Search Through Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota in the U.S.

Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

How we partner with nonprofits

We focus on collaborative grantmaking and sustainable, high-impact funding with 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners. We partner with organizations that support:

• Economic and workforce advancement
• Safe and affordable housing
• Community arts and culture

Our strategy

Our community affairs and foundation team work closely with U.S. Bank regional leadership, business resource groups and our National Community Advisory Committee to ensure that prevailing needs are addressed in all the communities we serve.

To make the most meaningful impact, we prioritize organizations that:

• Focus on economic development issues related to work, home and play
• Address more than one of the grant pillars (work, home and play)
• Are based in and serve designated U.S. Bank communities
• Advance diversity, equity and inclusion

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

CMAB Artist in Residence Grant

The Artist in Residence (AIR) program provides funds of up to $3,500 to schools and nonprofit organizations in support of activities directed by, or conducted in cooperation with an artist who engages students and enables learning through the creative process. These funds are provided through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Resident artists must be chosen on the basis of their ability to enhance programs and curriculum. Resident artists must be chosen based on their ability to enhance programs and curriculum. An ideal residency is composed of a balance between demonstration and hands-on activity.

Program Outcomes

• Regional residents learn new arts skills & techniques.
• Regional residents gain awareness and appreciation for a variety of artistic disciplines and mediums.
• Regional artists build their capacity through professional development.

Proposals to the Artist in Residence program must contain the following components:

• Arts Learning activities conducted with a core group
• A Community Component that invites and informs the community surrounding the school or organization to learn about or participate in residency activities
• A Staff In-Service component that builds staff capacity and/or supports residency activities

Central Minnesota Arts Board

Established in 1979 as a non-profit arts organization, the Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) increases access to the arts as one of eleven Regional Arts Councils in Minnesota by providing grants and arts development services in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties (Region 7W).

CMAB strives to enhance appreciation of the essential economic and social roles the arts play by providing grants and professional development services to arts and community organizations, schools, local government and individuals.

Project Grant

The Project Grant program provides funds of up to $8,000 to nonprofit organizations, schools, local government, community groups, and individuals in support of arts-focused events. Funding for this program comes from the Minnesota State General Fund and Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Program Outcomes

• Regional residents experience increased access to the arts via a reduction in geographic, cultural and/or physical barriers.
• Regional residents experience a change in knowledge, attitude, behavior, or condition due to public art, arts festivals, or arts events.
• Regional residents build connections to their own and others’ cultural heritage through regional arts and cultural events and/or activities.

About Arts Midwest

We amplify Midwestern creativity, building community and opportunity across our region and beyond.

Arts Midwest advances creativity across our region, building unprecedented opportunity for everyone who calls this place home. We support, inform, and celebrate arts organizations and creative communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond. As one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, we work to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others. Together, we nourish the creative roots of the Midwest—and share our region’s transformative ideas with the world.

This year, we’re pleased to offer two tracks of funding: GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness, and GIG Fund.

GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness

The GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness is a grant of $2,000 – $15,000 for organizations of any budget size whose projects have an arts and wellness focus.  Funds may be used for performances, workshops, programs in clinical settings, creative aging programs, efforts that engage veterans in the arts, etc.  Applicants may only apply for one GIG Fund grant per year.

Arts Midwest recognizes the field of arts and wellness to be far-reaching and applicants should identify how their arts project addresses some element of health and wellness.

This round of GIG Fund grants is for supporting activities taking place between December 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. There are three requirements.

1) Engage a Professional Artist or Ensemble 2) Offer at Least Two Activities Featuring the Artist(s) and 3) Professional Development: With support from The Hearst Foundations, Arts Midwest will offer professional development opportunities to grantees to strengthen arts and wellness initiatives across the Midwest.

