Search Through Volunteer Grants in Minnesota in the U.S.

Little Falls Education Foundation Grant

The Little Falls Education Foundation is a component fund that serves as a vehicle for gathering and distributing charitable gifts to the Little Falls Community Schools. An Advisory Board of area volunteers will be responsible for directing the funds to support worthwhile projects at the school district.

Community

The Little Falls Education Foundation is an endowment fund that will allow people to strengthen our community through a charitable contribution to benefit students of the school district. Its advisory board is comprised of local volunteers who understand that strong, viable, and inviting schools provide the basis for a growing community.

Created in 1986, the Initiative Foundation is powering possible to help Central Minnesota people build and sustain thriving communities.

The Foundation serves the 14 counties of Central Minnesota, providing nonprofit grants, business loans, leadership training, and an array of donor services. We believe that local people have the greatest sum of initiative, knowledge, and relationships to achieve a brighter future.

In partnership with Little Falls Education Foundation, the Initiative Foundation oversees and manages financial contributions for the fund. The Foundation also provides staff support to the advisory board and ensures compliance with legal and professional standards. These services allow volunteer leaders to focus on meeting community needs and enhancing the local quality of life. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, contributions to the fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Our Mission

The Old National Bank Foundation believes that social responsibility is essential to fostering vibrant, sustainable communities. We realize this belief through strategic partnerships with charitable organizations addressing defined community needs.

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, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin where our clients, associates and shareholders live and work.

Invested in our communities

Caring for our clients means being an active and dynamic partner in the cities and towns we serve. Through sponsorships, Old National helps organizations improve the quality of life in the areas where our clients, associates and shareholders live and work.

Old National Bank Foundation Sponsorships

Old National sponsorships provide monetary support for events or activities, while enabling us to partner with many community organizations. Typically such sponsorships are in exchange for advertising and/or publicity that directly benefits Old National. Our goal is to make meaningful contributions, measure the results of our sponsorships, and work closely with the organizations we support.

Here are examples of the types of activities we sponsor:

• One-time events
• Fundraisers
• Golf tournaments/scrambles
• Corporate tables at galas
• Sporting events
• Special events (telethons, marathons, races or benefits)

Youth in Philanthropy Grant

The KIDS PLUS Youth In Philanthropy Board invites young people in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties, as well as in Superior, Wisconsin, to request a grant of up to $1,000. The project and grant application must be planned, written, and carried out by young people, with the support of an adult advisor, to benefit schools, youth-serving organizations, and communities.

Who Can Apply for Funding?

Examples of those who can apply for a Youth In Philanthropy grant are:

• Youth groups (4-H, Girl Scouts, etc.),
• Youth-serving organizations or programs (youth centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, etc.),
• Organizations or clubs within schools and communities, such as peer helpers, student council, etc.

Community Involvement

We believe in giving back, doing good and making a positive impact in our communities.

Generations of Donaldson employees and their families give their time, energy and aid to various philanthropic efforts, addressing the needs of our local communities and helping transform lives. Organizations are supported in partnership with the Donaldson Foundation and through numerous employee-led volunteer events.

Foundation

Founded in 1966, the Donaldson Foundation is our main vehicle for charitable giving. Led by a volunteer employee board, the Foundation supports organizations and programs that further educational initiatives in our communities.

Led by a Board comprised of employee volunteers, the mission of the Donaldson Foundation is to positively impact our communities by supporting education.

The Donaldson Foundation grants $1.2 million every year to non-profit organizations within our communities where our employees live and work. Our philanthropy focuses on:

• Supporting educational opportunities for those who otherwise would not have them
• Matching grants to educational institutions
• Providing scholarships for post-secondary institutions
• Partnering with our plant communities to address local education needs

Grant Criteria

• Educational focus
• Degree of need for those benefited
• Impact
• Sustainability
• Connection to our communities

Who We Are

Mission:

• Our mission is to strengthen local communities by empowering community foundations.

