Best Grants for Museums in Minnesota

The US Department of Health & Human Services announces a competitive funding opportunity for the Head Start/Early Head Start programs across various states. This initiative aims to enhance services for low-income families and children, promoting their social and economic well-being. With approximately $818.3 million available, the program seeks to expand access to quality early childhood education, thereby strengthening community stability and prosperity. Interested applicants can seek further information through the OHS Operations Center.

About MN AWWA

The Minnesota Section American Water Works Association (MN AWWA) is a Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the world's largest association of water professionals.

MN AWWA is a nonprofit scientific and educational association public health, safety, and welfare through research and dissemination of information and by supporting educational development of its members.

One AWWA Operator Scholarship

AWWA’s The Water Equation Campaign and the Minnesota Section of AWWA awards the One AWWA Operator Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for water operator training and education. Up to two (2) scholarships will be awarded each calendar year.

Disbursement of the funds will be made directly by the Section to the financial office of recipient’s college, university, or technical school. Items related to books, manuals, conferences, professional development courses, and other eligible expenses will be reimbursed to recipient upon presentation of eligible receipts. Acceptance of scholarship constitutes permission to use recipient’s name and scholarship story for purpose of promotion.

Minnesota Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is the state agency responsible for protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all people in Minnesota. MDH works to make Minnesota a better place for everyone to live, work, and play.

Minnesota’s public health system is known as one of the best in the nation. It’s built upon a strong partnership between MDH, local public health agencies, Tribal governments, and other organizations. MDH has more than 2,000 employees. The agency attracts and retains a diverse, skilled workforce with a supportive culture and a passion for helping people in Minnesota at its core.

Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant

Minnesota Statutes Sec. 144.1912 authorizes the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) to award grants to existing, eligible, not-for profit family medicine residency programs to support current and new residency positions, with priority given to new positions. The Minnesota Legislature created the Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant Program for programs located in rural areas and focused on training family medicine physicians to serve in rural areas, with a track record of placing graduates in rural Minnesota communities. The Rural Family Medicine Residency Grant Program addresses the shortage of primary care physicians in rural areas of Minnesota by supporting opportunities for family medicine residents to practice in these settings. Expanding training opportunities in rural-focused programs gives residents experience and connections that encourage them to remain in rural practice. 

Eligible applicants are located in Minnesota, outside the 7-county metropolitan area (defined in Minnesota Statutes Sec. 473.121, subdivision 4 as Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties).

The Rapid Response Fund, managed by Headwaters Foundation for Justice, offers grants up to $25,000 to support emergent grassroots organizing in Minnesota. With eight funding cycles annually, the fund prioritizes urgent social justice initiatives and allows organizations to address unexpected legislative changes or community needs. Eligibility requires organizations to be legally incorporated and based in Minnesota, emphasizing work led by marginalized communities. This fund is crucial for timely responses to pressing social issues.

The School Based Services Mini Grant, offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, aims to enhance mental health services in schools. It targets Minnesota school districts, especially those in rural and tribal areas, providing seed funding to develop sustainable behavioral health infrastructures. This initiative focuses on improving access to care through qualified providers, telehealth capabilities, and Medicaid billing systems, ensuring that all students have the support they need to thrive.

The Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship, offered by the UNICO Foundation, provides two awards of $3,000 each for graduate students of Italian descent. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time in accredited programs, and reside in specified states. The scholarship supports students pursuing graduate studies in the academic year 2026-2027. UNICO promotes Italian American heritage and community service, making this scholarship a valuable opportunity for deserving students.

The CHS Foundation offers funding for innovative projects in precision agriculture and data analytics. This annual grant program supports colleges and universities focusing on enhancing agronomy and ag mechanics curriculum. Applications are accepted from April 15 to May 31, with priority given to initiatives that foster hands-on learning and technology development. Eligible projects should emphasize data analysis and improve students' understanding of agricultural technology, while adhering to funding guidelines.

The Minnesota Youth at Work Competitive Grant supports workforce development for economically disadvantaged youth aged 14-24. Administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), it prioritizes programs that provide career education, serve under-represented communities, and assist youth with disabilities. Applicants can request up to $850,000 annually, with potential for continued funding based on performance in the first year.

The CHS Foundation supports initiatives that benefit the agriculture industry, focusing on 501c3 organizations within specific states. Their funding is aimed at empowering cooperative growth and sustainable practices. Local projects may also be eligible through the CHS Seeds for Stewardship program. However, funding is not available for individuals, sports teams, or religious groups, ensuring that the support remains directed towards community and cooperative development.

