Best Steele County Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Yellow Dog Studio Memorial Scholarship

The Yellow Dog Studios Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Mari Zimmerman-Thompson and Christopher Thompson. Mari and Chris became husband and wife in May of 2002. They lived their remaining years together as kindred spirits until July 2, 2015 when a tragic automobile accident took them from their family and friends.

Evaluation Criteria

• Special skills/interests (30)
• Career goals (20)
• Essay (15)
• Letters of recommendation (15)
• Extracurricular activities (5)
• Awards and honors (5)
• Overall involvement in work, school and community activities (5)
• Academic performance (5)

Women of Colors Scholarship

Women of Colors (WOC) was founded in 1993 by a group of women that believed it would take a cooperative effort of women of all nationalities, ages and socioeconomic status to address issues plaguing the Saginaw Community. The founders believed that women should take a more active role in addressing issues of crime, blight and poverty. WOC began by providing support, community outreach services and facilitating discussions within the community. WOC’s mission promotes multi-cultural diversity and enhances community relations in Saginaw County by performing community service, mentoring youth, and collaborating with other organizations.

The Women of Colors Scholarship will be awarded each year to a Great Empowering Motivational Sessions (GEMS) member that is an area high school senior actively involved in efforts to empower young women and in activities that address issues affecting young women in the Saginaw Community. If no GEMS members are high school seniors, applications will be accepted from non-GEMS applicants.

Women Giving to Women Scholarship

Women Giving To Women (WGTW) provides intellectual and emotional support for women of diverse backgrounds. WGTW scholarship was established to empower women to complete a bachelor’s degree and become leaders in the community. WGTW also provides financial support for the following community endeavors: The Child Abuse and Neglect Council (CAN) Great Lakes Bay Region, The McNally House of Covenant Hospital, Underground Railroad of Saginaw and The Women’s Studies Section of the Frankenmuth Wickson District Library.

Evaluation Criteria

• Scholastic record (25)
• Community involvement (15)
• Leadership (10)
• Essay (25)
• References (15)
• Non-traditional field of study (10)

Village of the Living Dead Kenneth Fulton Memorial Scholarship

Kenneth Fulton was a member of the St. Charles Haunted House since its very beginning in 1985 until his passing at the haunted house in 1998. He volunteered and also brought along with him his kids and brothers to volunteer as well. Ken was a quiet gentle man that loved what the haunted house stood for and who it was all about – the kids. His favorite character to play was Michael Myers. He was tall and quiet and was able to scare the patrons with his eerie silence. He loved the members of the haunted house as his own family. He is greatly missed and would be so proud to be a part of this scholarship.  

Evaluation Criteria

• Community service (50)
• Financial need (25)
• Letters of recommendation from two volunteer organizations (13)
• Extracurricular/school activities (12)

Tiderington Family Scholarship

The Tiderington Family Scholarship was established in 1996 by Dr. Robert H. and Charlotte Hughes Tiderington and their three sons, Robert III, James and Thomas, to provide funding for students pursuing a vocational career. Neither Dr. Tiderington nor his wife Charlotte graduated from college. Dr. Tiderington remarked: “It was important to us that our boys went to college. We always stressed education. When you give a gift of education, you give a gift for life.”

Team One Credit Union Scholarship

Team One Credit Union established its scholarship program as a way to help make a college education more affordable for its members children. Since its inception in 1978, the program has grown to award 14 $1,000 scholarships.

Team One prides itself as a leader in the credit union industry and feels a strong commitment to helping people grow, both as individuals and as credit union members. In addition to its scholarship program, Team One Credit Union offers student loans and tuition savings programs.

Steve Wagner Scholarship

Steve Wagner retired as executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) in 2003 after 34 years of service. As a member of the Capitol Club and Michigan Society of Association Executives, Steve was well respected by his peers and colleagues and is known for his honesty and integrity.

Steve and his wife, Lana, were married in 1965 and have two daughters, Shelley and Whitney. Throughout his career, Steve has been a proponent of community service and has given many hours himself to church and community programs. Steve also has been a strong proponent of education. ACEC/M has established this scholarship in honor of Steve Wagner to award engineering and surveying students who, like Steve, are active in the community and find it important and necessary to give something back.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is committed to ensuring that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate.

