Best Stevens County Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Individual fine artists in Stevens County, Minnesota and the broader LRAC nine-county region can receive $2,000 for projects that advance their career development and artistic achievement. Grants from Lake Region Arts Council help artists across disciplines, including literary, music, performance, and visual arts, cover training, supplies, or time to create new work.

Individual practicing artists in Stevens County, Minnesota can receive US $2,000 for fine arts projects that advance their career development and artistic achievement. Lake Region Arts Council supports literary, music, performance, and visual arts activities for artists 18 or older living in its nine-county region, including Stevens County, for at least six months.

Individual professional artists in music or visual arts living in Stevens County, Minnesota (within the nine-county LRAC region) can receive US $5,000 fellowships to advance their creative work and community contributions. With a mission to support regional artists, Lake Region Arts Council provides flexible support for research, travel, new directions, or continued artistic projects.

With a mission to improve quality of life, RBC Foundation USA provides Stevens County, Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits with funding for workforce preparation, youth development, arts access, and related programs. Eligible organizations have at least three years of public charity status, a $100,000+ operating budget, and operate where RBC Wealth Management has a business presence.

Accredited or candidate family medicine residency programs in rural Minnesota can apply for Minnesota Department of Health grants, with awards up to US $400,000 per new residency position to cover training costs. Programs serving communities outside the 7‑county metro, including Stevens County, Minnesota, and retaining graduates in rural Minnesota may be eligible.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grant provides funding between $2,000 and $20,000 for small communities in west central Minnesota to enhance energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel emissions. Local governments can utilize these funds for climate planning, energy audits, and technical assistance for public facilities. This initiative aims to support sustainable practices and improve energy conservation efforts in communities with populations under 15,000.

Nonprofit organizations creating, performing, or exhibiting arts projects in Stevens County, Minnesota can access funding through Lake Region Arts Council’s Project Grant. Awards up to US $4,500 support artistic activities across all disciplines, including visual art, dance, literature, and music, and require a 20% match from the applicant organization.

Nonprofit organizations in Stevens County, Minnesota seeking support for education, health and human services, arts, or community betterment projects can apply for charitable contributions. Focused on community growth and sustainability, Basin Electric Power Cooperative invites eligible groups within its multi-state service territory to request funding and, in some cases, surplus office equipment donations.

Lake Region Arts Council 

Since its inception as an arm of the Rural Development Commission in 1977, Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) has been committed to providing access to quality arts opportunities and programming. In its early years, LRAC offered only one grant program. Our current offerings include nine grant programs, a monthly newsletter, an online arts calendar, two art galleries, workshops and networking meetings, an artist registry, and technical assistance to arts organizations and artists. 

The Arts Mentorship Program

The Arts Mentorship Program is an Arts Study Award for Students in Grades 8-12.

A limited number of students currently in grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are selected each year to be part of this one-of-a-kind student art program. Each study award is valued at $700 and pairs students with artistic professionals to help increase and enhance their skills. Awards are made on the basis of commitment and potential for artistic development. 

• Inclusive to ALL artistic mediums (i.e. visual arts, dance, creative writing, drama, music, design, media arts, etc.) 

Nonprofit fine arts organizations in Stevens County, Minnesota with annual expenses under $174,000 can apply for Lake Region Arts Council’s operating support grants, awarding US $1,000 - US $8,000 for core operating, administrative, capital equipment, and building costs. Eligible 501(c)(3)s must be arts-focused, region-based, and have at least one year of programming history.

Nonprofit organizations in Stevens County, Minnesota can apply for CenterPoint Energy Foundation’s charitable giving program to support community vitality and education initiatives. Funding may benefit projects in affordable housing, energy efficiency, environmental education, literacy, STEM, and workforce development, with priority for low- to moderate-income populations in CenterPoint’s service communities.

Individuals and small organizations in Stevens County, Minnesota working on community-building projects that foster trust, belonging, and connection can receive $2,500 - $5,000 to support their efforts. Focused on strengthening local social fabric, West Central Initiative invites neighbors with inclusive, non-political activities to apply for Weaver Awards recognizing their contributions.

Arts organizations, nonprofits, cultural groups, schools, and local governments in Stevens County, Minnesota can seek funding for arts access, arts education, and arts and cultural heritage projects. Focused on expanding arts opportunities, Lake Region Arts Council supports activities like public art, residencies, performances, festivals, and workshops with awards from US $500 - US $12,500.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Stevens County, Minnesota can seek funding for education, health and human services, community development, arts and culture, and environmental programs. Otter Tail Corporation Foundation supports operating and capital projects, favoring innovative, collaborative efforts that create measurable community impact in areas where the company and its subsidiaries operate.