The Community Grants Program by the Butler Family Foundation supports organizations focused on environmental stewardship in Minnesota. Grants of $30,000 annually for general support or $20,000 for specific projects are available for 501(c)(3) organizations with budgets over $300,000. The program emphasizes land and water protection, aiming to educate youth on sustainable practices. This initiative seeks to foster community involvement in preserving Minnesota's natural resources.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Community Investment Grants aim to enhance community welfare through strategic partnerships with 501(c)(3) non-profits and government entities. The focus areas include workforce development, sustainability, and thriving communities, reflecting the company's commitment to making a measurable impact in regions where they operate. Eligible organizations must be U.S.-based and recognized as non-profits. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that align with its values and community needs, ensuring support for impactful projects.

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.

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

Minnesota Housing is the state’s housing finance agency. We finance housing that low and moderate-income Minnesotans can afford while helping Minnesotans buy and fix up their homes. Along with fostering strong communities, we provide resources to stabilize neighborhoods, communities and families. We work cooperatively with others to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked to provide access to safe, decent and affordable housing and to build stronger communities across the state. In 2025, we distributed $1.8 billion in resources and served 73,000 households.

Vision: All Minnesotans live and thrive in a stable, safe and accessible home they can afford in a community of their choice. Mission: Housing is foundational to a full life and a thriving state, so we equitably collaborate with individuals, communities and partners to create, preserve and finance housing that is affordable.

Greater Minnesota Small Cities (Tier II Cities) Housing Aid Grant Program

Through the Greater Minnesota Small Cities (Tier II Cities) Housing Aid Grant Program (the Program), Minnesota Housing makes grants for qualified projects to cities in Greater Minnesota that

• Has a population less than 10,000, and
• Is located in Minnesota and outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington Counties).

Grantees must prioritize projects that provide Affordable Housing to Low-Income Households.  Grantees may, but are not required to, also prioritize projects that reduce disparities in home ownership; reduce housing cost burden, housing instability, or homelessness; improve the habitability of homes; create accessible housing; create more energy- or water-efficient homes; or satisfy other criteria set by the Grantee.  

The Minnesota Department of Education offers the Grow Your Own Competitive Grant Opportunity to enhance and diversify the teacher workforce in Minnesota. This grant, with a total of $30,000,000 available, supports programs specifically for people of color and American Indian individuals seeking to obtain their first professional teaching license. Eligible applicants can receive up to $750,000 to create programs that provide tuition scholarships or stipends for teacher preparation.

Minnesota Library Foundation (MLF) Scholarship

The Minnesota Library Foundation is excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity for Minnesota library staff!

MLF encourages career development by funding a scholarship for a Minnesota library staff worker to grow professionally through taking college or university courses that would lead to acquiring a degree or certificate in the library field. 

The MLF Governing Board establishes the guidelines for this scholarship and selects the recipients. The scholarship amount awarded is up to $1,000.00 per successful applicant.

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 Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society preserves Minnesota's past, shares our state's stories and connects people with history in meaningful ways, for today and for tomorrow. Because history matters!

We're part of Minnesota's rich history. Since 1849, we've grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious historical societies in the country. We play an important role in our state's historic preservation, education and tourism; and provide the public with award-winning programs, exhibitions and events.

We owe it to future generations to be good stewards of the past.

Native American Museum Fellowship

The Native American Museum Fellowship (NAMF) Program is a ten-week paid fellowship that will introduce Native community members to the museum field through three weeks of seminar and workshops and seven weeks of an MNHS internship program. These ten weeks are designed to engage and expose fellows to relevant cultural resources within MNHS and partnership sites, the broader public history of Minnesota and neighboring states, and professional opportunities within the museum field– ranging from Tribal historic preservation to exhibit curation. Fellows will learn about career paths and the various requirements for working in museum spaces, both on and off of reservation lands, as well as the particular challenges faced by Native American communities in terms of preserving tribal history and disturbing the institutionalized historical narratives of who Native people were and are.

The first three weeks of the program will be an in-depth seminar that will focus on the function of museums, cultural resources, public history, and tribal historic preservation fields. Through a mix of readings, podcasts, videos, discussions, exhibit analyses and guest speakers, fellows will come to have a better understanding of the day-to-day workings of museums and historic sites, and the values and practices that inform these institutions. The cohort will travel often to MNHS partnering sites and will have the opportunity to visit various Native organizations in or around the Twin Cities. Fellows will be placed within the Minnesota Historical Society network for the remainder of the fellowship where they will complete a hands-on internship experience of their choice.

Participants in the program will receive a living expense stipend for the duration of the program as well as travel expense reimbursement, a stipend pending completion of the seminar portion of the program, and a paid internship for the remaining seven weeks.

Topics covered

• Collections
• Conservation
• Tribal and Institutional Partnerships
• Tribal Historic Preservation
• Cultural Resource Stewardship
• Exhibitions
• ​Archaeology/NAGPRA
• Section 106
• And more!

