Minnesota grants for City or township governments

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the Fiscal Year 2025 Soil Health Financial Assistance Program, a grant designed to support healthy soil management practices across Minnesota. This program, funded by the 2023 and 2024 Legislative Sessions, aims to enhance agricultural sustainability and environmental health by promoting the adoption of soil health farming practices. The MDA, through its Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division, administers this competitive grant, aligning with its mission to protect and enhance Minnesota's agricultural resources. The program's primary beneficiaries are owners and lessees of farmland in Minnesota, as well as Local Government Units (LGUs) such including cities, towns, counties, soil and water conservation districts, Tribal Nations, and joint powers boards. LGUs that receive grants for equipment purchases are required to make this equipment available for public use, broadening the program's impact. The overarching impact goal is to establish, improve, or accelerate soil health practices statewide, contributing to long-term agricultural resilience and environmental benefits. The core priority of this grant is to provide financial assistance for purchasing and retrofitting equipment essential for implementing soil health farming practices. This includes both new and used equipment, as well as parts and materials for retrofitting existing machinery. By focusing on equipment acquisition, the program directly addresses a common barrier to adopting soil health practices, thereby facilitating their widespread implementation across various farming operations. The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $2.375 million in FY 2025. Applicants can request up to 50% of their project's total cost, with individual grant awards ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $45,000. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of farms utilizing soil-healthy practices and the availability of specialized equipment for public use through LGUs. The measurable results will be tied to the successful acquisition and deployment of equipment, leading to improved soil health metrics on participating lands, although specific metrics are not detailed in the provided information.

This grant provides financial support to urban farmers in Minnesota for implementing conservation practices that improve environmental health and farm sustainability.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will support projects in the Great Lakes basin that implement the following strategic, priority actions: Mitigate Invasive Forest Insect and Disease ImpactsImplement targeted reforestation and forest protection actions to minimize invasive forest insect and disease impacts on watersheds. Reduce Runoff through Green Infrastructure Capture or treat stormwater runoff by planting trees and other vegetation as an integral component of green infrastructure. Restore and Connect Coastal and Riparian Forest Habitats Protect, restore, and enhance high-quality coastal zone and connecting riparian ecosystems where trees are an important component. The minimum and maximum Federal funding requests vary depending on program area, with an overall range of $50,000 to $300,000. Please review the funding table in the Request for Applications for the allowable ranges of each program area. An informational webinar will occur on July 23rd, 2024, at 9 am Central/10 am Eastern. The link is: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/91m9ed3hrjpkab7c1a5zly1ud025xxc5 The powerpoint can be found at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/mffkiks7dyhmuewtir2liy7tllo06u16 The webinar recording is also posted on our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r9/workingtogether/grants/?cid=FSEPRD898819.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Minnesota-based nonprofits, businesses, and governments for projects that promote waste reduction and reuse, focusing on sustainable practices and community education.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that conserve and improve natural resources, targeting municipalities, nonprofits, schools, and private property owners in Hennepin County.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is offering a $10 million grant to tribal nations and local governmental units in Minnesota for projects aimed at preparing local wastewater infrastructure for climate change impacts, with a focus on protecting water quality, increasing resilience, and promoting energy and water efficiency.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Douglas County, Minnesota, to support health and wellness initiatives that address the needs of residents experiencing poverty.

The **Mardag Foundation** is now accepting applications for its **2024 Grant Program**, supporting organizations that promote equity, strengthen communities, and improve quality of life for Minnesotans. Rooted in collaboration and racial equity, the foundation’s approach emphasizes community-informed work that empowers marginalized populations and fosters lasting, inclusive change. Grant funding is available to organizations serving residents in **Greater Minnesota** and the **East Metro counties of Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington**. The foundation’s giving focuses on three primary areas. The first is **improving the lives of low-income children, youth, and families** who face barriers to opportunity. Priority is given to organizations serving marginalized communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)—and addressing intersections of education, mental health, basic needs, employment pathways, healthcare access, and housing stability. Projects that eliminate inequities and expand equitable opportunities for youth and families are especially encouraged to apply. The second focus area supports **older adults who face isolation, financial hardship, or barriers to full participation in community life**. Funding will prioritize organizations serving low-income older Minnesotans, particularly those who are also members of marginalized groups such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, or people with disabilities. Grants may support efforts to meet basic needs, improve caregiving quality, promote mental health, reduce isolation, and enable aging in place through stable and safe housing. The foundation also welcomes programs fostering **intergenerational connections**, which enrich both older adults and younger participants through shared experiences. The third priority is **strengthening community vitality through arts and culture**. The Mardag Foundation believes that the arts play a vital role in honoring diverse cultures and fostering shared understanding. Funding will support arts and culture organizations that elevate underrepresented voices and amplify the creative contributions of BIPOC, low-income, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Through these efforts, the foundation aims to build stronger, more connected, and culturally vibrant communities across Minnesota. The foundation offers two types of grants: **General Operating Support** and **Capital Project grants**. General operating grants provide flexible funding to nonprofits that serve at least 50% of their beneficiaries in the East Metro or Greater Minnesota. Capital grants support facility improvements or equipment purchases for projects based in these same regions, typically distributed over multiple years. Eligible applicants include **501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, and religious organizations**. Preference is given to entities whose work is led or informed by the people most affected by the issues they address. The Mardag Foundation does not fund organizations using fiscal sponsors, those exclusively serving Minneapolis or the West Metro, scholarships, sectarian programs, or large-scale capital campaigns for private schools or universities. By focusing its support on community-led efforts that address inequality and strengthen social infrastructure, the foundation continues its mission of advancing opportunity, dignity, and well-being for all Minnesotans—especially those facing the greatest barriers to success.