SEMAC: Legacy Grants

With the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, the people of Minnesota voted to create new resources for land and water conservation, parks, and the arts. As part of that mandate, the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund was created, establishing a strong arts legacy and preserving our cultural heritage by supporting innovative arts activities that increase access to the arts, life-long arts learning opportunities, and cultural experiences. Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants support activities in three key areas as established in the Minnesota Constitution:

• Arts and Arts Access
• Arts Education
• Arts and Cultural Heritage

SEMAC strongly encourages applicants to research and develop projects that incorporate two or more of the key areas with an emphasis on creating lasting partnerships among regional nonprofit arts organizations and other nonprofit groups. Legacy grants (from all sources) are designed to fund up to 80% of approved arts programming.

Focus Areas

Arts & Arts Access:

The fund will support Minnesota artists and arts organizations in creating, producing, and presenting quality arts activities; to overcome barriers to accessing quality arts activities; and to instill the arts into the community and public life throughout Minnesota. Such activities may be but are not limited to:

• Investing in activities that make the arts available to persons who might not otherwise have access due to economic, geographic, or physical barriers
• Ensuring that Minnesota’s artists and arts organizations have sufficient financial support to create art
• Investing in the long-term health and vitality of Minnesota’s arts sector by supporting capacity-building and professional development
• Investing in efforts that enable Minnesotans to more easily connect with arts and arts experiences
• Investing in efforts to fully integrate the arts into local community development efforts
• Investing in efforts to fully integrate the arts into local and state economic development planning
• Investing in public art that is available throughout Minnesota
• Recognizing and rewarding artists/arts organizations/arts providers for exceptional artistic quality and service within the SEMAC region

Arts Education

 Investing in lifelong learning in the arts: The fund will support quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. Activities may be but are not limited to:

• Investing in efforts that enable Minnesotans to more easily engage in arts learning opportunities
• Ensuring that artists/arts organizations/arts providers are able to provide quality experiences for Minnesotans of all ages by investing in professional development
• Ensuring that arts learning opportunities are achieving intended outcomes through ongoing assessment and evaluation

Arts & Cultural Heritage

Building bridges between Minnesotans through arts and culture: The fund will support events and activities that represent the diverse ethnic and cultural arts traditions, including folk and traditional artists and arts organizations, represented in Minnesota. Such activities may be but are not limited to:

• Providing Minnesotans with opportunities to celebrate our cultural heritage through events and activities that represent the range of Minnesota’s ethnic and cultural arts traditions.
• Ensuring that Minnesotans are able to experience folk/traditional arts of diverse cultures by supporting the work of folk and traditional artists/arts organizations.

Battlefield Preservation Fund

Grants from the Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning

Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach

Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

Guidelines

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

Mission

The Mission of Lake Region Arts Council is to encourage and support the vitality of the arts in West Central Minnesota.

Legacy Organizational Grant

To increase Arts Access, Arts Learning and Arts and Cultural Heritage opportunities for all Minnesotans. Arts Organizations (nonprofit), nonprofits with project that have Arts as the primary focus, local governments, and educational institutions in the LRAC nine-county region.

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will support activities in three key areas:

• Arts & Arts Access:
  • Up to 79% of the fund will support Minnesota artists and arts organizations in creating, producing, and presenting high-quality arts activities; to overcome barriers to accessing high-quality arts activities; and to instill the arts into the community and public life in this state.
  • Such activities may be, but are not limited to:
    • Investing in activities that make the arts available to persons who might not otherwise have access due to economic, geographic, or physical barriers.
    • Ensuring that Minnesota’s artists have sufficient financial support to create high quality art.
    • Investing in the long-term health and vitality of Minnesota’s arts sector by supporting capacity-building and professional development.
    • Investing in efforts that enable Minnesotans to connect with arts/arts experiences.
    • Investing in efforts to fully integrate the arts into local community development efforts.
    • Investing in efforts to integrate the arts into local and state economic development planning.
    • Investing in public art that is available throughout the state.
    • Recognizing and rewarding artists/arts organizations/arts providers for exceptional artistic quality and service to their audiences and/or the state.
• Arts Education:
  • Investing in lifelong learning in the arts: Up to 16% of the fund will support high- quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts.
  • Such activities may be, but are not limited to:
    • Investing in efforts that enable Minnesotans to connect with arts learning opportunities.
    • Ensuring that artists are able to invest in professional development.
    • Ensuring that arts learning opportunities are achieving intended outcomes through ongoing assessment and evaluation.
• Arts & Cultural Heritage:
  • Building bridges between Minnesotans through arts and culture: Up to 5% of the fund may be used for events and activities that represent the diverse ethnic and cultural arts traditions, including folk and traditional artists and art organizations, represented in this state.
  • Such activities may be, but are not limited to:
    • Providing Minnesotans with opportunities to celebrate our cultural heritage through events and activities that represent the range of Minnesota’s ethnic and cultural arts traditions.
    • Ensuring that Minnesotans are able to experience folk/traditional arts of diverse cultures by supporting the work of folk and traditional artists/arts organizations.