Through the authority of state and federal statutes and guidelines, the MPCA focuses on preventing and reducing the pollution of air, land, and water, and leads Minnesota’s efforts to protect against the devastating effects of climate change. We work with regulated parties, businesses, governments, organizations, and 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota to develop innovative, community-centered approaches that protect our natural resources, improve human health, and foster strong economic growth.

Statewide recycling market development grants

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is accepting grant applications for projects that will build lasting capacity to support recycling markets in Minnesota. The grant money must help Minnesota businesses and other entities to use recyclable material in their products, thereby increasing local demand for recyclable material. Grant money also can be used to process recyclable material into a higher value material for use in new products.

Recycling is a cost-effective way to handle waste, and it has social, economic, and environmental benefits. We need recycling markets to help create and maintain demand for recyclables. Without these end markets that use or process a recyclable material, we do not have recycling. 

Available funds

Approximately $800,000 is available. The minimum individual grant amount should be no less than $50,000. The maximum individual grant amount is $300,000. Grantees will be required to provide a 20% match of the grant award (cash or in-kind).

RHTP Project ECHO for Maternal and Behavioral Health

The federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) was created by H.R.1 (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) on July 4, 2025. It is a federal initiative to help states support rural communities in improving health care access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the health care delivery ecosystem. The RHTP focuses on promoting innovation, strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, and workforce investment in rural communities. The federal program will grant up to $50 billion to states over five budget periods. 

This RFP seeks proposals from applicants to provide Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on topics that include but are not limited to

• maternal health (inclusive of maternal mental health) and
• mental/behavioral health for primary care audiences.

Project ECHOs are virtual, case-based learning and mentorship programs provided by organization(s) to build the skills and confidence of rural physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates who often serve as the main access point for maternal health and behavioral health care in rural communities.

Applicants are expected to provide 12–24 one-hour long sessions (minimum of one time per month) in at least one of the topic areas. Applicants are welcome to apply to provide both mental health and maternal health series.

Project ECHOs should focus on:

• Providing education and networking for participating rural clinicians and their care teams.
• Providing an open participation model.
• Sharing responsive knowledge that is adaptable to rural community and clinician needs in underserved and hard-to-reach patient populations.
• Maintaining a focus on case-based learning that is specific to rural populations. Participants will learn from expert-led didactic presentations and discuss their own patient cases to gain new skills and implement evidence-based recommendations.

MN Mineland Reclamation Grants

Mineland Reclamation grants assist with highly visible development and restoration of mining-impacted land. 

Funding Availability

• Funded at $350,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 from the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund.
• The number of grants awarded is variable and dependent upon the amount awarded to successful applicants.
• 1:1 match per project required.
• In-kind may be eligible toward the project match with pre-approval.
• Applications should be submitted within nine months of the project start date.

Projects that reclaim or repurpose former mining-impacted lands not otherwise provided by state law or that sustain current and future mining. Examples include stockpile reclamation and vegetative enhancements, master planning, recreational and mine pit development and improvements.

MN Housing Grants

Housing grants assist projects or programs that result in the creation of new housing units or the rehabilitation of existing housing units. The program will support housing solutions that align with local priorities and regional employer’s needs.

Examples include, but are not limited to, infrastructure, site work, new construction, rehabilitation of existing housing stock, repurposing existing structures for residential use, housing trust funds, and other projects or programming that positively impact the value or number of housing units. Projects or programs are subject to prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements. 

Funding Availability

• Funded at $6,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 from the Douglas J. Johnson Corpus Fund.
• The number of grants awarded is variable and dependent upon the amounts awarded to successful applicants.
• 1:1 match per project required.
  • Match requirements may be reduced for publicly-owned projects in a city or within five miles of a city with an active mine pit or one idled within two years of the application date. Reductions will be considered if financial need is demonstrated and formal preapproval is obtained prior to submitting a full application.
  • Match can include, but is not limited to: cash contributions, land contribution, in-kind, and other approved funds. Future income is not considered a match.
    • In-kind may be eligible toward project match with preapproval.
• Applications should be submitted nine months prior to the project construction start date.