We Believe In:

• Capturing and preserving the legacy of our donors … Forever
• Our duty to provide unparalleled, personalized service to our donors
• Inspiring philanthropy across generations
• Utilizing financial resources as a tool to bring about lasting, positive change
• Our responsibility to serve as a trusted local leader and community catalyst, building connections between people who share a common geography

We Value:

• Community - We bring people together to leave our world better than we found it. Everyone is welcome at the Community Foundation table.
• Integrity - We recognize that our assets are our people, capital and reputation. If any of these is ever diminished, the last is the most difficult to restore.
• Commitment - We possess an authentic and genuine dedication to the communities and people we serve.
• Innovation - We are committed to being flexible and improving what we do and how we do it, each and every day.
• Optimism - We have a “can-do” attitude that inspires creative solutions.
• Diversity - We integrate the diversity of our local communities in our discussions and actions.
• Generosity - We nurture a "pay-it-forward" approach that supports community-based philanthropy to grow and serve local communities.

WACF Community Impact Grant

The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) supports specific community initiatives through a variety of grants. WACF seeks to make smaller grants for general operations and programs to address changing community needs. WACF also seeks to make significant grants that will be the "Difference Maker” in bringing about community-wide, lasting, and positive changes in the Willmar area. WACF is looking to provide leadership and financial support that goes beyond the grant in order to advance the project or initiative that needs a large dollar amount to get started or completed.

Focus Areas

• Addressing the Achievement Gap for our Youth:
  • Projects that address access to quality early childhood programming and address barriers to access.
  • Projects that improve access to enrichment activities for low income and underserved children.
  • Projects that provide ‘on ramps’ for skills, training and experiences beyond a four year college prep focus including apprenticeships, skills training, innovative programming, etc.
  • Projects are preferred that help build foundational, technical and soft skills that prepare young people for our future workforce and that help students with challenges to become productive members of our community.
• Increasing Community Connections and Welcoming Diverse Populations:
  • Projects that welcome newcomers to our community, that create social connections, create an open/welcoming community, address aesthetics and improve the quality of life through art and active recreational opportunities.
  • Leadership development projects for emerging leaders of varied ages and backgrounds.
  • Newcomer Programs that are community led and culturally relevant or that connect New Americans to education and civic systems.
• Supporting Productive Aging:
  • Projects that provide basic needs for low income seniors or enrich the quality of life for seniors across the spectrum.
  • Activities that deploy multigenerational approaches to connect seniors and youth or projects that meaningfully engage seniors as a volunteer force to address an unmet community need.

Funding

Amount Range: $5,000 to $20,000 (focused on single organization, issue or program)

Mission

The Biodiversity Fund supports efforts to maintain and strengthen biodiversity in the Duluth-Superior region through preservation and restoration of habitat, help for particular species and ecosystems, planning for changing conditions, research and education. The purpose is to consider now the value to future generations of the species and ecosystem diversity that will remain when/if human population stabilizes.

Examples

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects that could be recipients of Biodiversity Fund grants:

• Inventory, monitoring and analysis to establish priorities for protection and restoration of habitats for species and ecosystems of special concern, especially when state and federal help is lacking
• Planning for impacts of climate change, land use and management practices, urban development or other changing conditions
• Mapping and control of invasive species where they may threaten more desired native species
• Watershed and land protection projects, including fee-title or conservation easement acquisition, innovative regulation or other methods
• Management of sites to protect, conserve and enhance their importance for biodiversity
• Habitat restoration or enhancement of aquatic or terrestrial plant and wildlife communities
• Involvement of students, adults or families in volunteer work on habitat restoration and measurement of consequent changes in species diversity
• Promotion or facilitation of native landscaping and habitat enhancement in yards and neighborhoods and in public and commercial spaces
• Innovative approaches that promote public understanding and engagement in biodiversity issues

The American Association of Blacks in Energy proudly supports the academic achievements of students who desire careers in the energy industry, by awarding scholarships to those students who meet the minimum scholarship qualifications. Scholarships may be awarded by the National office as well as local Chapter(s) in your high school’s city or state.

Annually AABE awards more than $350,000 in scholarships to students. AABE has engaged energy-related partners to increase the number of scholarships awarded. Each of our scholars has indicated an interest in pursuing an energy-related career. AABE volunteers across the country work to provide numerous scholarship opportunities through golf tournaments, grants, and other fundraising activities.

Our mission:

To provide direct input into the deliberations and developments of energy policies, regulations, emerging technologies, and environmental issues.

This scholarship program will award seven (7) scholarships annually:

• Six (6) Regional scholarships at $3,000 each
• One (1) National scholarship at $5,000 (this is a reoccurring scholarship for up to 4 years as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA and remains enrolled in an eligible Major).

