Best Grants for Community Centers in Minnesota

The HickoryTech Fund, a part of the Mankato Area Foundation, supports community initiatives in Southern Minnesota. This fund, previously known as the Consolidated Communications Community Fund, has a rich history of contributing $7 million since 1963 to enhance local lives. Applications will open on January 1, 2026, continuing to address critical community needs and ensuring lasting positive impacts in the region.

The Jeffris Heartland Fund Grant, provided by the Jeffris Family Foundation, supports significant historic preservation projects across several Midwestern states, including Iowa and Wisconsin. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, covering 50% of costs for Historic Structure Reports, requiring a dollar-for-dollar match. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and government agencies, focusing on projects with historical significance, architectural merit, and strong community ties. Applications are accepted anytime, with decisions made approximately 30 days after submission.

The Laird Norton Family Foundation, based in Seattle, prioritizes grants that reflect family values in arts education, climate change, human services, and watershed stewardship. Their approach emphasizes equitable educational opportunities, carbon sequestration, support for youth at risk of homelessness, and long-term ecological health. They focus on organizations that address social justice and community needs, particularly in King County, WA, and the West Coast. Note: No unsolicited applications are accepted.

The McKnight Foundation's Midwest Climate and Energy Grant focuses on funding initiatives that address the climate crisis while promoting equity in the Midwest. The foundation supports projects that transform energy systems, decarbonize transportation and buildings, and enhance community resilience. It aims to engage diverse populations and foster innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainable practices. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, governmental entities, and those in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with an emphasis on collaborative, impactful projects.

The Valero Energy Foundation Grants support nonprofit organizations that align with their mission to improve the quality of life in communities where Valero operates. With a focus on basic needs, health care, education, and civic initiatives, the foundation prioritizes funding requests from 501(c)(3) organizations. In 2019, it provided approximately $40 million to support disadvantaged children and families, emphasizing a commitment to corporate citizenship and community well-being.

The Vibrant & Equitable Communities Grant by The McKnight Foundation aims to foster shared prosperity in Minnesota through strategies like economic mobility, community wealth building, fair housing, and democratic participation. This grant supports organizations that enhance employment opportunities for underrepresented communities, strengthen community-focused financial institutions, and promote equitable access to housing and civic engagement. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a focus on systemic improvements for individuals and communities.

The Community Facilities Grant Program in Minnesota offers essential funding to develop community facilities in rural areas. This program supports projects that enhance healthcare, public safety, education, and community services. Eligible applicants include public bodies and non-profit organizations targeting areas with populations under 20,000. Grants are awarded based on income levels and community size, ensuring that low-income and smaller communities receive priority funding. By addressing community needs, this initiative fosters sustainable development in rural Minnesota.

The Early Care and Education Grant Program, initiated by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, aims to provide funding for early care and education services for children from birth to age five in southern Minnesota. Eligible organizations can apply for grants up to $20,000 to support essential services, including health and training for young children. This initiative promotes community collaboration and supports diverse populations, ensuring impactful developmental resources are accessible.

Minnesota museums, cultural institutions, local governments, and other organizations preserving cultural heritage can apply for Minnesota Humanities Center’s Museum, Exhibits, and Collections Grant, with awards up to US $200,000 per year. Funding supports exhibits, collections, and humanities programming that honor diverse cultures and empower communities, which may benefit community centers with relevant cultural or educational initiatives.

The Festivals Grant, offered by the Minnesota Humanities Center, aims to support cultural festivals and events across Minnesota. With funding of $1.5 million available for each of the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, eligible organizations can apply for grants to enhance community engagement through arts programming, staffing, and logistics. Applicants may seek up to $200,000 per year, fostering cultural connections and celebrating local traditions.

The Community Identity and Heritage Grant, administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center, allocates $6,299,000 to support projects that celebrate and teach the diverse cultures of Minnesota. This funding opportunity is open to individuals and organizations, with grants up to $300,000 available. It aims to enhance cultural heritage work for historically underrepresented communities, including Indigenous groups and recent immigrants. All funds must be utilized for new initiatives, ensuring the continuation and growth of Minnesota's rich cultural landscape.

Ameriprise Community Grants focus on supporting nonprofits that enhance community vitality and meet basic needs. With over 120 years of commitment to philanthropy, Ameriprise Financial engages employees in volunteerism and grantmaking. Key giving areas include hunger relief, housing stability, and community development. Priority is given to organizations with active volunteer engagement from Ameriprise advisors and employees, creating a meaningful impact on financial independence and community resilience.