This grant supports the creation of a new publicly accessible temporary or permanent artwork anywhere in the state of Minnesota by a Minnesota-based mid-career public artist. Projects may be in any form or discipline, including performance, dance, storytelling, photography, film, sculpture, painting, etc.

What is Public Art?

Broadly speaking, public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is supported through public or private funding. It can range from temporary to permanent work, murals to sculptures, interventions to performances. It can also be storytelling, iron pours, sound and light projects, dance and spoken word. It is free and accessible to all members of a community.

What is a Mid-Career Artist?

A mid-career artist is an artist who has been actively creating and exhibiting their work for at least ten years. They have established a reputation in the art world, have a larger body of work, and may exhibit their work regionally, nationally, or internationally. Mid-career artists may also have received some kind of recognition from the art world, such as through public presentations, magazine publications, online commentary, or industry acknowledgement. Other criteria for mid-career artists include having numerous solo art shows and collectors both nationally and internationally. Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will still be considered mid-career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into sculpture will be considered mid-career.

Grant Intention: This grant supports public art research and development activities by Minnesota-based early-career artists.

Forecast Equity Commitment

Forecast seeks to fund a diverse group of artists working in all career stages and a range of public art practices and media. We place particular emphasis on supporting and amplifying the artistic work of BIPOC and Native artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, womxn artists, immigrant artists, artists from rural communities, and artists with disabilities. It is our value that our applicants, panelists, and grantees reflect the racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of our state, as well as the stories and perspectives of the artists and communities we serve.

We know that there is no “one-size-fits-all” language when it comes to talking about race and identity and that this language is always evolving. If you relate to what we’ve described here, please apply!

Overview

This grant supports early-career artists in public art-related research and development, or with the planning phase of a freely accessible public art installation or activity in Minnesota. Activities could range from research to planning, community dialogues, site or budget development, or model building. R+D grants may be used for the development of proposals for other public or nonprofit agencies; however, they may not be used for private commissions.

• What is Public Art? Broadly speaking, public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is supported through public or private funding. It can range from temporary to permanent work, murals to sculptures, interventions, performances, storytelling, iron pours, sound and light projects, dance and spoken word. It is free and accessible to all members of a community.
• What is an Early-Career Artist? An early-career artist is considered as, “showing significant potential, yet…under recognized by their peers and arts professionals. Evidence of some professional achievement is expected but artists with an extensive record of accomplishment are not eligible.” These grants are not for artists early on in their public career, it is for artists of any discipline who are early in their career. If you are considered mid-career in your studio practice but have little public art experience, you would not qualify for the early-career grants, rather, you should apply for the mid-career grants. Forecast’s early-career artist grants are funded by the Jerome Foundation.

Funding

Four grants, $2,500 each

This grant supports Minnesota-based mid-career artists seeking to expand or advance their careers in the field of public art. Funding can be used to support the development of a project idea or to participate in activities that will help applicants further their careers as public artists. Professional development activities can range from residencies to apprenticeships, conferences, travel, study, skill development, and the creation of project models or prototypes, as long as the overall outcome is to advance the applicant’s public art career. Professional Development grants may be used for the development of proposals for other public or nonprofit agencies.