Through the work of various AABE National Scholarship Committee members, Chapter Presidents, Regional Directors, Location Scholarship Committees, and many AABE volunteers nationwide, the AABE Scholarship Program is advertised, and applications are solicited from eligible candidates nationwide.

Though founded to address funding inequities in education resources for African Americans, AABE-administered scholarships are open to all ethnicities; the great majority of recipients are still African American. It provides scholarships to students attending its member colleges, technical or trade schools, or universities.

Boreal Waters Community Foundation

The Boreal Waters Community Foundation serves 12 counties across northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and seven Tribal nations, uniting people and resources to build vibrant, resilient communities. Guided by its mission to foster belonging, opportunity, and sustainability, the Foundation invests in local priorities through grants, scholarships, and donor-directed funds. Its funding supports initiatives in areas such as youth leadership, environmental stewardship, food sovereignty, and cultural preservation—ensuring that community-led solutions thrive and create lasting impact across the region.

Chief John Raaflaub Memorial Firefighter Scholarship Fund

The Chief John Raaflaub Memorial Firefighter Scholarship Fund helps students from Douglas County and the Twin Ports Area pursue careers in firefighting, and especially at the Superior Fire Department. Applicants can be high school graduates or those who have been out of high school for a longer period.

Fred C. and Mary H. Lewis Scholarship Fund – MBA

The Lewises supported Duluth’s business community through work in their banks and with volunteer organizations. They created this fund to help develop future business leaders.

Award Range

• Awards covers tuition, books and fees

Mission

The Animal-Assisted Therapy Fund promotes and provides animal-assisted therapy for people of all ages with mental, emotional and psychological challenges. The fund supports this work in the memory of Cordelia Anne Brinton. The fund prioritizes work in which animals are nourished and cared for in therapeutic healing processes versus companion animals.

Examples

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects that could receive a grant from this fund:

• Teaching people to interact with animals in a way that fosters emotional growth and learning to improve emotional, behavioral and mental health
• Broadening dimensions or understanding of an individual’s life challenges through interaction with animals
• Impactful programs that meet the emotional and developmental needs of individuals

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of services provided by organizations that could receive a grant from this fund:

• Programs that provide mental health therapy inclusive of animal-assisted therapy
• Services to clients with mental health issues, including those that may arise with physical health challenges
• Animal-assisted therapy programs focused on safe, therapeutically sound, goal-oriented sessions in cooperation with physicians, therapists, educators, instructors and volunteers
• Programs to rescue abused and neglected animals to train and restore them to health for facilitating therapeutic healing.

The following are representative but not exclusive examples of organizations that could receive a grant from this fund:

• North Country R.I.D.E.
• Forget-Me-Not Foundation
• Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch
• Unbridled Hope Equine Assisted Learning Center
• Solvay Hospice House
• Can Do Canines
• Reins of Inspiration
• Amberwing’s Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Programs
• Changing Gaits
• Giant Steps

The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves six counties bordering the St. Croix River through local partnerships and place-based philanthropy. We serve:

• Minnesota: Chisago County, Washington County
• Wisconsin: Burnett County, Pierce County, Polk County, St. Croix County

Since our founding in 1995, we’ve:

• Grown to 500+ charitable funds and $100M+ in assets
• Facilitated $100M+ in grants and scholarships, including $5.8 million in 2024
• Partnered with local community affiliates led by volunteers who help guide grantmaking, grow local endowments, and connect donors to opportunities close to home.

Gary & Mary Malmquist Scholarship

$20,000 ($5,000 per year - 4 installments) Scholarship for Stillwater Area High School Student.

1 Scholarship per Year.

Community Wealth Building Grants

Weaving together financial, intellectual, cultural, and social assets for healthy communities.

About Blandin Foundation and 2025 Grantmaking

Mission: We connect, fund, and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.

As one of the few foundations in the nation devoted exclusively to rural needs, Blandin Foundation has shifted our strategic focus to better meet rural Minnesota’s urgent challenges. The COVID pandemic and racial turmoil accelerated many of the economic and social disparities that originally inspired our collective passion for rural philanthropy, and we realized we had to take bold steps to meet the moment. Our intent is to support rural communities and Native Nations in tapping courage, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to rebuild connections that have long been a source of their strength and identity.

