Minnesota Education Grants

The Tier 3 Clinical/Translational Research Grant is designed for advanced research projects that are concurrently applying for or have funding from federal or industry sources. This grant requires published preliminary data and offers up to $500,000 over three years with an additional two-year no-cost extension.

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is inviting applications from organizations committed to building inclusive and welcoming entrepreneurial environments that expand equitable opportunities for all. This grant aims to empower communities in southern Minnesota to support diverse and traditionally underserved populations in pursuing entrepreneurship. By strengthening local ecosystems that remove barriers to participation, SMIF seeks to drive lasting economic vitality and ensure that prosperity is shared across racial and cultural lines. The foundation is particularly focused on initiatives that cultivate equitable access to entrepreneurial resources and that foster collaboration among community members to create long-term change. Eligible applicants include IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, and public institutions that provide direct services or resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Grassroots and informal organizations may also apply, provided they have an eligible fiscal sponsor. Proposed initiatives might include entrepreneurial education programs designed for BIPOC or underserved populations, community dialogues promoting inclusivity in business, or systems that expand access to funding, mentorship, and professional development. Successful proposals will articulate how their projects create tangible economic opportunities and address the systemic inequities faced by entrepreneurs of color in the region. The foundation will award grants of up to $10,000 per project, with a grant duration of up to 18 months for implementation. Each recipient is required to provide a 10% cash match and to submit both interim and final reports detailing progress and outcomes. Projects must demonstrate clear alignment with SMIF’s mission, show measurable community impact within its 20-county region, and present a plan for sustaining efforts beyond the grant period. Proposals that show strong collaboration and innovation in addressing racial and economic disparities will be viewed favorably. Certain activities and applicants are not eligible for funding. Exclusions include individuals, for-profit businesses, and general operating expenses unrelated to the project. The grant will not support capital purchases, real estate investments, feasibility studies without implementation, or re-granting activities. Likewise, projects already underway or completed before application are not eligible, nor are those focused on research or school-based internships. Organizations with an open Inclusive & Equitable Communities Grant from SMIF are also ineligible until the previous project concludes. Through this program, SMIF continues its mission to advance equitable economic growth across southern Minnesota. By investing in community-led efforts to uplift diverse entrepreneurs and dismantle barriers to opportunity, the foundation is helping to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous regional economy.

This funding opportunity supports small, rural nonprofit hospitals in Minnesota to develop strategic plans or implement projects that improve access to essential health services in their communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations for projects that improve community development, education, basic needs, and environmental conservation in areas near the Black Oak Getty Wind Farm.

This funding opportunity supports urban youth agricultural education and community development initiatives in Minnesota's urban and peri-urban areas, benefiting a range of organizations including nonprofits, schools, and local governments.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for innovative projects that improve the quality of life in the St. Charles, Minnesota area, with a focus on economic development and early childhood support.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Injury and Violence Prevention Section is seeking proposals for drug overdose prevention services in Minnesota. This grant opportunity aims to reduce overdose deaths and enhance prevention efforts across the state. The funding source is state dollars allocated through the Minnesota Comprehensive Drug Overdose and Morbidity Prevention Act. The grant period is from June 30, 2024, to May 31, 2028, with up to approximately $500,000 awarded annually for four years. The program's mission aligns with public health initiatives to combat the opioid crisis and promote community well-being. The grant prioritizes best practice approaches in service delivery, requiring programs and activities to be trauma-informed, person-centered, strength-based, culturally responsive, and utilize harm reduction principles. These principles serve as the foundation's strategic priorities, emphasizing a holistic and compassionate approach to overdose prevention. By focusing on these core tenets, the program aims to address the multifaceted challenges of drug overdose by supporting individuals and communities with effective and respectful interventions. The grant is divided into two categories. Category 1, the TOWN Program for Communities, estimates $400,000 per year for a four-year total of $1,600,000, with an anticipated two awards. Category 2, the TOWN Program – Telehealth MOUD Bridge, estimates $100,000 per year for a four-year total of $400,000, with one anticipated award. These categories demonstrate a strategic focus on both community-based interventions and telehealth solutions, indicating a theory of change that combines localized support with accessible healthcare. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations, such as community-based organizations, community health centers, tribal governments, educational institutions, and county governments/community health boards. Applicants must be located and conduct grant activities in Minnesota, promoting local impact. The expected outcomes are a reduction in overdose deaths and enhanced overdose prevention efforts, with measurable results tied to the annual funding and the specific aims of each grant category. This comprehensive approach aims to create a significant and lasting positive impact on public health in Minnesota.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofits and organizing committees in Mankato to create or sustain community events that benefit the local economy and are open to the public.