MN Drilling Incentive Grants (DIG)

Drilling Incentive grants (DIG) are designed to stimulate exploration for new minerals, gas resources and/or new deposits of these resources. The data and information acquired during the drilling and analyses phases will eventually become housed at the state's Drill Core Library for future analysis.  

Funding Availability

• Funded at $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 from the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund.
• The agency will match up to 40% of direct drilling costs not to exceed $20,000 per drill hole.
• Funding can only be used for exploratory drilling.
• Project must begin within 12 months of a grant award.
• Multi-organization collaboration is welcomed

MN Residential Redevelopment Grants

Residential Redevelopment grants assist with demolishing residential structures or full deconstruction of homes for reuse of materials. Projects must eliminate blight, improve property maintenance, promote health and safety, reduce waste or encourage economic development. 

Funding Availability

• Funded at $225,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 from the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund.
• The number of grants awarded is variable and dependent upon the amounts awarded to successful applicants.
• A maximum of $4 per building square foot, or 75% of demolition costs including basements, whichever is less.
• A maximum of up to $5,000 for deconstruction.
• Multi-organization collaboration is welcomed.

MN Commercial Redevelopment Grants 

Commercial Redevelopment grants assist with the full and selective demolition of commercial and industrial buildings and the clean-up of brownfields to pave the way for new development. 

Full and selective demolition of commercial or industrial buildings and clean-up of brownfields. Abatement expenses are eligible and considered a component of the demolition project.

Funding Availability

• Funded at $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 from the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund.
• The number of grants awarded is variable and dependent upon the amount awarded to successful applicants.
• A 1:1 match per project is required.
• In-kind materials and/or labor are not eligible toward the project match.
• Applications should be submitted within nine months of the project construction start date.
• Multi-organization collaboration is welcomed.

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota aims to improve the health of Minnesotans by advancing regenerative medicine. This state-wide initiative opens new economic opportunities through commercialization of technologies and leverages the strengths of Minnesota institutions to position the state at the forefront of regenerative medicine.

In May of 2014, the Minnesota State Legislature allocated $4.5 million (the first year) and $4.35 million of support per year thereafter, to fund research and biobusiness development initiatives that improve or increase access to regenerative medicine throughout the state.

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (RMM) RFP

Bringing breakthrough regenerative medicine therapies to Minnesotans

The mission of RMM is to bring breakthrough regenerative medicine therapies to Minnesotans and the rest of the world. In this RFP, RMM is calling for proposals that advance groundbreaking regenerative medicine therapies and innovations that help them reach patients. RMM seeks projects that build off strengths and fill gaps in regenerative medicine in Minnesota to establish the state as a leader in the industry.

This RFP is designed to solicit two types of projects. Projects that aim to advance:

• Novel regenerative medicine therapies and products with a clearly defined target use, indication or disease area towards clinical application
• Innovations that improve the ability to discover, develop, or deliver regenerative medicine therapies and can be generalizable beyond a single application

This funding program may support a variety of projects such as identification, development, testing and real-world application of regenerative medicine innovations including therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, tools, platforms, approaches, methods, processes, models, etc.

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)

Safe Routes to School Infrastructure (SRTS) Program Grant Solicitation

The Minnesota Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2012 and is defined in Minnesota Statute 174.40. MnDOT State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT) and the Office of Transit and Active Transportation (OTAT) share responsibilities for the administration and oversight of the SRTS program. SALT administers the SRTS infrastructure funds on local roads (county, city, township, and Tribal owned roadways), and OTAT administers the non-infrastructure SRTS funds. Up to $8,500,000.00 in grant funds are available for this 2024 SRTS infrastructure solicitation.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) State Aid for Local Transportation (SALT) administers the state SRTS infrastructure program with guidance from the Infrastructure Work Group (IWG) of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC). The process, criteria, and prioritization for the solicitation are required by statute to establish a geographic equity-based project evaluation and selection process that is competitive, criteria-based, and objective. Projects are selected and approved by the Infrastructure Work Group of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee to provide financial assistance to eligible recipients to construct capital improvement of transportation infrastructure that improves safety and encourages non-motorized transportation to and from schools.