Community Context for our Focus on Community Wealth Building

We know that land ownership inequality is growing, wealth and income gaps persist, and that this inequality harms economic growth. Community wealth building’s focus on collaborative work aimed at reducing disparities and support for projects that promote equitable access and outcomes will help push back against these harmful trends. Knowing that Community Wealth Building concepts were developed in urban settings, one objective of this grant program is to gather data from partners’ community wealth-building activities to more deeply inform rural practice and impact.

What is Community Wealth Building?

In a nutshell, it is building the rural bases of knowledge, money, workforce, entrepreneurship, and investment – and keeping those powerful resources close to home. Its goal is to reduce disparities in outcomes that too often fall along the lines of place, race, and class.

Community Wealth Building is a community development approach that considers the full spectrum of assets needed for healthy communities – financial, intellectual, environmental, cultural, and social – and weaves them together in a way that roots all development locally, focusing on sustainable, shared community benefit and reducing disparities.

Outcomes We Seek

Affordable Housing and Housing Stability

• Increased Affordable Housing Units:
  • Creation, preservation, or rehabilitation of a significant number of affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income residents, particularly in communities facing housing shortages in Itasca County.
• Improved Housing Stability for Disadvantaged Populations:
  • Reduction in housing instability and homelessness through initiatives that provide direct support services such as rental assistance, legal aid, and tenant education for marginalized groups (e.g., low-income, Indigenous, and people of color communities). Increases in the number of homeowners from historically underserved populations and from lower-income households as a core household wealth-building strategy.
• Green and Sustainable Housing Development:
  • Development of energy-efficient, climate-resilient housing projects that reduce long-term living costs for lower-income families and address environmental justice concerns.
• System Capacity Building:
  • Expand local expertise, organizational capacity, and access to capital to accelerate and sustain long-term capacity for strategic development of affordable housing in rural communities.

Community-Based Economic Development

• Local Business Growth and Job Creation:
  • Support for community-based businesses, particularly those owned by people of color, Indigenous individuals, and women, leading to new living-wage job creation and economic opportunities for marginalized groups.
• Strengthened Community Land Ownership:
  • Increased access to community land trusts and co-operative business models, giving local communities, especially people of color and Indigenous populations, greater control over their land and economic resources.
• Increased Economic Diversification:
  • Enhanced economic resilience through the development of new industries or revitalization of key sectors in rural areas, such as sustainable food systems, clean energy, or creative industries, benefiting rural communities.
• Whole-community Development:
  • Support Indigenous approaches to wealth—rooted in relational, cultural, and environmental well-being— that build not only financial capital but also value the health of relationships, the stewardship of natural resources, and the preservation of language, cultural knowledge, and traditions to build community.

Workforce and Talent Development Systems

• Improved Workforce Participation:
  • Increased participation of underrepresented groups (especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), rural women, immigrants, and low-income residents) in the workforce through tailored job training programs, apprenticeships, and support for re-entry populations.
• Industry-Specific Workforce Development:
  • Development of workforce pipelines in high-demand sectors like healthcare, housing construction, renewable energy, and technology, with pathways that are specifically inclusive of rural residents with greater barriers to success.
• Leadership Development for Underrepresented Groups:
  • Increased representation of BIPOC, women, and rural populations in leadership roles in both the public and private sectors through mentorship programs, leadership training, and capacity-building initiatives.
• K-12 and Higher Education Partnerships:
  • Enhanced collaborations between local schools, community colleges, and businesses to create career pathways for youth, particularly in underserved communities, including mentorship programs, internships, and dual-credit opportunities. Emphasis on collaborative regional approaches versus support for individual programs or organizations. Pathways should lead to living-wage work.

Equitable Access to Capital

• Increased Access to Small Business Financing:
  • Strengthening the rural economic development ecosystem to support small businesses and entrepreneurs from marginalized communities in Itasca County and across rural Minnesota, particularly those owned by BIPOC, women, and low-income individuals.
• Community Investment Funds:
  • Creation of community investment funds that pool resources from residents and local organizations to fund community development projects and businesses that directly benefit local residents, with a focus on rooting economic activity and wealth building in Minnesota’s rural communities.
• Financial Empowerment and Capital Access Education:
  • Increased financial empowerment programs aimed at BIPOC and low-income communities to improve financial management, investment strategies, knowledge of household wealth-building pathways, and access to credit for both businesses and households.
• Partnerships for Equitable Economic Investment:
  • Formation of strategic partnerships between local governments, financial institutions, and community organizations to increase investment in rural communities, prioritizing equitable access to capital for underserved populations.

