Best St. Paul Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Nestlé Purina is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and the communities they serve. Through their event sponsorship program, they support 501(c)(3) tax-exempt pet welfare organizations in the U.S. that focus on the welfare of cats and dogs. Eligible events must be located within 50 miles of their St. Louis headquarters, ensuring that their contributions directly benefit local communities. Purina's commitment to pets and people strengthens the bond between them.

The Site-Based Clinical Training Grant Program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, aims to enhance clinical healthcare training throughout Minnesota. With a funding estimate of $4,657,000 for FY 2026, this grant prioritizes rural primary care and oral health training. Eligible applicants include clinical training sites actively enrolled in the Minnesota Health Care Program, which must demonstrate their commitment to addressing healthcare shortages in underserved areas. This initiative supports the development of a skilled healthcare workforce.

The PLTW Launch program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance student engagement in STEM education within eligible communities. This initiative will provide grants to schools that implement at least one PLTW Launch module in the 2025-2026 academic year, followed by another module in subsequent years. The program is designed to empower students with hands-on learning experiences that connect real-world challenges to essential skills, fostering a stronger future in STEM fields.

The Cargill Foundation focuses on improving the lives of low-income children in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area by supporting nonprofit organizations. Their mission emphasizes the importance of nutritious food, equitable access to STEM education, and preparation for post-secondary education. Through employee-led initiatives, Cargill engages with local communities to address the Opportunity Gap, ensuring that all children have the resources and support they need for success in school and beyond.

The Hugh J. Andersen Foundation Grant supports community-focused initiatives aimed at enhancing inclusivity and self-sufficiency within the St. Croix Valley. The foundation prioritizes asset-based programs led by the communities they serve, particularly those benefiting children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS 501(c)(3) and located in designated counties. The foundation does not fund individual scholarships or loans, lobbying, or fiscal agents, aiming for collaborative funding efforts.

The Butler Family Foundation Community Grant provides two-year funding to 501(c)(3) organizations in Minnesota focused on arts, environment, and human services. Grants support general operations or specific projects, with minimum awards of $30,000 for operating costs and $20,000 for program support. Priority is given to organizations serving urban areas of St. Paul and Minneapolis, promoting community arts, environmental stewardship, and essential services for vulnerable populations, particularly youth and families.

The Hardenbergh Foundation, established in 1950, supports charitable organizations in the East Metro, Ramsey, and Washington Counties, and the St. Croix River Valley. The Foundation offers approximately 100 grants annually, primarily for general operating support, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000. Additionally, it awards capital grants between $50,000 and $250,000 to eligible applicants, emphasizing the importance of IRS 501(c)(3) status and financial documentation in the application process.

The Roseville Area Community Foundation Grants aim to enhance the quality of life for residents in the Roseville area through strategic investments. The Foundation prioritizes partnerships with local leadership, nonprofits, and schools, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration and integrity. Eligible applicants are qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, while government agencies are not eligible for funding. This initiative reflects a commitment to transparency and accountability in grantmaking.

The Wisdom Family Foundation Grant Program supports organizations that empower children and strengthen communities. Founded in 2007, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit focuses on providing essential resources such as food security and educational assistance. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, with larger capital grants considered on a case-by-case basis. The Foundation operates primarily in Greater Chicago, Northern Wisconsin, and the Twin Cities, promoting a spirit of generosity and collaboration within communities.

The Delta Project Learning Garden Grant Program, supported by the Captain Planet Foundation, enhances STEAM education through outdoor learning experiences in school gardens. It offers resources such as raised garden beds, a mobile cooking cart, and online lessons to foster student engagement with nature and healthy eating. This initiative not only enriches the educational landscape but also promotes community involvement, as Delta employees volunteer for garden installation and maintenance, ensuring a sustainable and impactful learning environment.

The WCA Foundation Grant empowers local women in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area by funding initiatives that address the urgent needs of women, including health, economic stability, shelter, and safety. This volunteer-led organization focuses on participatory grantmaking, inviting nonprofit proposals that align with their mission to foster a world where all women thrive. Their commitment to understanding and responding to community needs makes a significant impact on women's lives.