The Thief River Falls Area Community Fund is inviting applications for grants from nonprofit or public entities within the Thief River Falls School District area. Grants are intended for projects, programs, or activities that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors of the Thief River Falls area. Primary focus areas include youth engagement, social need, senior enrichment, and overall quality of life enhancement. Applications are open until May 1, 2024. The fund is a component of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, which serves 12 northwestern Minnesota counties. More information and application details can be found on their website.

This grant provides financial assistance to local governments and authorities in Minnesota for investigating and cleaning up contaminated sites to promote redevelopment and increase property tax revenue.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is offering approximately $4.5 million in grants to support organics management projects aimed at reducing the amount of organic material sent to landfills or incinerators. This funding is intended for projects that enhance or establish collection, processing (through composting, anaerobic digestion, or feeding to animals), and education/outreach initiatives related to organics management. Eligible entities must serve or operate within Minnesota, and include not-for-profit organizations, businesses, institutions, political subdivisions (e.g., counties, cities), state agencies, and tribal governments. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on June 10, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Minnesota communities for the planning and design of treatment systems to address PFAS contamination in public drinking water supplies.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Grant Program in Minnesota, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Rape Prevention and Education program, aims to prevent sexual violence by enhancing health equity and addressing social determinants of health. The program supports activities in three priority areas: strengthening economic supports for families, creating protective environments, and promoting social norms that protect against violence. The program emphasizes interventions that prevent violence through community and societal level changes and prioritizes projects that address systemic inequalities and promote health equity.

The Minnesota Housing, in collaboration with Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF), is launching the Single Family RFP through its Community Homeownership Impact Fund. This initiative is designed to expand and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities across all counties in Minnesota. The program’s mission aligns closely with the foundation’s broader vision: ensuring that every Minnesotan has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing. By focusing on single-family, owner-occupied homes, this funding opportunity aims to address both supply and quality gaps, particularly in underserved and economically marginalized communities. Through multiple financing mechanisms—grants, deferred loans, housing infrastructure bonds, and interim loans—the program seeks to foster community stability, economic inclusion, and equitable pathways to homeownership. The program’s primary beneficiaries are low- to moderate-income households, with a targeted emphasis on households of color, immigrant households, and those including people with disabilities. This focus reflects GMHF’s commitment to applying a racial and economic equity lens to homeownership initiatives, aiming to reduce historic disparities in property ownership and wealth accumulation. Targeted investments will support both the creation of new affordable housing units and the rehabilitation of existing homes, ensuring that communities not only gain new housing stock but also preserve their existing neighborhoods. Special priority will be given to applicants leveraging cross-sector collaborations—particularly in health and housing—to improve overall community well-being. Strategically, the program prioritizes projects that deliver tangible, lasting impact. Priority activities include acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale of existing properties; new construction of single-family homes; and stand-alone affordability gap assistance. Additional emphasis is placed on projects that advance Tribal housing initiatives, ensuring that Tribal Nations and communities have equitable access to homeownership opportunities. By offering flexible funding types—including forgivable loans and deferred downpayment assistance—the program allows local governments, nonprofits, Tribal entities, and developers to structure their projects to meet community-specific needs and financial realities. Expected outcomes are centered on measurable, high-impact results. Awarded projects must lead to the creation or preservation of affordable, owner-occupied homes with no more than four units, ensuring at least one unit is owner-occupied. The program anticipates that these efforts will expand the affordable housing inventory, increase homeownership rates among underrepresented populations, and stabilize neighborhoods. Success metrics will include the number of homes developed or rehabilitated, the number of households served, demographic diversity among beneficiaries, and the degree to which affordability thresholds are met and maintained. Additionally, the program seeks to generate long-term community benefits such as improved health outcomes, greater neighborhood investment, and increased intergenerational wealth. The foundation’s strategic priorities and theory of change rest on the belief that stable, affordable homeownership is a critical lever for advancing economic mobility and community resilience. By combining capital investment with equitable housing strategies, the program aims to dismantle systemic barriers to homeownership and create conditions for sustained prosperity. Through partnerships with municipalities, Tribal governments, nonprofits, and developers, Minnesota Housing and GMHF are fostering a collaborative ecosystem that ensures funding leads to meaningful, measurable, and community-driven change. This initiative is not merely about building houses—it’s about empowering people, strengthening communities, and reshaping the housing landscape in Minnesota for a more inclusive future.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Minnesota that provide essential services to individuals and families facing housing and food insecurity, helping them acquire necessary tools and infrastructure to improve their support efforts.

