Best Housing Grants in Minnesota

Minnesota 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(1) organizations providing affordable or supportive housing for low- and moderate-income residents can seek program funding that advances housing access and stability. Focused on community impact, Huntington National Bank supports activities like access to capital, homebuyer education, credit counseling, and rental assistance within its Minnesota service footprint.

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.  

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on safe, affordable, or supportive housing may be eligible for Community Possible funding that also connects to economic advancement and community arts. Grants from US Bank Foundation help organizations in designated bank communities address work, home, and play, with priority for groups led by people of color and advancing equity.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) and similar nonprofits serving adults, families, and youth facing food and housing insecurity can apply for approximately US $7,000 to improve facilities, tools, equipment, and infrastructure. Grants from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless help providers expand capacity and enhance services for people experiencing homelessness and related crises across Minnesota.

Minnesota nonprofit organizations and government entities can seek funding for operating or project work that advances economic mobility, community wealth-building, and a fair, just housing system. Focused on equitable housing and community development, the McKnight Foundation invites proposals that expand affordable housing, increase access to capital, and strengthen democratic participation in Minnesota communities.

Minnesota housing and community development entities can receive support for creating or rehabilitating housing units that meet local priorities and regional employers’ needs in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehab provides funding up to US $99,999 for projects such as infrastructure, site work, new construction, rehabilitation, or repurposing structures for residential use, with a 1:1 match required.

Cities, tribes, housing authorities, private developers, nonprofits, and schools in Minnesota can access funding to create or improve affordable, owner-occupied single-family homes through the Community Homeownership Impact Fund. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers competitive grants and loans for acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, and downpayment or closing cost assistance to expand equitable homeownership opportunities.

Minnesota nonprofits working on affordable and equitable housing, community development, or related services can seek funding for programs that benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and families. Associated Bank provides charitable grants supporting priorities such as affordable housing, small business and workforce development, sustainability, and racial and social equity in the communities it serves.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on affordable housing for families and seniors can apply for the Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation’s funding to support operations, programs, or projects. Organizations serving the St. Croix Valley region in Minnesota and nearby Wisconsin counties, especially those addressing housing alongside basic needs and community services, may be prioritized.

Supportive housing and shelter nonprofits in Minnesota can apply for funding to purchase food or provide shelter for low‑income and vulnerable people. Focused on food bank and shelter programs, UNICO Foundation invites registered food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in eligible UNICO states, including Minnesota, with proven service records to seek support.

Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and government units in rural southern Minnesota can apply for Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s Taylor Rural Improvements Grant, awarding up to US $30,000 for capital projects. Funding supports essential-service facilities such as shelters, housing-related furnishings, transportation, food access, and internet upgrades that serve underserved residents in small communities under 10,000.

Cities and municipalities in Minnesota and other eligible Great Lakes and Southern states seeking federal funding for housing, infrastructure, and community development can apply for the National League of Cities’ free Federal Grant Navigation Program. Local governments with populations near or above 6,000 receive one-on-one support, data tools, and peer cohorts to pursue ARPA and IIJA grants.

Affordable housing providers in Minnesota and other Midwest states can access intensive training to strengthen asset and property management through this five‑month cohort program. With a mission to support community development organizations, Enterprise Community Partners provides selected organizations with CHAM online courses, peer learning, and post‑training technical assistance to improve the financial, physical, and operational health of their housing portfolios.

With a mission to support community-driven emergency responses, Mardag Foundation provides Minnesota housing and food access nonprofits with one-time grants of US $2,500 - US $20,000. 501(c)(3) organizations, public entities, and fiscally sponsored groups in the East Metro and Greater Minnesota may fund urgent gaps from disasters or unexpected repairs serving low-income residents.

Developers and housing organizations in Minnesota can access multifamily affordable housing capital through the Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals, supporting specific developments or activities that address housing needs. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency coordinates multiple federal and state funding sources in one annual competitive round, prioritizing projects serving communities most impacted by housing instability and disparities.

Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in northeast Minnesota with at least $2 million in annual expenses can apply for Northland Foundation’s Otto Bremer Community Responsive Fund, awarding US $10,000 - US $75,000 for operations, programs, or capital projects. Funding supports food, shelter, low-income clinics, disability services, and school-based mental health, which may include supportive housing and shelter work.

Minnesota nonprofits and local governments working on equitable, affordable housing can use this program to test for and remediate lead hazards in homes. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s Lead Safe Home Grants prioritize properties in areas with many children experiencing lead poisoning and require income-restricted occupancy in multifamily units, with limited funds also available for administration, education, and outreach.