Nonprofit, non-federal rural hospitals in Stevens County, Minnesota can seek capital funding to update, remodel, or replace aging facilities and equipment. Focused on rural health care, the Minnesota Department of Health offers US $45,000 - US $125,000 per award, with a 25% non-state match required to help preserve local hospital services.

Eligible non-entitlement cities, townships, and counties in Stevens County, Minnesota can receive US $600,000 - US $1,400,000 for housing, public infrastructure, and commercial rehabilitation projects. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development provides funding through the Small Cities Development Program to improve affordable housing, wastewater and water systems, and local commercial districts benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.

For-profit businesses, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and tribal communities in Minnesota can apply for the AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Program, with awards of US $5,000 - US $75,000 for urban agriculture projects. Administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, it supports youth agricultural education and community or economic development, including eligible work in Stevens County.

Greater Minnesota Public Infrastructure

The Greater Minnesota Business Development Infrastructure Grant Program helps stimulate new economic development, create new jobs and retains existing jobs through investments in public infrastructure.

It provides grants to cities of up to 50% of the capital costs of the public infrastructure necessary to expand or retain jobs in the area, increase the tax base, or expand or create new economic development.

Award Amounts

Applicants wills be awarded 50% of eligible, capital costs for eligible projects, pending availability of funds. Applicants may receive no more than $2,000,000 in two years for one or more projects. If after five years the project has not proceeded in a timely manner and is unlikely to be completed, the grant will be cancelled and grant money awarded to the city must be returned.

Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant Program

Grant funds can be used to cover up to 50% of capital costs of physical public infrastructure necessary to support a qualifying housing development. This may include sewers, water supply systems, utility extensions, streets and more, necessary to support single-family, multifamily, homeownership and rental housing development.

Grants are generally limited to:

• $40,000 per lot for one to four units
• $180,000 per lot for multifamily housing (five or more units/building)
• $60,000 per manufactured housing lot
• No more than $500,000 to any grantee or project over a two year period.

Applicants’ matching funds may include in-kind contributions, such as donation of land.

With a mission to improve community health, Medica Foundation provides Minnesota rural health organizations with up to US $20,000 over two years for nonprofit, community-led solutions advancing health equity. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) charities, public/government agencies, and Tribal Nations in rural counties such as Stevens County, focusing on priority areas like dental, mental, maternal, senior, and primary care services.

Health and community organizations providing HIV prevention and PrEP services in Stevens County, Minnesota and other rural counties can apply for Minnesota Department of Health funding, with awards of US $180,000 - US $200,000. Grants support designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative PrEP programs to expand access, increase screening, and reduce HIV transmission in high-risk rural communities.

Stevens County, Minnesota nonprofits, schools, and government units can access funding through West Central Initiative for sustainability, equity, and civic engagement projects, with awards ranging from US $3,000 - US $25,000. Eligible organizations must serve residents within West Central Initiative’s nine-county region and can request general operating support or project-specific funding.

Nonprofits, schools, local governments, and tribal entities in Stevens County, Minnesota can seek US $1,000 - US $10,000 for community programs, education, arts, environment, and human services. BNSF Foundation provides funding to organizations located near its rail lines, including eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and youth-serving groups in communities it serves.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing housing, homelessness prevention, or emergency support services in Stevens County, Minnesota can apply for funding that supports homeless individuals, children, and families. Edina Realty Foundation supports homelessness services and humanitarian aid across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, including programs such as shelter, food, medical care, job readiness, and financial assistance.

The Rural Hospital Planning and Transition Grant, administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, aims to support small, nonprofit rural hospitals in developing strategic plans and implementing transition projects. This initiative enhances access to healthcare for underserved communities in Minnesota, ensuring they receive necessary services. Grant recipients will create sustainable plans to address community health needs and improve service delivery, fostering equity and inclusion in healthcare access.

The Seymour Siegel Youth Achievement Award, offered by the Jewish Community Foundation, provides financial support for high school students pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training. Open to applicants of the Jewish faith, this award prioritizes those from single-parent households, orphans, or foster children. Interested candidates must submit a personal narrative detailing their qualifications. The foundation, established in 1979, is a leading community resource in South Jersey, managing over $35 million in assets.

The Patrice Faye Cohen Memorial Scholarship Award supports high school women from Southern New Jersey who are pursuing college education with a focus on entrepreneurship. Established in memory of Patrice Faye Cohen, a successful business owner, this scholarship aims to empower women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Eligible candidates must demonstrate a commitment to their studies and entrepreneurial aspirations, with financial support available for tuition and related expenses.