What is Public Art?

Broadly speaking, public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is supported through public or private funding. It can range from temporary to permanent work, murals to sculptures, interventions, performances, storytelling, iron pours, sound and light projects, dance and spoken word. It is free and accessible to all members of a community.

What is a Mid-Career Artist?

A mid-career artist is an artist who has been actively creating and exhibiting their work for at least ten years. They have established a reputation in the art world, have a larger body of work, and may exhibit their work regionally, nationally, or internationally. Mid-career artists may also have received some kind of recognition from the art world, such as through public presentations, magazine publications, online commentary, or industry acknowledgement. Other criteria for mid-career artists include having numerous solo art shows and collectors both nationally and internationally.

Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will still be considered mid-career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into sculpture will be considered mid-career.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Mission

Investing in the Arts throughout Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.

Vision

Over the next four years the CMAB will:

• Help to foster a thriving, collaborative and innovative arts community through partnerships and financial support.
• Strive for excellence in leadership and the responsible distribution of arts funding.
• Increase the quality of life in our region by engaging residents in the arts, enhancing education and improving arts access.
• Nurture artists’ professional needs and expand opportunities for them to create, showcase and profit from their work.

Values

Creativity and Artistic Integrity: The CMAB recognizes excellence in free and innovative artistic expression as integral to the intellectual and creative development of everyone. We value these qualities as principal criteria for our support to local organizations and individuals.

• Creativity and Artistic Integrity:
  • The CMAB recognizes excellence in free and innovative artistic expression as integral to the intellectual and creative development of everyone. We value these qualities as principal criteria for our support to local organizations and individuals.
•  Accessibility and Diversity:
  • The CMAB is committed to supporting a variety of artistic programs that serve many cultures, ages, genders and artistic disciplines in order to encourage a dialog of respect and understanding.
• Accountability:
  • The CMAB provides fair, professional and transparent support to organizations and individuals through distribution of funds in an ethical and legal manner open to public review and discourseribution of funds in an ethical and legal manner open to public review and discourse
• Lifelong Learning through the Arts:
  • The CMAB values opportunities for collaborations between artists, educators and community to convey artistic viewpoints in all disciplines of learning.
• Civic Engagement:
  • The CMAB believes a strong artistic presence is central to building healthy communities and is committed to promoting the positive economic and social impacts of the arts.

Arts Organization Development Grant

The Arts Organization Development program provides funds up to $10,000 to support activities and purchases that contribute to organizational sustainability, growth and improvement of nonprofit arts organizations in Region 7W.

These funds are also available to assist arts groups in establishing 501(c)(3) status.

African Immigrant Youth Career Development Grant Program

Grant Program Overview

Youthprise envisions a Minnesota where outcomes for youth are no longer predictable by race, geography, or socioeconomic status. In commitment to our vision, we have partnered with Ka Joog, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)*, and young people to design and host year two of the newly expanded African Immigrant Youth Career Development Grant Program.

*Funds for this project are appropriated from the 2023 Minnesota Legislature.

Minnesota is home to a large and growing African immigrant population with many concentrated communities spread throughout the state. These communities have greatly contributed to the cultural and economic fabric of Minnesota, and yet, many face barriers that make it difficult to achieve economic prosperity. The African Immigrant Youth Career Development Grant Program will partner with and invest in nonprofit and community-based organizations, through reimbursement-based grants, that have demonstrated experience offering culturally relevant, career development/work readiness programming to African immigrant youth.

Grant Priorities

Through focus groups with African Youth and Youthprise staff, we have identified the following grant program priorities.

We are seeking proposals that address the diverse needs of African immigrant youth, knowing that African immigrant youth are not a monolith. African immigrant youth are multidimensional and are looking for programming that meets their emotional, mental, and physical needs. They want programming that is culturally relevant and youth-led. As you are shaping your grant proposals, please consider the following priorities:

Youth-Informed

Young people are most interested in career development and work readiness programming that fosters, prioritizes, and acts on youth voices. Specifically, in our work with youth who identify from African Immigrant communities, they named wanting opportunities to inform and lead.

