Best Grants for Charities in Minnesota

The Japan – U.S. Global Partnership Grant Program aims to foster collaborative projects addressing global issues through partnerships between Japanese and American organizations. It focuses on policy-oriented research and dialogue among diverse professionals, including academia and grassroots practitioners. Key thematic areas include resilience, inclusivity, and advancements in science and technology. Projects outside these themes may also be eligible if aligned with grant goals, covering topics like climate change, public health, and digital transformation.

The Global Health and Wellbeing Grantmaking program by Coefficient Giving focuses on addressing critical health and welfare issues worldwide. With an emphasis on proactive engagement and evidence-based solutions, the initiative supports projects that improve health outcomes and wellbeing. The program prioritizes funding for organizations tackling neglected global health challenges, advocating for effective philanthropy, and enhancing the lives of both humans and animals in vulnerable communities.

Request for Proposals: Launchpad Funds

Background

Coefficient Giving is increasing its giving, primarily to prepare for the billions of dollars in new philanthropic capital that may become available in the coming years. Our increased giving in global health and wellbeing is a temporary surge, with two objectives: to smooth funding and pull forward initiatives we expect to be cost-effective, and to help create an ecosystem of regrantors and implementers with the capacity to allocate this new money as cost-effectively as possible. Additional context on our scaling is provided in this blog post. 

With new potential capital on the way, we want to increase the supply of actionable and fundable plans to address some of the world’s hardest problems. We’re looking for specific, credible strategies to convert funding into measurable progress. Our ideal funds are:

However, we are also open to funds that are thematic and don’t have a quantified goal — for example, a fund organized around a promising type of intervention. Such funds still need to be led by a single, identifiable person who is accountable for the fund’s direction.

Through this request for EOIs, we aim to seed or scale Launchpad Funds that can grow to $100m+ over the next few years. We don’t seek scale for its own sake; it is a proxy for the ambition of the fund, and a signal that the problem is large and tractable enough to justify deploying significantly more capital over time.

What we will fund

• We expect to support established ideas that have either not yet secured anchor support or could significantly scale beyond their existing level of funding.
• This funding can cover operating expenses, but we expect most of it to be used for activities that make progress on the fund’s goals — whether through regranting or direct implementation.
• For exceptional proposals, we may consider funding levels beyond $50m. We anticipate higher funding levels will involve more thought partnership from our team.
• While we don’t expect to make grants longer than 36 months, funded proposals may later be considered for additional funding beyond the initial period.

The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation offers grants to support diverse initiatives, including museums, educational programs, and environmental activities. Aiming to make a significant impact with modest funding, the Foundation targets IRS-qualified non-profits in the U.S. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $20,000, fostering community development and enhancement. Organizations focused on youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply, as the Foundation seeks to empower those in need.

Prevent Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Minnesota’s American Indian and Black/African American Populations RFP

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) seeks proposals to fund one organization with the capacity and expertise to create, manage, and support Community Action Teams (CATs) to implement culturally appropriate, data driven solutions to reduce sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) in Minnesota’s American Indian and Black/African American populations. The organization selected for this grant must be uniquely positioned to support the CATs in implementing community prioritized solutions to improve infant sleep safety that align with the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations. The awarded applicant must also be immediately ready, upon being notified about the award, to begin forming the CATs and executing other duties as contractually agreed upon. This RFP aligns with both state and national goals to reduce infant mortality by addressing SUIDs in communities that are disproportionately affected by sleep-related tragedies during infancy.

The source of funding for this grant opportunity is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, through NU58DP007698. Funding is currently available for $134,000 from July 15, 2026, to Sept. 29, 2027. However, the grant may be extended for an additional year contingent on the availability of funds and the awarded applicant’s performance during the initial project period. Funding will be allocated through a competitive process.

Estimated Amount to Grant

• $134,000

Estimated Number of Awards

• 1

The National Sea Grant Law Center is inviting proposals for the Coastal Resilience Program to research laws and policies addressing coastal resilience challenges such as sea level rise and flooding. With a funding cap of $150,000 over two years, this initiative aims to assess the effectiveness of existing policies and promote informed decision-making in coastal management. Up to two projects will be selected for funding, supporting innovative solutions to enhance community resilience against environmental threats.

SITKA Ecosystem Grants support projects that enhance ecosystems and promote conservation efforts. These grants encourage both grassroots initiatives and larger organizational projects, aiming to improve habitat restoration, biodiversity, and the hunting experience. With funding ranging from $3,000 to $20,000, applicants must be 18 years or older and have relevant experience. The review process is ongoing, and projects should emphasize collaboration and measurable impacts on environmental goals, benefiting both society and ecosystems.

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families was established to bring together programs to better serve children, youth, and families. 

RFP to Provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, through its Economic Assistance and Employment Supports Division, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) services. 