The Anishinabe Fund Grant, offered by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to promote Anishinabe knowledge and culture in community improvement projects. It prioritizes collaborations that respect Anishinabe traditions and encourages co-funding initiatives. Eligible applicants must be charitable organizations located in specific counties of Wisconsin and Minnesota, ensuring that funding supports local communities while honoring Anishinabe heritage.

The Justice and Liberation Fund Grant, administered by the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, provides $50,000 in unrestricted operating support to Black-led organizations in Minnesota that address systemic injustices. This funding aims to strengthen the Black movement ecosystem by empowering community-led initiatives that advance equity and justice. The grant prioritizes organizations that are rooted in the experiences of those directly affected by social issues, fostering transformative change through collective power and accountability.

The Biodiversity Fund Grant, offered by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to enhance biodiversity in the Duluth-Superior region. It supports projects focused on habitat restoration, species protection, and addressing climate change impacts. Eligible applicants include charitable organizations that serve specific counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This initiative seeks to promote ecological health and engage local communities in conservation efforts, ensuring the preservation of vital ecosystems for future generations.

The Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant, offered by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to foster inclusive spaces where all voices are valued. This grant supports community-driven projects that enhance collaboration and respect among diverse groups, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. It provides funding for program support, operating expenses, and capacity building to ensure lasting impact. By prioritizing equity and community ownership, this initiative seeks transformative change across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

The Community Opportunity Fund: Resilience Grant, offered by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, supports transformative projects in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It aims to enhance community resilience by funding initiatives that foster adaptation and recovery from challenges. Eligible applicants include established nonprofits and grassroots organizations focused on equity and sustainability. The grant emphasizes collaborative solutions that address pressing issues like housing stability and food security, ensuring a lasting impact for historically marginalized communities.

Who We Are

The humanities help us understand ourselves, our communities, and our histories. By increasing collective understanding, we can spark positive change and create a more just society.

We curate stories, co-create engagement opportunities, increase knowledge, and produce resources in the areas of education, civic renewal, immersive experiences, and public programming to catalyze ideas. Our grantmaking allows us to strengthen the bonds between us, celebrate our past and traditions, appeal to the best within ourselves, and educate the next generation of leaders.

Ethnic Media Grants

Through the State of Minnesota’s 2025-2027 biennial legislation and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (Legacy), the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) will administer $472,500 for ethnic media grants to ethnic media organizations that work to create, celebrate, and teach the art, culture, and heritage of the many diverse cultural groups that make up Minnesota, including but not limited to Indigenous organizations, communities whose culture and heritage have been historically underrepresented, recent immigrant communities, and veterans.

The Legislature in providing this funding is seeking to fund ethnic media organizations throughout Minnesota to create video content in a language other than English.

An applicant that receives funding under this grant opportunity must do at least one of the following:

• Preserve and honor the cultural heritage of Minnesota,
• Provide education and student outreach in cultural diversity,
• Support the development of culturally diverse humanities programming, including arts programming, or
• Empower communities in building identity and culture, including preserving and honoring communities whose Indigenous cultures are endangered or disappearing.

The Health Information Outreach Award, funded by the National Library of Medicine, aims to enhance access to essential health information for underrepresented populations and healthcare professionals. This initiative focuses on improving health literacy and equity through diverse projects, including training, technology access, and community outreach. Eligible organizations from select Midwestern states can apply, prioritizing innovative solutions that address health disparities and promote informed health decisions among vulnerable communities.

The Small Communities Grant Program by the Blandin Foundation aims to empower Minnesota's smallest, most diverse, and economically challenged communities by providing essential funding for projects that enhance community well-being. By fostering collaboration and trust among residents, the program seeks to drive meaningful economic, social, and physical changes. Grant awards typically range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a focus on sustainable initiatives that build local capacity and pride.

About Us

The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation was established in 1983 by visionary community leaders. We are a collection of hundreds of endowed funds established by individuals, families, private foundations, and businesses to enhance the quality of life in our region. Since our inception, we have distributed more than $40 million in grants and scholarships and currently administer over 360 different funds, each with its own charitable purpose. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation promotes private giving for the public good.

Community Opportunity Fund

The Community Opportunity Fund is at the heart of our work at Boreal Waters Community Foundation. It’s how we connect generosity with possibility to support bold ideas, local leadership, and long-term solutions across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Each year, this fund helps nonprofits tackle critical challenges, strengthen communities, and ensure that everyone in our region can thrive.

A Grant Program Rooted in Community and Collective Generosity

As our region’s permanent civic endowment, the Community Opportunity Fund helps nonprofits and community groups respond to challenges, create solutions, and build a better future. In 2023, we restructured the fund to offer larger, more flexible grants—supporting not just programs, but long-term vision and systems change.