Community

Young people are looking for a place to be themselves, relate with others, and build peer-to-peer connections and networks within their cultural communities and across different communities. They are interested in celebrating together, learning together, and growing together.

Mentorship & Support

Young people are looking for trustworthy and invested adults that share cultural contexts and connections, to help guide their personal and professional growth. They are interested in internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships that allow them to gain experience in a supportive environment.

Navigating Systems & Cultural Norms

Young people are seeking support in navigating complex white dominant cultural systems and norms that come into tension with their cultural norms and beliefs. These include but are not limited to job searching, post-secondary education, industry credentialing, finances, transportation, housing, and community services.

Identity & Values

Young people want to have the space to dream, explore possibilities, and experiment with different career paths and professions. They want to grow in their leadership and clarify their personal values, strengths, and unique skill sets.

Skill Building

Young people are interested in setting goals, both big and small, and creating plans to work toward them. They are also interested in strengthening their networking and public speaking skills, as well as job application and interviewing skills.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines and information.

Award Amounts

• Organizations with operating budgets greater than $750,000 can request up to $75,000 for their project or program.
• Organizations with operating budgets of $750,000 or less can request up to $50,000 for their project or program.
• We anticipate making about 20 grant awards. This number is subject to change based on the requests received.

The Management Improvement Fund

THE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND, A SPECIAL FUND OF THE SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS’ INTERNAL OPERATIONS.

The Management Improvement Fund provides grants of up to $15,000 to small and midsize nonprofits across the state of Minnesota for technical assistance and consultation to:

• Support new and vital capacity-building work
• Expand and improve organizational capacity
• Nurture Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leadership in the nonprofit sector

Since 1991, the Fund has provided $7 million to more than 470 nonprofit organizations.

Central Minnesota Arts Board

Established in 1979 as a non-profit arts organization, the Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) increases access to the arts as one of eleven Regional Arts Councils in Minnesota by providing grants and arts development services in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties (Region 7W).

CMAB strives to enhance appreciation of the essential economic and social roles the arts play by providing grants and professional development services to arts and community organizations, schools, local government and individuals.

Community Arts Support Grant Program

The CMAB Community Arts Support Program provides biennial grants for administration, operations, equipment purchases and to improve access and outreach to underserved groups.

Applicants are eligible to receive a minimum of $3,000 or 20% of a completed fiscal year’s eligible operating expense, up to $10,000 whichever is less, distributed annually for a biennium. These funds are awarded to nonprofit arts organizations that demonstrate efficient management and high-quality artistic programming.

The Sheltering Arms Foundation supports high quality direct service programs and a limited number of advocacy efforts that raises the level of public awareness and commitment to the well-being of children. Advocacy programs might include public education campaigns, public policy development, research, coalition building, or community organizing

What We Fund

Advocacy

The Sheltering Arms Foundation’s vision of success is that the opportunity gap will be significantly diminished because broad public will exists to make investments to assure that all Minnesota children succeed in school and life. To achieve this goal, we fund advocacy efforts that increase access to high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood care and education and youth development/out of school time opportunities.

We fund political networks, coalitions and campaigns that lobby, advocate and organize for children’s early learning and life success. We also support training to help parents become advocates for their children’s early learning and out of school time success.

Early Childhood

The Sheltering Arms Foundation’s vision of success is that all Minnesota children with the least access to resources are socially and emotionally, as well as physically and cognitively ready for kindergarten. To achieve this goal, we fund high quality culturally appropriate early childhood programs that support children’s social, emotional, physical and academic development with strong family engagement strategies.

Eligible programs include innovative early care and education, targeted home visiting and parent education, and early childhood mental health programs.

A high quality early care and education program has the following elements:

• A 3 or 4 star Parent Aware rating or is on a pathway to attain it
• A research based high quality curriculum
• Opportunities for family engagement in programming
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Access to professional development for staff that supports growth in their job in areas such as: program design, evaluation and assessment, inter-cultural skills, and child development.