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is honored to be entrusted with funds to keep the humanities strong and vital in the state of Minnesota. We take this responsibility very seriously and relish the opportunity to award and administer grants to develop and support exemplary humanities programming within the state.

Minnesota Musicians Grant

Create, produce, and perform music throughout the Minnesota.

William L. & Mary Ann Brown STEM Endowment Scholarship Program

The William L. & Mary Ann Brown STEM Endowed Scholarship Program was established by William L. and Mary Ann Brown to provide need-based scholarship support to seniors graduating from a high school in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, enrolled at a UNCF member institution, four-year HBCUs, and four-year institutions.

Successful applicants must be graduating high school seniors entering their first year of college, pursuing a STEM degree, including, but not limited to, fields in physical sciences, mathematics, the biological sciences, the chemical sciences, computer sciences, and engineering. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll as a full-time student.

Improving Metastatic Prostate Cancer (mPCa) Care Through Innovative Strategies

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® and Pfizer Global Medical Grants (Pfizer) are collaborating to offer a new grant opportunity seeking proposals for investigator-initiated research to improve mPCa care. Pfizer (hereafter, “Grantor”) is providing $1 Million in funding to support quality improvement studies to advance health care quality, the delivery of quality care, and improve health care provider performance in mPCa care. The Grantor will serve as the funding organization. Grants are available to all investigators from institutions within the United States. 

Aim

To promote the advancement of scientific knowledge, health care provider performance, and/or health care quality improvement focused on improving mPCa care.

A total of $1 Million is available to fund all projects. The intent is to fund 2-5 studies. There is a funding cap of $250,000 per study. Exceptional studies with budgets above this amount will be considered based on scientific merit and must contain a robust justification. All budgets must include line-item information and robust justification.

Implementing Germline and Somatic Testing for Precision Medicine in Community-Based Prostate Cancer Care 

The intent of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to invite organizations to submit applications to host a 2.5-to-3 hour medical education program at or nearby the organization, to be led by 1-2 Visiting Professors (VPs) with expertise matched to the organization’s unmet educational and pragmatic needs related to integrating and acting on germline and somatic (tumor and/or ctDNA) testing for patients with prostate cancer. Following the education program, organizations will implement their action plan to incorporate, increase, or improve the use of guideline-concordant germline and somatic testing to improve prostate cancer patient care.

The total budget for the RFP is $250,000 USD, with plans to support 5-7 organizations. Individual project budgets should not exceed $50,000 USD.

About Us

The Community Foundation of Dickinson County, Inc. was established in 1999 by a group of civic-minded individuals who cherished their community and wanted to ensure future generations experience the same quality of living they had received in Dickinson County. These visionaries secured the future of the Foundation by establishing an Endowed Founder’s Fund.  

Woodrow and Esther Tyrell Technical Scholarship - (Up to 5) $10,000

The Woodrow and Esther Tyrell Technical Scholarship honors the legacy of Benjamin Woodrow Tyrell and Esther Tyrell, whose lives reflected a strong commitment to hard work, service, and education. Born in Talmage, Kansas, Woodrow Tyrell served in World War II before returning to Dickinson County, where he worked for 33 years at the Abilene Flour Mill. Esther Tyrell, originally from Longford, Kansas, dedicated her career to education in Dickinson County. Married in 1952, the Tyrells believed deeply in the value of education and skills-based training. 

About Us

The Community Foundation of Dickinson County, Inc. was established in 1999 by a group of civic-minded individuals who cherished their community and wanted to ensure future generations experience the same quality of living they had received in Dickinson County. These visionaries secured the future of the Foundation by establishing an Endowed Founder’s Fund.

