eligible for a certain number of hours of PCA services.  

DSWs comprise many types of diversity, including but not limited to people with a wide variety of:

• Racial, cultural, spiritual and or religious backgrounds
• Linguistic backgrounds, including both languages and dialects and accents; 
• Geographic locations; 
• Levels of education; 
• Disabilities, including invisible disabilities; 
• Marital statuses; 
• Types of families; 
• Sexual orientations; 
• Ages; 
• Nationalities and all immigration statuses; 
• Members of tribal nations; 
• Different sexes, including transsexual and intersex individuals; and or 
• Different genders, including people who identify themselves as gender-fluid or gender-neutral. 

Funding Availability

Voluntary training registration funding: $ 30,000, cost of training ranges from $75 to $200 dollars each. Additional funding may be added if funding runs out prior to the end of FY27. 

Voluntary Training Stipend: $ 1,125,000, stipends in the amount of $750 for issuing 1,500 stipends. Additional stipend funding may be available depending on the remaining balance in FY26. 

Retention Stipend: $ 10,000,800, stipends in the amount of $1,200 for issuing 8,334 stipends. Additional stipend funding may be available depending on the remaining balance in FY26.  

• Total Administration Funding: $ 621,342 
• Total: $11,777,142

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is offering funding for mental health screenings, assessments, and referrals for children involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. This initiative aims to support uninsured and underinsured children, with a focus on providing necessary diagnostic assessments and treatment. Applications are accepted from Minnesota counties and tribal nations, with funding beginning on January 1st following the annual data collection cycle. Contract amounts are fixed and non-negotiable.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant by the NCAA Division III aims to bolster ethnic minority and gender representation in senior athletics administration roles. With an annual budget of $1.6 million, it supports up to 46 schools and conferences over five years. Eligible institutions must be active NCAA Division III members and meet various requirements. This grant encourages diversity in leadership, fostering an inclusive environment for student-athletes.

The Elam Baer and Janis Clay Epilepsy Scholarship, administered by Scholarship America, aims to eliminate financial barriers for students with epilepsy. This scholarship is open to residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Iowa, who are high school seniors or current college students. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and plan to enroll in accredited institutions. The program reflects a commitment to accessibility and support for underrepresented students.

The Agricultural Education Summer Grant, funded by the Minnesota Department of Education, aims to support school districts and educational institutions in providing summer programming for high school students. With a total of $242,500 available, this initiative focuses on enhancing agricultural education across Minnesota. Eligible programs will occur in the summers of 2026 and 2027, ensuring that students gain vital skills and knowledge necessary for their future careers and community involvement.

The Family Supportive Housing Grant Program aims to provide stable housing for families in need through a one-time funding of $700,000. Managed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, this initiative focuses on supporting families facing homelessness or other barriers. The program emphasizes the importance of affordable, permanent housing and family support services, with a commitment to allocate at least 40% of funds to organizations outside the metropolitan area and 10% to Minnesota Tribal Nations.

The Minnesota Health Care Loan Forgiveness Programs aim to enhance access to essential health services in rural and underserved urban areas. By providing financial relief to health care professionals, the program seeks to recruit and retain qualified practitioners in high-need facilities across the state. This initiative not only benefits individual professionals but also strengthens community health systems, ensuring that all Minnesotans receive the quality care they deserve.