A high quality parent education and targeted home visiting program has the following elements:

• A focus on strength-based whole child and family development that includes cognitive, physical, social and emotional development
• A research based high quality curriculum and evidenced based model
• A parent-child interaction component
• Active involvement of parents/caregivers in their child’s learning process
• Intensity and duration of contact appropriate for goals of the program
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Access to professional development for staff that supports growth in their job in areas such as: program design, evaluation and assessment, inter-cultural skills, and child development.

A high quality early childhood mental health program has the following elements:

• Priority given to mental health programs that align with high quality early care education and targeted home visiting programs
• Primary focus on Relationships
• Culturally appropriate interventions
• Research based high quality methodology
• Opportunities for family engagement in programming
• Initial assessment of each child including for trauma and chronic stress
• Intensity and duration of client services appropriate to the goals of the intervention
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Access to professional development for staff that supports growth in their job in areas such as: new developments in early childhood mental health treatments, program design, evaluation and assessment, and inter-cultural skills.

Youth Development

The Sheltering Arms Foundation’s vision of success is that all Minnesota children are socially and emotionally, as well as physically and academically prepared to succeed by 7th grade. To achieve this goal, we fund high quality culturally appropriate youth development programs for 5-12 year olds that support children’s social, emotional, physical and academic development with strong family engagement strategies.

Eligible programs are out of school time and mentoring programs in school based settings, community settings or affordable housing locations.

A high-quality youth development programming should include the following elements:

• Sequential activities that teach skills
• Active and experiential learning
• Focused and explicit skill development
• Developmentally and culturally appropriate program design
• Intensity and duration of contact
• Social and Emotional Learning competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making)
• Opportunities for family involvement and participation in programming
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Access to professional development for staff that supports growth in their job in areas such as: youth programming, evaluation and assessment, inter-cultural skills, and program design.

Old National Bank Foundation

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The Foundation is part of Old National's overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. We believe in supporting where our clients, team members and shareholders live and work.

Funding Priorities

Our funding targets innovative programs that enhance the quality of life within our communities in support of the following four strategic initiatives: Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment. We prioritize programs that serve underrepresented communities and low- to moderate-income people. 

Examples of funding priorities with measurable outcome focus areas include:

Affordable Housing

• Increase Homeownership Opportunities: We seek initiatives that enable individuals and families to purchase homes through accessible financing, down payment assistance, and homeowner education.
• Support Critical Home Repairs and Revitalization: We fund programs that ensure safe, habitable housing by assisting with essential repairs for homes
• Promote Multi-Family Housing Developments: We prioritize programs that develop or sustain affordable rental units

Economic Development

• Small Business Development and Growth: We aim to support programs that help small businesses scale, access resources, and build sustainable growth plans.
• Capacity Building for Technical Support: We encourage projects that enhance the capability of organizations offering technical support to small businesses and nonprofits.
• Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching: We support programs that offer entrepreneurship education, business coaching, and professional development for new or aspiring business owners.

Financial Education

• Old National Bank’s Real-Life Finance e-learning curriculum provides robust financial education training for community partners

Workforce Development

• Access to Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning: We support workforce readiness through initiatives offering hands-on training, particularly in trades and high-demand fields.
• Job Creation, Employment Entry, and Retention: We support projects that connect individuals to stable employment and increasing levels of income. This can include higher education with dual credentialing, leadership and professional development

Financial Empowerment

• Financial Wellness: We fund long-term initiatives that reduce barriers to banking and credit access, especially for underbanked groups. This can include culturally relevant and multilingual outreach, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling with the goal of financial independence
• Community Lending Access: We support organizations that provide access to affordable microloans, emergency loans, and community cooperative lending as safe and sustainable alternatives to predatory loans

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What is an eligible area?

Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Check eligible areas. 

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. There are two types of RBDG projects, Opportunity grants and Enterprise grants.

• Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.
• Enterprise type grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application.

How may Enterprise type funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

How may Opportunity type funds be used?

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

The Jerome Foundation promotes a dynamic culture through support for artists, collectives and/or ensembles across all disciplines in the early stages of their vocational artistic lives to create new work and for nonprofit arts organizations that offer programs, services and activities for such artists, collectives and/or ensembles. We support artists and nonprofit arts organizations based in the state of Minnesota and the five boroughs of New York City.

Jerome Foundation Values

The Foundation’s core values, which we strive to model in our practice as grantmakers and to support in our grantees, are:

Diversity: We consciously embrace diversity in the broadest sense. We support a diverse range of artists and organizations, including but not limited to those of diverse cultures, races, sexual identities, genders, generations, aesthetics, points of view, physical abilities, and missions. We support a diverse range of artistic disciplines and forms, created in a variety of contexts and for different audiences.

Innovation/Risk: We support artists who and organizations that push the boundaries of their respective disciplines, and we applaud unconventional approaches to solving problems.

Humility: We work for artists (rather than the reverse) and believe that artists and organizations are the best authorities to define their needs and challenges—an essential humility reflective of Jerome Hill, our founder. The artists we support embrace their roles as part of a larger community of artists and citizens, and consciously work with a sense of purpose, whether aesthetic, social or both.

Arts Organization Grants

In alternating years, the Jerome Foundation offers two-year grants for ongoing programs in six discipline(s) for artists that meet Jerome’s eligibility requirements as defined below. Applications are reviewed by panels in Dance; Literature; Media, including film, video, and digital production and new media; Music; Theater; and Visual Arts. Organizations may apply with programs in multiple disciplines. 

A diverse range of programs will be supported in each artistic discipline. This includes both development (artistic or career development and/or technical assistance) and production programs (culminating in a full production/exhibition/publication/etc.). 

No organization (whether previously funded or not) may request more than 25% of a three-year average of its actual annual operating income, based on its three most recent completed fiscal years. In-kind contributions may not be used in calculating this average. For fuller explanation, see the FAQ.

Organizations may seek support for programs activities that serve a broad range of artists, including but not limited to Jerome-eligible artists (i.e., programs that serve both early career and mid-career artists, or include artists from beyond Minnesota or New York City).

However, Jerome grant funds may only be used to cover costs for eligible artists. At least 75% of awarded grant funds must support direct costs for the specific program(s), although an organization might choose to dedicate a higher percentage of the grant to such direct program costs. Up to 25% of the grant funds may be applied to support indirect administrative costs for Jerome-funded programs and/or for ongoing organizational costs connected to services and activities for early career artists.

Background

In 2022, the Northwest Continuum of Care embarked on a project called the Racial Equity Accountability Project (REAP). Members of the REAP team serve as the decision-making body for the Northwest Continuum of Care’s (NWCoC) board of directors. Membership of the REAP team is primarily comprised of individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color, as well as individuals that have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity in Northwest Minnesota’s regional homeless response system.

The purpose of this grant is to provide grants out to the community working to improve outcomes for individuals who have experienced homelessness.

These goals include:

• Increasing cultural competency of NWCoC staff:
  • Grant expenses can cover costs associated with providing and organizing training and professional development for staff working with those living through homelessness
• Developing stronger relations between those living through homelessness and supportive housing staff
  • This can be accomplished by providing more culturally relevant events and opportunities for the community to express their cultural identify and provide healing
  • Examples include sweat lodges, traditional ceremonies, drum circles, talking circles, community meals, and support groups
  • Events related to specific cultural and racial identifies
• Improving outcomes for individuals living through homelessness by increasing stabilization:
  • Providing job training and acquisition opportunities for individuals leaving homelessness
  • Covering costs needed to maintain stable housing and employment
    • Clothing stipends, furniture stipends, food stipends, hotel vouchers, utility payments, vital document fees, vehicle insurance fees, gas vouchers, or any other services that would improve stable housing outcomes
  • Covering grant expenses related to educational development, business development, or any other form of professional development/entrepreneurship:
    • Professional development training/certifications, scholarship and loan application costs, business development, professional development for individuals living through homelessness, certifications needed to maintain or achieve employment, etc.