Cross-cutting and Community-Level Outcomes

• Reduction of Racial and Economic Disparities:
  • Demonstrable reductions in economic disparities across racial, class, and geographic lines, with a focus on lifting up communities of color, Indigenous populations, immigrant communities, and rural low-income residents in Itasca County and across rural Minnesota.
• Strengthened Social Cohesion and Community Leadership:
  • Increased capacity of local community leaders, to advocate for and drive economic development and policy change that addresses racial, economic, and geographic disparities and emphasizes community benefit and inclusive prosperity.
• Improved Public Health and Economic Well-Being:
  • Measurable improvement in health outcomes (mental, physical, economic) through the combined impact of affordable housing, access to quality jobs, financial stability, and reduced systemic barriers.
• Sustainable Rural Development:
  • Enhance rural resilience by integrating climate adaptation, sustainable practices, and long-term economic sustainability into all community wealth-building efforts in rural, underserved areas.
• Community-focused Procurement and Purchasing Practices:
  • Grow resilient local and regional rural economies by prioritizing procurement for local businesses and producers, supporting conditions for increased economic activity, living-wage job growth, and inclusive, locally-created wealth.

Funding Range

Please request an amount that speaks to what you need to complete your proposal. Typical grant awards will be between $25,000 and $150,000. Funded projects can have a timeframe of up to 3 years. Requests over $250,000 may follow a different timeline for review and approval.

We expect funding decisions to be made around the end of May 2025; however, depending on the volume of proposals received, the timeline may shift.

Please see FAQs on the Grant Eligibility & Applications page for additional guidelines and information.

About Us

The Izaak Walton League is one of America’s oldest and most successful conservation organizations – and we are the only organization training, equipping, and coordinating volunteer water quality monitors on a national scale. These volunteers are the heart and soul of our common-sense conservation mission. Through member-driven bottom-up governance, the Izaak Walton League is protecting outdoor America in communities across the country, while working strategically at the national level to win critical conservation battles.

Minnesota Division Awards

Please read the descriptions below to nominate a person or group for one of the MN Division awards.

IWLA Distinguished Service Award - Special and long-term service to the MN Div. Division.

Dr. Walter Breckenridge Award - Recognizes professional educators and others who teach all of us to value natural resources.

Ed Franey Outdoor Writer and Conservation Media Award - Professional who works in written word, visual form or spoken word.

Sigurd F. Olson Conservation Award - Our special award for someone with outstanding contributions to the preservation of Minnesota's natural resources - IWLA member preferred but not mandatory.

IWLA Stewardship Awards - A member who has worked on special projects, achieved public acclaim and helped the community in meaningful ways.

Ray Haik Watershed District Award - Named for the Minnesotan who was a national IWLA president and authored the legislation establishing watershed districts.

Dave Zentner Minnesota Defenders Award - Named for the Minnesotan who was a national IWLA president - granted annually to any chapter that completes six of the eight following criteria:

• Membership growth (Jan-Dec)
• Distribute (by mail or electronically) a regular newsletter/blog/email, etc.
• Conduct or contribute to a local/state/national Ikes scholarship program (minimum $100)
• Conduct or participate in a local school or youth outdoor/conservation activity
• Conduct a local chapter conservation project (other than previous category)
• Work with a conservation/environmental group (non-school) to conduct a project or fundraiser (other than above categories).
• Visit another chapter OR attend a regional, state or national Ikes meeting (minimum of 3 from chapter)
• Conduct an event or attend a governmental meeting to discuss a conservation or environmental issue. (minimum 3 from chapter)

We are Stronger Together

2020 was a year like no other. It offered us a unique opportunity to demonstrate the strength of H.B. Fuller’s values, particularly the power of collaboration and courage. Our focus on taking care of employees, solving customers’ challenges in new ways, and supporting our communities when they need us most never faltered.

Our commitment to STEM education and youth leadership development did not waver, and we created a new funding focus to address racial inequities in the areas of employment, education and safety. Additionally, employees around the world took part in company-sponsored matching programs and a variety of virtual or socially-distanced volunteer opportunities to amplify their impact on issues they care about.