This program provides financial support to Minnesota-based businesses and organizations for replacing or retrofitting refrigeration systems with environmentally friendly options that reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The Backyard Giving Grants initiative is designed to support organizations in the vicinity of CHS headquarters, which is located in the Twin Cities. This program aims to foster community unity, enhance agricultural education for the younger generation, and facilitate access to healthy food and stable housing for residents of the Twin Cities. Eligible organizations may receive up to $5,000 for hosting events that align with these objectives. The focus is on projects that offer basic needs services, promote agricultural education, and encourage community engagement. Grant renewed every year. Annual Fall opening/ closing deadline: October 1st to November 30th.

This funding opportunity supports community-driven projects that improve water quality and promote environmental stewardship in the Twin Cities area, targeting eligible non-profits, schools, and local organizations.

The Metro Regional Arts Council's Flexible Support grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is available for Minnesota-based arts and cultural organizations or groups to fund operations, enhance organizational capacity, or support arts programming, with a focus on enhancing Minnesotans' access to the arts.

This grant provides financial support to Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations that deliver dental services, promote oral health education, or offer career development in the dental field, particularly for underserved communities.

The Emberg Charitable Trust provides grants to tax exempt, nonprofit, and governmental vocational, technical, and trade school programs located in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The trust promotes workforce readiness by supporting programs that prepare students for careers in prominent regional industries. Preference is given to programs of study with potential to supply qualified candidates for fields such as forestry and aircraft maintenance. Funds may support curriculum development, equipment and tools for training, and associated program needs that enhance technical education and job placement outcomes. Eligible applicants are tax exempt nonprofits and governmental vocational, technical, and trade school programs serving counties in the trusts geographic focus. Proposals should demonstrate alignment with regional workforce needs and the capacity to deliver measurable outcomes for students and employers. Applications are due May 5, 2024. Grant size and duration are not stated. Additional information is available through the trustee information referenced by Wells Fargo.

This fellowship provides up to $150,000 over two years to individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota who are committed to personal growth as leaders and driving equitable, large-scale change in their communities.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota to develop and implement trauma-responsive care practices in pediatric health settings, particularly for marginalized communities.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering the 2025 Primary Care Residency Expansion Grant, building on legislation from 2015 that authorized the Commissioner of Health to fund new primary care residency positions. This grant program is designed to address the shortage of primary care physicians across Minnesota, particularly in rural and underserved areas, with the overarching goal of increasing access to primary care for these communities. The program aligns with a strategic priority to strengthen the state's healthcare workforce and improve health equity by ensuring that all Minnesotans have access to essential medical services. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are programs, sponsors, and potential sponsors of primary care residency positions located in Minnesota that train or propose to train medical residents in specific primary care specialties. These specialties include Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, Psychiatry (including child psychiatry fellowships), Geriatrics, and General Surgery. The grant also targets new and existing primary care residents and faculty, ultimately aiming to benefit underserved and rural communities through improved access to primary care physicians. The grant prioritizes the establishment of new primary care residency programs or the expansion of existing ones by creating new residency positions. Key focus areas for funding include planning for accredited programs, obtaining accreditation, establishing new residency slots, and recruiting, training, and retaining new primary care residents and faculty. Funds can also support travel and lodging for residents, salaries and fringe benefits for residents, faculty, and preceptors, training site improvements, equipment, supplies, and supporting clinical education within a primary care team model. This holistic approach ensures comprehensive support for the development and sustainment of robust primary care training. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of primary care physicians practicing in Minnesota, particularly in areas with physician shortages. The grant aims to expand the capacity of primary care residency programs, leading to more residents completing training in critical primary care specialties. Success will be measured by the number of new primary care residency slots created, the number of residents trained, and the retention of these physicians in Minnesota's rural and underserved communities, ultimately demonstrating improved access to primary care services.