We focus on these interconnected areas:

Community Opportunity Fund: Resilience Grant Focus

Projects must enhance the ability of organizations, families, or communities to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from challenges, creating sustainable, long-term solutions that reduce risk and promote resilience.

Examples include:

• Leveraging partnerships and resources to implement scalable, lasting solutions that strengthen community resilience.
• Expanding access to knowledge, training, and tools that improve economic, social, or environmental stability for individuals and families.
• Developing community-driven solutions that address housing stability, food security, workforce resilience, or climate adaptation.
• Applying innovative or proven strategies that increase a community’s ability to prepare for and respond to systemic challenges (e.g., disaster preparedness, economic shifts, public health crises).

Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant Focus 

Community Opportunity Fund: Opportunity Grant Focus

What We Fund

We support a wide range of community-driven, equity-centered work. Funding can be used for:

• Program or Project Support: To launch, expand, or sustain work in Opportunity, Resilience, or Belonging
• General Operating Support: To build strength and stability
• Capacity Building: To grow organizational effectiveness or leadership
• Community-Led Solutions: Especially those involving lived experience and cross-sector collaboration
• Systems Change and Upstream Impact: Projects that address root causes—not just symptoms

Community Opportunity Fund

The Community Opportunity Fund is at the heart of our work at Boreal Waters Community Foundation. It’s how we connect generosity with possibility to support bold ideas, local leadership, and long-term solutions across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Each year, this fund helps nonprofits tackle critical challenges, strengthen communities, and ensure that everyone in our region can thrive.

A Grant Program Rooted in Community and Collective Generosity

As our region’s permanent civic endowment, the Community Opportunity Fund helps nonprofits and community groups respond to challenges, create solutions, and build a better future. In 2023, we restructured the fund to offer larger, more flexible grants—supporting not just programs, but long-term vision and systems change.

We focus on these interconnected areas:

Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant Focus

Creating spaces and opportunities where all people are valued, heard, and are able to thrive. Projects amplify voices, foster creative expression, and create a vibrant, inclusive culture.

Examples:  

• Elevates diverse voices and perspectives, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.  
• Embraces the common humanity of all individuals.
• Implements practices that increase connection, respect, and safety.
• Strengthens community bonds and promotes equity for all.

Community Opportunity Fund: Opportunity Grant Focus 

Community Opportunity Fund: Resilience Grant Focus 

What We Fund

We support a wide range of community-driven, equity-centered work. Funding can be used for:

• Program or Project Support: To launch, expand, or sustain work in Opportunity, Resilience, or Belonging
• General Operating Support: To build strength and stability
• Capacity Building: To grow organizational effectiveness or leadership
• Community-Led Solutions: Especially those involving lived experience and cross-sector collaboration
• Systems Change and Upstream Impact: Projects that address root causes—not just symptoms

The Community Opportunity Fund, managed by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, empowers local organizations to enhance economic stability and independence in northern communities. The fund supports projects focused on affordable housing, job creation, and access to education. By fostering collaborative efforts, it aims to create lasting change in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Organizations led by marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply, ensuring equitable opportunities for all.

The Target Foundation's Hometown Racial Equity Grant aims to advance racial equity for underserved communities in the Twin Cities. With over a century of commitment to social responsibility, the Foundation addresses systemic barriers by investing in entrepreneurship, workforce development, housing, and asset building. By supporting BIPOC-led organizations, the Foundation seeks to create equitable economic opportunities, ensuring that all families can thrive and contribute to a vibrant community. Grants range from $25,000 to $200,000, focusing on sustainable impact.

The George Family Foundation focuses on Whole-Person Health and Wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of nurturing mind, body, spirit, and community. The foundation seeks to empower individuals and promote healthcare choice by funding community-based initiatives and select medical systems. Their funding priorities include enhancing access to whole-person care for diverse populations and supporting professional training programs for practitioners, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

The Good Relatives Collaborative Grants, funded by the Bush Foundation, aim to empower grassroots and Native-led organizations across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations. This initiative provides responsive grants of $50,000 and $100,000 to support community leadership, healing, and cultural revitalization. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the program seeks to address the unique needs of Native communities while promoting accessible philanthropy and sustainable growth.

The Global Awareness Fund, managed by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, supports initiatives that foster understanding and cooperation among diverse cultures. Focused on issues like peace, justice, and environmental sustainability, the Fund backs projects such as educational programs, media productions, and community dialogues. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, governmental entities, and tribal governments serving specific regions in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This initiative aims to enhance civil society and promote global citizenship.