Overall, the gifts of time, talent and financial resources provided by H.B. Fuller and its employees in 2020 had an immeasurable effect on communities around the world.

STEM and Youth Leadership Grant

H.B. Fuller’s philanthropic vision is to help young people grow into productive, successful adults.

H.B. Fuller Company Foundation grants are strategically focused in two areas:

• STEM education – youth education initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
• Leadership development for youth – organizations and programs that help young people become successful, productive adults

Travelers believes that strong communities are sustained by educational and economic opportunities — and we are dedicated to assisting our communities in generating those opportunities. With a focus on equity and inclusion, we target our giving and volunteerism to help improve academic and career success, develop thriving neighborhoods and create culturally enriched communities.

Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to achieve three outcomes: Academic & Career Success, Thriving Neighborhoods and Culturally Enriched Communities. Our primary focus is educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce. In addition, Travelers contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and that enhance lives and learning through arts & culture. 

Travelers accepts grant applications exclusively for Hartford, Connecticut and St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily for project, program and operating support and for limited capital opportunities.

Academic & Career Success

Because today’s student will be tomorrow’s co-worker, education is the primary focus of our giving. We support college and career readiness programs for underrepresented students from middle school through college and into career. 

A successful future starts in the classroom. But many people struggle to get the education they need to compete for quality jobs and to lead a fulfilling life. Our giving focuses on helping to provide a foundation for individual success and on building a skilled workforce for our industry and our communities.

Where We Give

Nearly half of our annual giving goes toward initiatives that help underrepresented students attain academic and career success. We seek to improve academic achievement gaps by focusing on low-income and minority students in grades five through 12, students in college and those seeking careers in the insurance industry.

Funding Priorities

Academic & Career Success: Travelers supports initiatives that improve academic achievement and career success for underrepresented youth, specifically targeted at public school students in grades five through 12, students in transition to post-secondary education, and students in post-secondary learning environments.

• Middle & High School Academic Achievement– Travelers funds initiatives that foster improved academic achievement for middle and/or high school students.
• Post-Secondary Preparation & Degree Attainment– Travelers supports organizations that are building awareness of and personal readiness for post-secondary education and educational initiatives that improve degree completion for underrepresented students.
• Career Awareness & Readiness– Travelers supports educational initiatives that are building awareness of and preparation for careers in insurance and financial services.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.

NMF has open grants rounds through our mission-driven grants programs, as well as local funds in our family of funds. NMF is home to more than 430 community and component funds, many of which offer grant funding for groups and organizations to benefit their local communities.

The Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations

The HC COLA Charitable Fund provides financial support for charitable and educational programs, projects and activities that facilitate cooperation among member lake associations and to assist in encouraging environmentally sustainable use of lakes and watersheds that protect, preserve and enhance the quality of area lakes and their environs including funding for:

• Early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and aquatic vegetation surveys
• Research,studies or projects on water quality, and shoreland development, AIS prevention, and disseminating information thereof to member associations and the general public.
• Developing and presenting guidelines concerning the development, and preservation of the rivers, lakes, shorelands and other landsto agencies of the government, business and private individuals in order to bring about appropriate action for the effective use of these valuable natural resources.
• Support of acquisition of property for sustainable public use, e.g. Conservation Easements.
• Support for the establishment of individual lake association educational and charitable funds.
• Other charitable and educational activitiesthat support the HCCOLA and associated lake associations.

For every $1 contributed by HCCOLA Charitable Fund, applicant must match $1 toward the project. Matches can be comprised of volunteer labor, in-kind services, donated materials, and/or cash. In-kind match of labor / volunteers can be estimated at $25.00 per hour for unskilled activities.

The Walser Foundation’s mission is to increase access to high-quality education and career-training programs in the communities we serve across Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, New Mexico, and Georgia.

Driving a Stronger Community Scholarship (MN)

The Walser Foundation, funded by the Walser Automotive Group, proudly supports high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding volunteerism, social responsibility, and civic engagement. Through the Driving a Stronger Community scholarship, one exceptional student from each participating high school will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to assist with post-secondary education.

Participating high schools are chosen based on the communities Walser serves.

Career Development Grant

This Career Grant is intended to pay costs associated with the development of graduate student careers. The maximum award is $900.

Applications must document the research expense for which funding is requested, explain how that expense is important to the research project or the applicant's research career, and show that the needed funding is not available through their academic program or advisor.