Program Requirements

NAMF is designed as a ten week hybrid program with a home base of the Minnesota History Center, located in St. Paul. The 3-week seminar portion of the program has mandatory in-person attendance to receive the full stipend. A 20-hour per week paid internship could be all in-person or hybrid, depending on the internship supervisor. Travel to historic sites and communities will be required throughout the program period with travel arranged through program staff. 

Please Note: Fellows are expected to find their own housing upon accepting their letter of admittance. Mileage accumulated from out-of-town trips and lodging used during seminar will be reimbursed (within reason) to eliminate financial barriers during your time as a NAMF fellow. 

Our Home State Capital & Reserve Grant Program

Our Home State works to ensure Minnesota’s housing organizations have the power and resources to create an equitable future where all Minnesotans have a stable home they can afford.

Program Overview

A collaborative effort by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation, with additional support from businesses, peer foundations and individual donors, the Our Home State Grant Program seeks to increase access to housing across Minnesota. Our Home State North Star: Minnesota’s housing ecosystem has the power and resources to create an equitable future where all Minnesotans have a stable home they can afford.

The grants prioritize organizations and programs that ensure access to affordable housing or housing stability.

The Native American Artist-in-Residence Program, hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society, aims to support Native American artists in preserving traditional arts. Established in 2013, the program offers financial assistance, access to cultural collections, and opportunities for community engagement. Artists participate in a six to twelve month residency, advancing their artistic practice while sharing knowledge with their communities. This initiative promotes intergenerational learning and helps sustain endangered art forms, fostering a deeper connection to cultural heritage.

The Summer Health Care Internship Grant Program, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Sec. 144.1464, aims to enhance the health care workforce by providing grants to hospitals and clinics for summer internships. Targeting secondary and postsecondary students, it promotes career exposure in health care fields, addressing workforce shortages and improving access for diverse populations. Funded by the Minnesota Department of Health, this initiative supports collaboration with educational institutions, ensuring a robust pipeline for future health care professionals.

The Hospital Safety Net Grant Program, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Section 145.929, provides funding to hospitals to cover underpayments for Emergency Medical Assistance services. Grants will be allocated based on qualifying EMA claims exceeding $50,000 during 2024. A total of $1,315,000 is available annually, with funding spread among eligible applicants over a two-year period from June 30, 2025, to June 29, 2027. This program aims to enhance hospital sustainability while serving vulnerable populations.

Opening Doors to Jewish Experiences

The St. Paul Jewish Federation is committed to helping individuals and families access meaningful Jewish experiences through a variety of scholarship opportunities. Whether it’s attending Jewish day school, participating in youth programs, Israel experiences, or supporting a family with a child with special needs, our scholarships open doors to connection, learning, and growth.

We believe everyone in our community should have the opportunity to engage deeply in Jewish life.

SPJF Summer Camp Scholarships

Give your child the gift of Jewish summer camp.

The St. Paul Jewish Federation provides need-based scholarships to help families afford both day and overnight Jewish camps in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Camp is where kids build lifelong friendships, deepen their Jewish identity, and experience the joy of community.

The NCR-SARE Graduate Student Grant Program funds up to $20,000 for graduate student projects addressing sustainable agriculture in the North Central Region. Established in 2002, it supports Master's and Ph.D. students at accredited institutions. Projects can last up to 36 months, and applicants may receive only one grant during their academic career. The program aims to promote innovative solutions to agricultural challenges and enhance sustainability practices in the region.

The Archie D & Bertha H Walker Foundation supports nonprofits addressing systemic racism and promoting arts. Established in 1953, the foundation aims to enhance community welfare by funding organizations that dismantle barriers to equity and foster artistic expression. Eligible applicants must hold 501(c)(3) status and operate within specified counties in the Minnesota Twin Cities area. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, focusing instead on impactful community engagement.

The UNICO Foundation offers the Dr. Benjamin Cottone Memorial Scholarship, providing $5,000 to support a U.S. citizen of Italian descent pursuing a medical degree. Eligible candidates must be seniors at accredited colleges or medical schools, with proof of enrollment required. This scholarship not only aids education but also honors the foundation's commitment to community service and heritage, reflecting the core values of the Italian American community.

The UNICO Foundation offers the Louise Torraco Memorial Scholarship for Science, providing two scholarships worth $2,500 each to U.S. citizens pursuing degrees in physical or life sciences. Eligible candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled full-time in accredited programs. This initiative reflects UNICO's commitment to supporting educational pursuits in scientific fields while fostering Italian American heritage and community service.

The Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships, funded by the UNICO Foundation, offer $2,500 scholarships to students pursuing accredited nursing programs in the United States. These scholarships support nursing students of all ethnicities who demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens and enrolled in a campus-based program, with a focus on continuing their studies within the academic year 2025-2026.