The Minneapolis Foundation announces a call for proposals from nonprofits, schools, and school districts seeking grants for work that advances equity and supports youth voice in local K-12 schools. Our Reimagine Education grants prioritize efforts to:

• Support public schools and school districts with the implementation of literacy strategies grounded in the science of reading, with the goal of ensuring all children can read at or above grade level.
• Elevate student and community voices and leadership to build bridges between schools, families, and communities in order to improve school climate, learning environments, and academic outcomes.
• Provide opportunities for educators to build their understanding of race and equity and implement strategies that create culturally responsive and inclusive schools.
• Advocate for policies at the school, local, and state level to address systemic disparities in Minnesota’s education system.

WHAT WE WILL FUND

We plan to award between $1 million and $1.2 million to 25 to 30 organizations. Grants will range from $25,000 to $75,000, with an average award of roughly $40,000.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of  the types of work we plan to support:

• Professional development and training to support teachers and school leaders to implement evidence-based literacy instruction
• Recruitment and retention of diverse educators with equity-focused mindsets
• Principal and teacher leadership and collaboration
• Student leadership and power building
• Development of equity and climate frameworks
• Local or state policy advocacy
• Development and implementation of strategies to support student mental health and improve school climate and culture
• Efforts to engage students and their families in district and school-level decision-making

We are also open to other ideas that help create equitable outcomes for children and youth from local Black, Indigenous and communities of color.

Minnesota Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC Grant

The Minnesota Department of Education makes this funding available to all eligible entities for the purpose of creating or expanding community learning centers in order to provide high-quality academic support, enrichment, and youth development programs during non-school hours for young people and their families.

The Minnesota Department of Education has administered the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program since 2002. The purpose of the program is to establish or expand community learning centers that provide students with enrichment opportunities during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session (such as before and after school or during summer recess). These federal funds, authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, are awarded through a competitive peer review process that prioritizes programs serving students in high-poverty, low-performing schools.

An effective community learning center engages schools and communities to address a common goal. These partnerships provide students with a broad array of academic supports, enrichment programs and school engagement opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program and help students achieve, connect and thrive.

A list of external organizations to provide community learning centers (and aspiring community learning centers) with mentoring and guidance is available from Ignite Afterschool. External organizations are nonprofit organizations screened by Ignite Afterschool to ensure their professional development is aligned with Believe It. Build It. Minnesota’s Guide to Effective Afterschool Practices. The designation is primarily a courtesy to help 21st CCLC grantees and applicants be aware of the variety of nonprofits that may have the interest and capacity to support them as they plan and implement effective programs. Designation of an organization as an "External Organization" does not ensure the organization will be invited to contract with 21st CCLC grantees or applicants.

Minnesota Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Quality and Population Health Grant

Minnesota Statute 144.1482 establishes the Office of Rural Health, which shall establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating information on rural health care issues, research findings, and innovative approaches to the delivery of rural health care and assist rural communities in improving the delivery and quality of health care in rural areas.

Minnesota Statute 144.1483 establishes rural health initiatives, to include the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program pursuant to section 1820 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1395i-4, by developing a state rural health plan and designating, consistent with the rural health plan, rural nonprofit or public hospitals in the state as critical access hospitals (CAHs). Minnesota has 77 licensed critical access hospitals.

The Minnesota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program) receives funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to help critical access hospitals, emergency medical services and health professionals work together. Flex Program funding is intended to provide training or technical assistance to CAHs to build capacity, encourage innovation, and promote sustainable improvements in the rural health care system. 

Applicants may propose projects that fall under one or more of the following key strategy areas:

• Strategy Area 1: MBQIP implementation
• Strategy Area 2: MBQIP quality improvement
• Strategy Area 3: Population health improvement