Selection Criteria

Applicants’ academic merit and financial need (as previously defined) are evaluated based on:

• A statement of financial need;
• A strong, well-written personal statement that explains what the grant funds will be used for;
• One recommendation letter that addresses the applicant's financial need and academic merit; and
• Evidence of academic promise via research record, grades, and/or reference letters.

Event and Reimbursement Timings

Conference Grant

This Grant is intended for presenting original work at a conference with a poster, oral presentation, or other acceptable format. The maximum award is $900.

Selection Criteria

Applicants’ academic merit and financial need (as previously defined) are evaluated based on:

• A statement of financial need;
• A strong, well-written personal statement that explains what the grant funds will be used for;
• One recommendation letter that addresses the applicant's financial need and academic merit; and
• Evidence of academic promise via research record, grades, and/or reference letters.

Event and Reimbursement Timings

Research Support Grant

The Research Support Grant offers awards of up to $500 to assist COGS fee-paying graduate students with funds to support conducting research and/or participating in research-related conferences, workshops, competitions, or seminars. This grants program is intended to support graduate students in the pursuit of their academic scholarship and the timely completion of their graduate degrees.

Selection Criteria

Applicants’ academic merit and financial need (as previously defined) are evaluated based on:

• A statement of financial need;
• A strong, well-written personal statement that explains what the grant funds will be used for;
• One recommendation letter that addresses the applicant's financial need and academic merit; and
• Evidence of academic promise via research record, grades, and/or reference letters.

Event and Reimbursement Timings

GIG Fund

Flexible support to help arts and culture organizations grow their capacity, fund artist engagements, and build community.

What is the GIG Fund?

The GIG Fund is a grant of $2,000-4,000 that supports creative projects and educational events in the Midwest. These funds help organizations present artists in their community by supporting programming and touring costs. The GIG Fund is a grant that supports Midwestern organizations that want to contract with a professional artist to offer activities to their community. 

Matching requirement

Organizations will be required to demonstrate matching funds on a 1:1 basis for the grant amount.

To demonstrate the match, your expenses should each be at least double your GIG Fund grant. Potential sources for the match include salaries and wages, in-kind contributions, volunteer hours, earned and contributed revenue (donations, ticket sales, other non-Federal grants), or cash from the applicant or partner organizations.

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.

Travelers Foundation

Travelers believes that strong communities are sustained by educational and economic opportunities —and we are dedicated to assisting our communities in generating those opportunities. With a focus on equity and inclusion, we target our giving and volunteerism to help improve academic and career success, develop thriving neighborhoods and create culturally enriched communities.

Travelers contributes to organizations that prepare historically underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce, develop vibrant communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and enhance lives and learning through arts & culture.

Travelers accepts grant applications exclusively for Hartford, Connecticut and St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily for project, program and operating support and for limited capital opportunities.

Thriving Neighborhoods

Travelers supports organizations that help create and maintain safety, stability and vitality in low- and mixed-income communities.

What Our Funding Supports:

• Accessible, Safe Housing– Travelers supports organizations and programs that provide permanent housing and supportive services to create safe, stable neighborhoods.
• Successful Small Businesses – Travelers funds organizations that develop economic vitality and create and retain wealth by assisting the creation and growth of small businesses, with an emphasis on women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses. Travelers also supports programs that prepare individuals for business ownership and support them on their journeys.
• Resilient Communities – Travelers supports organizations that show leadership in disaster preparation, response and recovery.

About

Compeer Financial is a member-owned, Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. We provide loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America. With 1,300 dedicated team members serving approximately 72,600 member-owners, we offer specialized expertise and personalized service regardless of the size of the farm, the type of crop grown or the livestock raised. Our services are provided with convenience in mind, through visits to fields, barns and homes, or by maximizing technology to make the most of every hour in every day.

Compeer Financial regularly collaborates with others who are also dedicated to agriculture and rural America. Our in-house specialists participate in conversations that extend beyond our service area, providing formal and informal insight on topics pertinent to all industries, including dairy, swine, grain and renewable energy. With $28.1 billion in total assets, Compeer Financial is one of the largest cooperatives in the Farm Credit System. This nationwide network of lending institutions supports agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.

Emergency Response Equipment – Regional Collaboration Grant Program

The mission of Compeer Financial’s Emergency Response Equipment – Regional Collaboration Grant Program is to bring specialized equipment to local departments working together to benefit rural communities.