The Ramsey County Trusted Messenger Initiative Grants aim to foster and develop innovative approaches for delivering public health services, resources, and information. The overarching mission alignment for this initiative is to address health inequalities, language barriers, and isolation from county services, particularly for racially and ethnically diverse communities, immigrant families, and new Minnesotans. By empowering trusted messengers, the program seeks to ensure equitable access to crucial public health support and information, aligning with a strategic goal of community well-being and health equity. The program targets specific beneficiaries across several priority areas. For "Healthy Communities," the focus is on racially and ethnically diverse communities, immigrant families, and new Minnesotans, with an impact goal of increasing awareness and access to culturally informed public health information in areas like healthy aging, Hmong health, sexual violence, adolescent health, and child/teen checkups. The "Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)" priority specifically targets pregnant and postpartum women and their children, especially early in pregnancy and multigenerational African American populations, with the goal of increasing WIC program awareness and referrals for healthy food, nutrition education, and lactation support. The "Family Health and Home Visiting" area is dedicated to promoting equity in birth outcomes for diverse communities, including African American, Native American, Latino/x, and immigrant populations, aiming to support families, fathers, and other caregivers in navigating pre- and post-birth care with a holistic approach. Key priorities also include "Clinical Services," which seeks to increase awareness and access to vaccines, immunizations, tuberculosis care, sexual and reproductive health services (HIV/STD testing, syringe services), wound care, and naloxone training for people using drugs. "Environmental Health" prioritizes finding creative ways to boost participation in food scraps pick-up, hazardous waste drop-off, and electronics recycling programs, especially within racially and ethnically diverse communities, while also raising awareness of the Environmental Service Center. Finally, "Climate Action" aims to increase awareness of climate change's health impacts and county resources to mitigate them. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around enhanced public health service delivery and increased community engagement. The initiative anticipates awarding approximately 10 grants, each up to $36,000, with an emphasis on reaching underserved populations. Success will be measured by improved access to health information, increased participation in public health programs, and a reduction in health disparities among the targeted communities. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its encouragement of applications from organizations that have not previously contracted with Ramsey County, ethnically and culturally diverse, women-owned, or veteran-owned organizations, and those with fewer than 50 employees, indicating a theory of change that values community-led, grassroots efforts and seeks to broaden the network of trusted service providers. Organizations serving adjacent counties like Dakota County are also encouraged, signaling a broader regional impact goal.

The City of St. Petersburg is offering Social Action Funding grants of up to $100,000 to social service agencies providing homeless services and/or homeless prevention services. This grant program aims to offer financial support for initiatives that positively influence the lives of homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness within the city. The program aligns with a broader mission to advance the health, economic, or social well-being of persons in need. The target beneficiaries include a wide range of vulnerable populations. Priority is given to agencies serving families with children (ages 0-5 and 6-17 years), elderly individuals over 62, unaccompanied youth, youth aging out of foster care, chronically homeless individuals (as defined by HUD), veterans, and victims of domestic violence. The overarching impact goal is to reduce and prevent homelessness in St. Petersburg by supporting comprehensive social service programs. The program prioritizes agencies that utilize a "housing first" and low-barrier approach. Specific critical services, such as storage units for personal items, call centers for homelessness prevention and assistance, and discretionary funds for street outreach, are also encouraged, allowing agencies to submit additional applications for these services. While there are no bonus points for matching funds or sole source proposals, all agencies are required to enter client data into the Pinellas Homeless Management Information System, with domestic violence providers being the sole exception. Expected outcomes include improved well-being for residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Measurable results will likely involve tracking the number of individuals and families served, successful housing placements, and the overall impact on reducing homelessness within the city. The grant period for projects is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, allowing for a one-year duration of funded services. This strategic approach emphasizes direct intervention and support for those most in need, with a clear focus on actionable and impactful services.

This grant provides research and evaluation support to culturally specific nonprofits in Minnesota, helping them enhance their capabilities to better serve their communities.