RFP for a Grantee to build capacity of the Housing Support Program (DOC)

DHS is seeking is seeking Proposals from qualified Responders to build capacity for the Housing Support Program. 

DHS, through its Homelessness, Housing and Support Services Administration, is seeking Proposals from qualified Responders to build capacity for the Housing Support Program. 

The term of any resulting contract is anticipated to be for a 16-month contract, from March 1, 2027 until June 30, 2028. STATE may extend the contract up to a total of five (5) years.

Funding Availability

This RFP is the mechanism by which Responders will have access to the one-time appropriation of $1,250,000 to build the capacity of the Housing Support Program.

Funding will be allocated through a competitive process with review by a committee. If selected, Responders may only incur eligible expenditures when the contract is fully executed, and the grant has reached its effective date.

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.

Local governments or partners in Minnesota seeking funding to demolish or deconstruct blighted homes can use this grant to improve housing conditions and neighborhood safety. Grants from Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehab help Minnesota real estate and housing projects remove unsafe structures, reduce waste through material reuse, and encourage economic development, with awards up to US $99,999.

The Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants in Minnesota provide essential funding to qualified organizations for managing self-help housing projects. This initiative supports very-low- and low-income families as they collaboratively build homes in rural areas, fostering community involvement and skill development. Eligible organizations include government non-profits and tribes, while grant funds can be utilized for technical assistance and family recruitment. This program plays a crucial role in addressing housing needs in underserved communities.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on housing access and stability can access funding through Target Foundation’s hometown program, with awards ranging from US $25,000 - US $200,000. Organizations working in affordable housing, eviction prevention, tenant rights, and sustainable homeownership for underserved and low-income communities, especially communities of color in the Twin Cities metro, may be prioritized.

The TruStage Foundation focuses on fostering economic mobility through education and housing initiatives. By supporting K-12 literacy, mentoring, and affordable housing projects, the foundation aims to uplift marginalized communities. With a commitment to addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities, TruStage seeks to empower individuals and families to build a brighter future. Their funding is directed towards impactful programs that align with their mission, while avoiding causes that do not meet their criteria for economic mobility.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), established by Congress in 1988, aims to fund organizations to combat discriminatory housing practices. The Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) educates stakeholders about their rights under fair housing laws. Key components include the National Media Campaign, which promotes fair housing awareness nationally, and local programs that support community-based outreach. HUD oversees the process, ensuring compliance and monitoring of funded initiatives to enhance fair housing practices.

The American Electric Power Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on educational improvement, particularly in STEM fields, and basic human services such as hunger and housing. Organizations must operate within AEP's service territory or have a broader beneficial purpose. The Foundation also supports social justice initiatives and environmental protection efforts. Eligible applicants must affirm compliance with anti-discrimination policies and demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.

About

Being deeply connected to the community means more than providing access to excellent healthcare. It means understanding, and investing in, the health needs of our community.

Through our Community Investment Fund (CIF), Endeavor Health has awarded more than $38.5 million to 59 local partnerships dedicated to enhancing community health and wellbeing, advancing health equity and supporting local economic growth. Together, we’re committed to helping everyone in our communities be their best.

Award categories

Through the CIF, we will make meaningful and intentional investments through impact awards and capacity builder awards. These awards are intended to meaningfully advance the health of our community over time towards three bold aspirations through investments in five areas of focus.

We aspire to a future where:

• A person’s zip code does not determine how long they will live
• Hunger and homelessness in our communities are history
• The healthcare workforce is thriving and representative of the communities we serve

To help advance these aspirations, the CIF will invest in the following areas:

• Access to healthcare
• Behavioral health
• Food insecurity
• Housing insecurity
• Workforce development for careers in healthcare

Impact awards

• Designed for 5-year initiatives where organizations come together to drive measurable impact and longer-term change in the communities we serve by improving existing systems and innovation
• Emphasize strategic cross-sector and/or intra-sector partnerships between community-based organizations
• Uplift community members of greatest need
• Directly align with CIF areas of focus and meaningfully contribute to CIF goals
• Award amount: $1 million per year, up to 5 years

The Backyard Giving Grants, offered by CHS Foundation, support local organizations in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties with funding up to $5,000. These grants aim to host community events, provide agricultural education, and ensure access to healthy food and housing. Eligible applicants include 501c3 organizations that prioritize community building and education. Notably, the program does not fund sports teams or religious groups, ensuring a focus on essential community needs and equitable support.