Teamwork is critical when volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments need to respond to emergencies; this grant encourages that same collaborative spirit to help secure specialized equipment.

Examples of specialized equipment may include:

• Chest compression system
• Fit testing machine
• Hydraulic extrication rescue tool
• Oxygen tank refill equipment

The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation was established in 1994 by concerned business and community leaders to help local citizens contribute to the community to improve the quality of life in this area. The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is one of only 700 community foundations in the United States. We are a nonprofit public charity whose purpose is to have a positive impact through philanthropy in all sectors of the community and manage a collection of funds initiated by individuals, corporations and community service organizations to benefit the geographical area around Itasca County, Minnesota.The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who live and work in the Itasca County area, who are knowledgeable about their communities, and who are committed to ensuring that the spirit and the intent of each gift is honored. Each year, the Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations and community groups working to strengthen the Greater Itasca Area, which includes Itasca County and surrounding areas. If your organization is addressing local needs—whether through education, human services, the arts, environment, or other areas of impact—we invite you to apply. For 30+ years, the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has been connecting generous donors to the region’s needs to create lasting, local change. 

Our Mission

We strive to build a stronger community by mobilizing generosity around the needs of the people in the greater Itasca area.

Our Vision

Generosity gives everyone the opportunity to thrive.

Our Values

• Integrity: We do what’s right – legally and morally.
• Trust: We earn confidence through demonstrated actions.
• Stewardship: We watch over, maintain, and accept full responsibility with regard to managed funds and Foundation affairs.
• Collaboration: We embrace the value of partnerships and shared input.
• Compassion: We care about our community members and respect their individual differences, diversity, and opinions.

What is a Community Foundation?A Community Foundation is a nonprofit, public charity, whose purpose is to impact a geographical area through grants. They create funds that help their community meet the challenge of changing times by investing and administering these funds. Grant money for these funds comes from individuals, businesses, private foundations and community service organizations.   The financial resources from these groups are invested and then brought back to the community.What is the difference between a private and public foundation?Most of the funds in a private foundation come from one source, whether an individual, a family or a corporation. A public foundation, in contrast, receives its assets from multiple sources.  The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is a public foundation.

Who invests the money?The Community Foundation relies on a knowledgeable Finance and Stewardship Committee to oversee Foundation investments  made by professional investment managers. The Foundation has an investment policy which managers follow.

How is the Foundation accountable to the public?As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Community Foundation files reports with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.  The Foundation also has an annual audit performed by a CPA firm and files the required 990 with the IRS.  All of this information is available to the public.

Aspirus Scholars Program

The Aspirus Scholars Program was created by Aspirus and several community partners to address the health needs of patients in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and ensure access to high-quality medical providers, today and for future generations.

The Aspirus Scholars Program will provide scholarships to select medical students in exchange for a service commitment and rewarding career with Aspirus.

The Aspirus Scholars program is also designed to help alleviate some of the debt burden many of our medical providers are faced with today.

Medical Students

Students can be awarded up to $175,000 in scholarship aid for tuition while enrolled in the medical student program at the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin (MCW-CW) Campus.

In return, upon completion of medical school and residency training, the student agrees to employment with Aspirus. The program is open to first- and second-year medical students in pursuit of primary care, psychiatry, or general surgery careers from the MCW-CW Campus. 

The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to encourage collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education.

Priority is placed on projects that: 

• Bring together a broad range of community members and institutions
• Provide the opportunity for diverse community members to work together
• Contain measurable short term outcomes within the first 12 to 18 months
• Include community members actively in all phases of the process 
• Work toward an outcome of positive change within their community

Projects must demonstrate:

• Support from a diverse cross-section of community members and institutions
• Matching financial and/or in-kind support from the local community
• Significant volunteer participation
• Reasonable plans to complete the project within 18 months or less

Funds will be available for: 

• Planning (up to $5,000) - These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc.
• Note - this stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation grant.
• But organizations that receive a planning grant may apply for subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.      
• Implementation (Up to $25,000) - These funds are available to implement community based rural projects that originate in, have been planned by, and involve diverse people from the local community.
• Capital campaigns will not be supported.
• The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months.
• Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

What the Program will Cover:

• New programs or projects within their first three years
• A planning, and/or implementation phase