The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, offers competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $500,000 for projects that restore, protect, or enhance vital habitats like prairies and wetlands. Applicants must provide a 10% match of non-state funds and the total project cost cannot exceed $1,000,000. Focused on habitat benefits, the program emphasizes conservation easements and public ownership for funded projects.

The MRAC: Next Step Fund Grant, supported by the McKnight Foundation, offers project grants of up to $6,000 for artists across all disciplines. This initiative aims to assist artists in overcoming barriers to success, sustaining their artistic careers, and seizing future opportunities. Open to applicants at any career stage, projects should reflect individual goals and career stages, fostering both advancement and maintenance of creative practice.

The Metallinou Postdoctoral Travel Award, offered by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), supports postdoctoral researchers globally to present their work at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH) in July 2025. Awards, up to $1000, help facilitate crucial networking opportunities at a pivotal stage in their careers. Applicants must be employed as postdoctoral fellows and present their research at the conference.

The Westinghouse Charitable Giving Program aims to strengthen community ties by providing financial support in key areas such as education focused on STEM, environmental sustainability, and community safety. This program welcomes applications from eligible organizations that meet specific grant criteria, including being tax-exempt and located within 50 miles of a Westinghouse site. The initiative underscores Westinghouse's commitment to advancing education, promoting environmental stewardship, and enhancing community well-being.

The AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Program, managed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, promotes urban youth agricultural education and community development in urban areas. With a total funding of $1.87 million available this fiscal year, grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 can help organizations obtain necessary resources. Eligible projects must support urban agriculture initiatives and can be located in cities with populations over 5,000 or on tribal lands, fostering resilience in local agricultural economies.

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning organization for the seven-county Twin Cities area. The Met Council operates the regional bus and rail system, collects and treats wastewater, coordinates regional water resources, plans and helps fund regional parks, and administers federal funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The 17-member Council board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor. 

Livable Communities Small Area Planning Grants

Livable Communities small area planning grants support cities in establishing conditions for dense, connected, and equitable development in alignment with Imagine 2050 goals.

The Family & Neighborhood Stability Grant by the McNeely Foundation aims to enhance the economic vitality and stability of youth and low-income families in East Side St. Paul. The foundation prioritizes organizations that provide financial literacy, supportive housing services, and employment training. It welcomes applications from tax-exempt non-profits and public agencies, focusing on programs that foster community development and individual empowerment. Grants are awarded primarily for program support, with a strong emphasis on data-driven strategies and community partnerships.

About PLTW EngineeringPLTW Engineering students adopt a problem-solving mindset, are engaged in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers, and are prepared with skills to step into any career path they take.3M has partnered with PLTW to ensure students and teachers have the tools, resources and knowledge they need to succeed in STEM. 3M inspires the next generation of science leaders through the following goals:

• Increasing STEM exposure in K-12 classrooms
• Supporting experiential learning opportunitiesEnhancing the quality of STEM teaching
• Providing professional development opportunities for students

Program Requirements:

• Grantee must use their grant funds to expand their existing PLTW Engineering program.
  • Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Engineering course not previously offered,
  • and/or adding additional class periods of an existing PLTW Engineering courses previously offered,
  • and/or training additional teachers in PLTW Engineering courses for the 2027-2028 academic year. 

Grant Award and Distribution Schedule:

• Total Award: $10,000
  • 2027-2028: $10,000

About PLTW GatewayPLTW Gateway (6-8) opens paths that create meaningful futures. It connects students to careers in areas they can, and can't, imagine.3M has partnered with PLTW to ensure students and teachers have the tools, resources and knowledge they need to succeed in STEM. 3M inspires the next generation of science leaders through the following goals:

• Increasing STEM exposure in K-12 classrooms
• Supporting experiential learning opportunitiesEnhancing the quality of STEM teaching
• Providing professional development opportunities for students

Program Requirements:

• The purpose of this grant is to assist the grantee's implementation of the PLTW Gateway program.
• Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit in the 2027-2028 academic year.
• Grantee may implement any PLTW Gateway unit of their choosing.

Grant Award and Distribution Schedule:

• Total Award: $10,000
  • 2027-2028: $10,000

The Marbrook Foundation aims to support arts programs in the Twin Cities that promote cultural awareness and inclusion. It prioritizes projects that facilitate cross-cultural collaboration and showcase professional artists. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits focusing on culturally specific and intercultural programming. The foundation does not fund youth arts education as a primary activity, start-up organizations, or individual grants. This initiative seeks to foster positive social impact through the arts.