Woodrow and Esther Tyrell Scholarship - (2 or more) $20,000

The Woodrow and Esther Tyrell Scholarship honors the lives and legacy of Benjamin Woodrow Tyrell and Esther Tyrell, whose commitment to hard work, service, and education continues to benefit students in Dickinson County. Born in Talmage, Kansas, Woodrow Tyrell served in World War II before returning home to work at the Abilene Flour Mill for 33 years. Esther Tyrell, originally from Longford, Kansas, was a longtime educator in Dickinson County. Married in 1952, the Tyrells shared a strong belief in the importance of education. Through their generous endowment at the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, their legacy continues to support students and foster brighter futures through educational opportunity.

Evidence Based Safety Contextualization of JAK inhibitors in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Primary Area of Interest:

Dermatology – Atopic Dermatitis

General Area of Interest for this RFP:

Potential applicants should describe their initiative to synthesize the existing medical literature on the safety data available for JAKis indicated for the treatment of M2S AD and distill it into a concise, practical communication for the community of providers who treat AD. The educational initiative should be based on the body of scientific evidence available in the literature including the following, but not limited to:

• Retrospective, cohort analyses evaluating the background risk of adverse events of special interest (infections, cardiovascular events, malignancies etc.) in patients diagnosed with M2S AD.
• Clinical trial safety data for use of JAKis for the treatment of M2S AD, including assessments of subpopulations (i.e. adolescents, elderly; cardiovascular risk factors etc.).
• Observational analyses, network meta-analyses, or other safety analyses, including comparative safety analyses and/or real-world assessments to examine the rate of adverse events of special interest in patients receiving JAKis for treatment of AD.

Funding Range and Project Length

Individual projects requesting up to $75,000 USD will be considered. Maximum project length is 1 year.

The Judith Heavenrich Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Judith Heavenrich, aims to support single, low-income mothers in Saginaw County as they pursue higher education or vocational training. Judith, a lifelong advocate for education and environmental issues, faced numerous challenges in her life but remained dedicated to her community. This scholarship reflects her spirit and commitment to empowering women to achieve their educational goals, with awards typically ranging from $500 to $4,000.

Lead Safe Home Grants Program

The Lead Safe Home Grants program will make homes safer through lead testing and hazard reduction.

Available for nonprofits and local governments, the program:

• Allows funding to be used for risk assessment and remediation of lead hazards
• Prioritizes areas with a high concentration of children with lead poisoning
• Requires 50% of units in multifamily properties to be occupied by renters at or below 60% area median income
• Allows up to 10% of award to be used for administration, education and outreach about lead hazards

The $4 million one-time appropriation and this program are known as the Dustin Luke Shields Act.

Jack Beaty Educational Scholarship Foundation Grant

Jack Beaty was a pillar of the community he lived in and loved. He was a successful businessman from an early age having founded two companies. One company supplied food to retail stores throughout New Mexico, where Jack became friends with all his customers and fell in love with the state. He founded an oil and gas company in Farmington, New Mexico as well.

Jack eventually became involved in politics in New Mexico where he served as the Bernalillo County Democratic Chairman and the New Mexico State Democratic Chairman. During the 1960 Presidential campaign, Jack became friends with John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Jack served as the Western States coordinator for the Kennedy campaign. After the 1960 election, Jack sold his food supply business and moved to Washington, D.C. Jack served in both the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Following this service, Jack formed the public relations firm Jack Beaty and Associates in Washington, D.C.

While in Washington, D.C., Jack met and married Rose Marie Beaty Martinez, the personal assistant to Senator Joseph M. Montoya, the United States Senator from Mexico. Jack and Rose Marie retired to New Mexico in 1979 where Jack devoted his time to managing Western Minerals and Oil. Jack desired that upon his and Rose Marie’s death that his estate be used to assist and provide access to education to less fortunate students in New Mexico.

In his estate plan, Jack desired that the Jack Beaty Educational Scholarship Foundation be established to carry out his charitable goal of assisting students to obtain a secondary education.

The Holland Scholarship, established in honor of Merle Holland Leis Frenzel, aims to support aspiring music students from Saginaw County. Funded by her friends and former students, this scholarship encourages recipients to pursue their musical dreams while honoring the support of her parents, Norton and Virginia Holland. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, be seniors at Saginaw County public high schools, and be involved in music programs. Awards typically range from $500 to $4,000.