The state develops a SNAP E&T State Plan each year stipulating details on the operation of service in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s SNAP E&T program is intended for Minnesotans with low incomes to have clear pathways in developing marketable and in-demand skills, leading to career advancement and self-sufficiency. Through strong partnerships, the mission is to help Minnesotans fully utilize their SNAP benefits, gain the essential skills needed for gainful employment and successfully transition off public assistance. Minnesotans can receive SNAP E&T services if they meet all of the following:

• Receive federal food assistance
• Are age 16 or older (there are additional requirements to serve 16-17 year olds)
• Report that they intend to work at least part-time; clients reporting a disability may participate in SNAP E&T if they state they will be able to work with appropriate supports and/or training
• And are referred to SNAP E&T by an eligibility worker. 

Responders are expected to/will provide services to both Time-limited (TLR) and non-TLR SNAP recipients. Responders must have the ability to fully fund their SNAP E&T program with non-federal funding and request fifty percent (50%) reimbursement.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is inviting applications for its Lake Superior Coastal Program Annual Grants. These grants aim to protect and restore coastal resources while promoting sustainable development in Minnesota's coastal communities. Eligible projects may include community engagement, ecological preservation, and improved access to public coastal areas. This funding provides a vital opportunity for local organizations to address pressing coastal issues and enhance recreational and ecological values along Lake Superior.

Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant

The intent of the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program is to support new farmers in Minnesota to access equipment and develop infrastructure that will be crucial to the future of their farm business.

Through this grant, beginning farmers are able to pay for:

• Agriculture-specific equipment needed to grow crops, raise livestock or store the related farm products
• Farm infrastructure investments related to water access; irrigation; fencing; electricity; walk-in coolers; livestock handling; grain storage; production-related structures such as barns, livestock buildings, and greenhouses; and other farm infrastructure.

Funds available

This program is funded by the Minnesota Legislature.

For the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 program, the MDA expects to award approximately $700,000 through a competitive review process. The maximum award is $10,000 and the minimum award is $1,000. 

For proposals requesting up to $2,000, no match is required, 100% of the costs can be reimbursed. For proposals requesting more than $2,000, grantees may be reimbursed up to 75% of their costs up to $10,000. See Request for Proposals for details.

We expect to award between 70 and 95 of grants; however, the final number depends on the size of the awards and will be determined through the proposal review process.

The Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team Development and Implementation Grant by the Minnesota Department of Health aims to enhance the state's response to overdose fatalities. This initiative seeks to provide communities with resources, support, and guidance to effectively establish or improve their OFR processes. Collaboration among local public health and safety organizations is essential, and applicants must submit letters of support to demonstrate commitment. This funding aims to reduce overdose deaths and improve overall public health outcomes.

The MNDNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program offers competitive matching grants between $5,000 and $500,000 for projects that restore, protect, or enhance Minnesota's natural resources, including prairies, wetlands, and forests. Grants require a 10% match of non-state funds and are aimed at benefiting habitats for fish and wildlife. Projects must comply with specific statutory requirements, ensuring that funded activities directly contribute to habitat improvement.

The AGRI Minnesota Value Added Grant Program supports value-added businesses by providing grants for equipment investments. Aimed at enhancing the production capacity and market access for Minnesota agricultural products, it prioritizes projects that improve food safety and increase hemp fiber production. Applicants must provide a cash match, covering 50% of the first $50,000 and 75% of any additional costs, with a maximum award of $150,000. This initiative fosters economic growth in the agricultural sector.

The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) Board, through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), invites grant applications for training programs aimed at new and incumbent workers. The Partnership and Pathways Programs focus on developing cooperative training projects that cater to business needs and support individuals in need, particularly those below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. This initiative aims to strengthen Minnesota's workforce and economy.

STI and HIV Prevention Grant Program

The Minnesota Department of Health aims to identify organizations across the state to implement HIV prevention initiatives centered on HIV testing and PrEP. These programs are designed to reduce HIV transmission by prioritizing populations most affected by the epidemic, ensuring that available state funding achieves the greatest possible impact.

MDH is seeking applications through this RFP to support the development and implementation of innovative program activities that increase people’s knowledge of their HIV status, reduce HIV transmission, prevent new HIV infections, strengthen linkage to care, and improve viral suppression. 

Program Goals

MDH is seeking applications through this request for proposals (RFP) to support the development and implementation of innovative program activities that increase people’s knowledge of their HIV status, reduce HIV transmission, prevent new HIV infections, strengthen linkage to care and improve viral suppression. Collectively, these activities advance the goals of the National HIV/AIDS strategy for the United States (NHAS), Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative – (diagnose, treat, prevent and respond), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s high impact HIV prevention (HIP) approach, which emphasizes a comprehensive whole-person approach, and the legislatively mandated END HIV Minnesota (MN) initiative. The End HIV MN initiative aims to eliminate new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV in Minnesota, with a goal to reduce new HIV infections in Minnesota by at least 75% in 2035 by prioritizing communities most affected by HIV. 