The Butler Family Foundation's Community Grants Program focuses on supporting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, through two-year grants. These grants, ranging from $30,000 for general operating support to $20,000 for specific projects, prioritize housing services, addiction support, and domestic violence prevention in urban areas of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with substantial annual budgets.

About F. R. Bigelow Foundation

F. R. Bigelow Foundation funds programs and helps shape initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and downtown Saint Paul, while enhancing the quality of life in the East Metro area.

Since its founding in 1946, F. R. Bigelow Foundation remains committed to its founding principle of making the Saint Paul community a better place to live, learn and grow. From 1946 through today, the Foundation has invested deeply into neighborhoods across the East Metro, with an emphasis on Saint Paul.

Systems Change Grant Program 

Our Systems Change Grant Program supports efforts to help systems adapt, transform and/or be disrupted to achieve more equitable results.

F. R. Bigelow Foundation believes that our community should not only benefit from our work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. Our work is also rooted in a commitment to racial equity.

The goal of our Systems Change Grant Program is to support efforts to help systems adapt, transform and/or be disrupted to achieve more equitable results.

To do this, we support organizations, programs or initiatives in or serving the East Metro working to address root causes of issues impacting the East Metro.

General operating support will be awarded to organizations, programs or initiatives in or serving the East Metro working to address root causes of any issue impacting the East Metro (including, but not limited to, the five funding priorities of our Community Solutions Grant Program). 

In 2026, up to $1,200,000 is available for this grant program, and we anticipate awarding approximately two to three grants.

The Foundation’s Systems Change Grant Program seeks to address root causes of any issue impacting the East Metro, including, but not limited to, the five funding priorities of our Community Solutions Grant Program:

• Arts & Culture
• Community & Economic Development
• Health
• Human Services
• Youth & Education

Ramsey County Violence Prevention Grant

Ramsey County, in partnership with Youthprise, seeks to expand access to culturally responsive and community-based supports for youth and young adults through a violence prevention grantmaking process. This request for proposal will fund small programmatic grants to community-based organizations delivering services that promote healing, stability, academic success, and long-term wellbeing for youth and young adults. Priority will be given to projects that serve participants who are system-impacted, marginalized, or disproportionately affected by inequities. Priority services identified by Ramsey County include mentoring and relationship-based supports, school-based and education aligned supports, licensed alcohol and drug counseling, and holistic healing and mindfulness practices. Funded projects will operate for a minimum of six months and a maximum of fifteen months and will serve youth and young people in Ramsey County or involved in Ramsey County systems.

Funding Available:

• $236,250

Number of Awards:

• 8 to 10 awards anticipated ranging from $15,000 to $25,000

Grant Term:

•  6 to 14 months, services must be concluded on or before August 1st, 2027

Funding Use:

• Programmatic services to include direct service delivery, staff time, materials, facilitation, program-related costs, and administrative costs

Grant funds may be used for:

• Program staff or facilitator stipends/salaries
• Direct service delivery costs
• Supplies, curriculum, and materials
• Space rental for program activities
• Participant supports (e.g., food, transportation, incentives)
• Program-related administrative costs

The PNC Foundation aims to enhance the lives of individuals in local communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Their focus includes promoting educational opportunities, particularly for early childhood education, and supporting economic development initiatives. Grants are available for organizations that benefit low- to moderate-income families and enhance community growth. The foundation prioritizes programs that foster sustainability and diversity, ensuring a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

The Old National Bank Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations for community impact initiatives across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Focused on four key areas—Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment—the foundation prioritizes programs that support underrepresented communities. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the foundation’s funding priorities to qualify for grants, which can be applied for every two years.

The Farmers Market Grant Program by Compeer Financial aims to support organizations enhancing services at farmers markets. Grants of up to $1,000 are available for marketing efforts, technology upgrades, and vendor education. Eligible applicants must be bona fide farmers markets with at least three vendors of locally-produced products and must operate in the designated 144-county area. Priority is given to markets that have not previously received funding.