The Rural and Underserved Clinical Rotations grant, authorized by Minnesota Statutes Sec 144.1505, aims to enhance health professional training sites, including those for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, dental therapists, and mental health professionals. This program supports the expansion of existing clinical training programs to include rural and underserved rotations or specialized training tracks, focusing on primary care settings in rural communities. This expansion is intended to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve access to healthcare in these communities.

The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant, offered by Kansas City, Missouri, is a program designed to foster community engagement, enhance neighborhood identity, and improve public safety and overall quality of life. The program aims to reduce violent and other crime, spur neighborhood investment and development, and address code violations through Association and resident-led projects. While the text doesn't explicitly state a "foundation" in the traditional sense, the city's strategic priority is clearly aligned with empowering local neighborhoods to address their unique challenges and build stronger, safer communities from within. This grant serves as a direct mechanism for the city to achieve its broader goals of urban improvement and resident well-being. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are not-for-profit Neighborhood Associations registered with the City of Kansas City and the State of Missouri, or those partnering with registered associations. The impact goals are comprehensive, aiming to improve resident health and safety, enhance dignity, support aging in place, and address other necessary quality of life repairs. By empowering these associations, the program seeks to create a ripple effect, positively impacting all residents within the participating neighborhoods. The grant prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include promoting active participation and involvement of residents through community engagement, celebrating unique neighborhood identities, enhancing community safety through public safety strategies, facilitating necessary repairs and upgrades for quality of life enhancements, reducing violence and other crimes, encouraging internal and external neighborhood investment, and implementing measures to reduce code violations. These focus areas collectively form a strategic approach to holistic neighborhood development and improvement. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a reduction in violent and other crime, increased neighborhood investment and development, a decrease in code violations, and an overall improvement in residents' health, safety, and well-being. The program's theory of change posits that by empowering local associations and residents to lead projects focused on these priority areas, communities will experience enhanced value through stronger partnerships, leading to increased strength and stability. The grant aims to facilitate positive interactions and outcomes, fostering resident collaboration and improving messaging within the neighborhoods. The current round of funding offers $400K for local projects, with a maximum of $20K per applicant, indicating a commitment to supporting numerous community-led initiatives.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota to improve non-emergency medical transportation services for residents in long-term care facilities, ensuring they can access essential health-related appointments safely and effectively.

This grant program, offered by the Minnesota Department of Education, aims to support the Minnesota's LSTA Five-Year Plan (2023-2027) by funding projects that align with Goals A, B, and C. The overarching mission is to reduce barriers to access, promote equity, showcase libraries' contributions to the community, and empower Minnesota's library workforce. This aligns with the state's broader strategic priorities of closing racial and economic achievement gaps and supporting the goals of the World's Best Workforce, as highlighted in Goal C. The target beneficiaries of this grant are legally established public libraries, library cooperatives or consortia, libraries in Minnesota’s public schools or public colleges and universities, and special libraries operated by Minnesota registered 501(c)(3) organizations. The impact goals are centered around increasing collective impact through coalition building (Goal A), reimagining access through partnerships (Goal B), and changing the narrative to better showcase libraries' vital contributions to thriving communities (Goal C). The program prioritizes and focuses on new projects that can serve as models or pilots. However, it also considers new phases of existing projects or ongoing projects that reach new audiences, incorporate new methods, or significantly expand their reach. Collaboration and partnerships with community-based organizations are highly encouraged, reflecting a strategic priority to leverage collective efforts for greater impact, though not a strict requirement for application. Expected outcomes and measurable results are tied to the achievement of the LSTA Five-Year Plan's goals, particularly in areas like reducing access barriers and promoting equity. While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided text, the focus on "changing the narrative" and "increasing collective impact" suggests qualitative and quantitative improvements in community engagement, library service utilization, and workforce development. The grant period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, provides a timeframe for achieving these outcomes, with grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 to support these initiatives.