The Postdoctoral Grant Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health aims to support the growth and professional development of postdoctoral trainees, fellows, and associates. With funding up to $20,000 for one year, recipients can engage in independent research projects, attend workshops, or cover open-access publication fees. This initiative enhances research capacity and promotes health equity in Wisconsin, addressing critical health challenges while fostering career advancement in the medical field.

The Community Homeownership Impact Fund, managed by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, aims to enhance affordable housing in Minnesota by funding developers and administrators of single-family, owner-occupied homes. This program focuses on increasing the housing supply while ensuring safety and habitability. It offers interim loans, deferred forgivable loans, and grants to bridge financial gaps. Eligible applicants include cities, tribes, and nonprofits, all working towards improving housing accessibility and supporting community development.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation is dedicated to fostering a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and a vibrant Southeast Michigan community. Since its inception, it has invested over $180 million in environmental, cultural, and educational initiatives. As it transitions to spend down its assets by 2034, the Foundation aims to make bold, impactful investments that address urgent community needs and promote sustainable development.

The Community Clinic Grant, funded by the Minnesota Department of Health, aims to enhance mental health services for all ages, improve oral health programs, and provide clinical services for at-risk youth up to 25 years old. This initiative emphasizes collaborative practice among dental hygienists in community settings to expand access to essential health services, thereby addressing critical healthcare needs in vulnerable populations. Funding is available for projects that meet these objectives.

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.

Minnesota Innovations in Perinatal Health

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is focused on improving perinatal health outcomes for communities of color, American Indian communities, and rural communities. This RFP aligns with the Innovations for Maternal Health Outcomes in Minnesota (I-MOM) program, which centers perinatal health innovations within communities most impacted. This RFP will fund innovative activities in community engagement and communications focused on improving perinatal health and focused on supporting the implementation of the perinatal health strategic plan. Grant funds can be either used to support existing programming or used to create new programming.

Performance Review and Assistance Program Grant

The Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) provides grants to local governments who seek to improve efficiency and effectiveness in delivering and executing organizational goals and objectives. Local government units do not need to be the subject of a previous PRAP performance review to apply for these funds, but with limited funding, priority is given to recommended activities or strategies from previous reviews. 

The maximum amount is $10,000 for a single entity application and $20,000 for a project that involves multiple entities or partnerships. 

Typical PRAP assistance activities include professional services (facilitation, mediation, or consulting) related to organizational improvement strategies. Examples of past activities that have been funded are listed below.

• Reorganizations or mergers
• Strategic planning
• Organizational development
• Assessments for shared services
• Non-routine financial audits
• Staff and board capacity and workload assessments

What does this program do?

It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Microenterprise Development Organizations must demonstrate experience in managing a Revolving Loan Fund, or:

• Certify that it or its employees have received education and training from a qualified microenterprise development training entity so that the applicant has the capacity to manage such a revolving loan fund.
• Demonstrate that it is actively and successfully participating as an intermediary lender in good standing under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program or other similar loan programs as determined by the Administrator.

 What kind of funding is available?

• Grants are available to provide technical assistance to rural micro-entrepreneurs or microenterprises, up to $205,000 annually. Funding at the requested level is not guaranteed, and at least 15 percent matching funds are required.

• Loans of $50,000 to $500,000 may be used for establishing a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund managed by the Microenterprise Development Organization.
• Total aggregate debt is capped at $2.5 million.

What are the loan terms?

• Maximum term is 20 years.
• Two-year payment deferral.
• Must establish a loan loss reserve fund.

What terms are required on loans to ultimate recipients?

• Up to $50,000.
• Fixed interest rate.
• Limited to 75 percent of project cost.

How may the funds be used?

Microlenders may make microloans for qualified business activities and expenses including, but not limited to:

• Working capital.
• Debt refinancing.
• Purchasing equipment and supplies.
• Improving real estate.

The Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that enhance cultural engagement and artistic talent in the U.S. With a focus on programs that reach young people, the grant prioritizes organizations that create lasting impacts in the arts and sciences. The Foundation allocates 25% of its funding to cultural initiatives, favoring established organizations with a history of significant results. Eligible nonprofits must encourage inclusivity and sustainability in their programs.

Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology, dedicated to enhancing healthcare access and supporting the communities it serves. Through its Grants and Donations program, Medtronic provides financial assistance for medical education, independent conferences, and charitable events, emphasizing collaboration with healthcare stakeholders. The program aims to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life, positively impacting millions of patients worldwide. For more information, visit Medtronic's FAQs on grants and donations.

The Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP) offers a Partnership Grant Program aimed at enhancing workforce training and development in high-demand sectors. Grants of up to $400,000 are available for accredited educational institutions partnering with businesses to create tailored training programs. These funds can cover essential training costs, ensuring that Minnesota's workforce remains competitive and skilled. The initiative aims to foster collaboration between businesses and educational entities, addressing the state's evolving workforce needs effectively.