Minnesota Private Grants

The Arts and Cultural Heritage (ACH) program, funded by the Arts and Culture Heritage Fund through the Minnesota State Legislature's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, provides critical financial support to arts organizations. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to support the arts and preserve heritage, reflecting a commitment to fostering artistic creation, performance, and cultural activities within local communities. The program aims to ensure a vibrant cultural landscape across the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council region. The target beneficiaries of the ACH program include arts organizations actively involved in creating art, producing artistic performances, or sponsoring quality arts activities. Eligibility extends to non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) arts organizations, non-profit community groups, schools (K-12, public or private non-parochial), public organizations, and units of government within the nine-county service area. The program specifically encourages outreach to historically marginalized and underserved groups such as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), People with Disabilities, LGBTQ+, and Senior Citizens, reinforcing a commitment to equitable, diverse, and inclusive access to the arts. The program prioritizes a broad range of artistic disciplines, including dance, literature, media arts, music, theater, visual art, and folk and traditional art. Activities eligible for funding include art and music festivals, community choirs, dance performances, literary readings, concerts, public art projects, theater productions, and visual art classes and exhibitions. Grants can be used for ongoing programs, in-person or virtual activities, and to enhance existing events or offer new ones. The three main types of grants—ACH Arts Project Grant, ACH Arts and Music Festival Grant, and ACH Arts Education Grant—each have specific focuses, with the Arts Education grant specifically fostering educational partnerships between artists, arts organizations, and schools. Expected outcomes include an increase in high-quality arts programming and performances within the region, enhanced access to the arts for diverse audiences, and strengthened educational opportunities through arts integration in schools. Measurable results for the Arts Project Grant include improved artistic capabilities of organizations through equipment purchases, while the Arts and Music Festival Grant aims for celebrations with a significant focus on Minnesota artists, diverse activities, and broad audience participation. The Arts Education Grant focuses on enhancing school arts curriculum through artist residencies, performances, workshops, and field trips. All projects are expected to be completed within a one-year grant duration. The foundation's strategic priorities, as reflected by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, center on creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community through the arts. Their theory of change posits that by countering systemic inequities and providing financial support to a wide array of arts activities and organizations, they can ensure that individuals and communities, regardless of race, gender, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, class, age, or geography, have access to the transformative power of the arts. This holistic approach aims to enrich the cultural fabric and overall well-being of the Minnesota communities they serve.

This grant provides funding for innovative community-based projects that promote joy as a vital element of social justice for Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and AMEMSA communities in the Upper Midwest.

The Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) is implementing new grantmaking approaches to effectively invest in people, places, and opportunities in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The new model includes Strategic Grants and Community Responsive Fund grants. Strategic Grants are awarded directly by OBT to organizations with at least $500,000 in expenses from the previous year, aligning with OBT's objectives. Community Responsive Fund grants are managed by intermediary partners, focusing on organizations with less than $500,000 in expenses.

This funding opportunity supports local nonprofits, schools, and government entities in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to implement projects that foster community connections, inclusivity, and long-term positive change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to established nonprofits in Southern Minnesota that focus on improving literacy, children's health, mental health, and related services to address urgent community needs.

The Community Foundation of Grand Forks' Women’s Fund Grant Program aligns directly with the foundation's mission to empower girls and women by providing ideas, energy, and resources to achieve economic, social, and political equity. This grant program is designed to support initiatives that address the challenges and concerns facing girls and women today, while also fostering their leadership skills and confidence. The foundation strategically uses this program to encourage philanthropy among women, reinforcing a cycle of support within the community. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are girls and women within Grand Forks, Walsh, and Polk Counties. The program's impact goals are centered on creating opportunities that build leadership skills and confidence, raising awareness of critical issues, and promoting gender equity. By supporting a diverse range of projects, the Women's Fund aims to generate tangible improvements in the lives of girls and women, contributing to a more equitable society. The program prioritizes initiatives that build leadership skills and confidence among girls and women, support opportunities, and encourage women to become philanthropists. While not explicitly detailed, the foundation's theory of change appears to be rooted in the belief that by investing in these key areas, they can create a ripple effect that leads to broader societal change and improved outcomes for women. Grants are typically awarded in the $5,000 range, indicating a focus on impactful, yet often localized, projects. Expected outcomes include increased awareness of issues facing girls and women, enhanced leadership capabilities, and greater participation in philanthropic activities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly stated, the program implicitly aims for improvements in economic, social, and political equity for its target demographic. The grant duration of one year, with a grant period of October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025, suggests a focus on projects with clear, achievable objectives within a defined timeframe. The foundation's strategic priorities for this fund include supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored nonprofits, public entities like libraries or schools, or units of government with principal operations in the specified counties. They also emphasize fiscal responsibility and timely reporting from previous grant recipients. This ensures that funds are directed to well-managed organizations capable of effectively implementing programs that align with the Women's Fund's vision.

The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) “Difference Maker” grant round aims to support community initiatives within Douglas County, Minnesota, by fostering positive change. This grant aligns with the AACF's mission to provide leadership and financial support, building partnerships that extend beyond the grant itself to advance projects and initiatives. Eligible organizations include 501(c)3 nonprofits, schools, and government entities, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to broad community engagement. The grant targets residents within Douglas County, with a particular focus on addressing basic needs, supporting and strengthening families, children, and youth, and promoting diverse cultures. The AACF seeks to fund programs and projects that will bring about positive change in the Alexandria area community, ultimately aiming for a sustainable positive impact. They specifically look for initiatives that build social capital across generations and cultures, and support diversity, equity, and inclusion. The AACF's strategic priorities are evident in its focus areas, which include Education (especially K-12 and after-school programs), Social Services, Health (education, physical and mental health, abuse/violence reduction), Arts and Culture, and Civic activities that build, promote, and preserve communities. The foundation’s theory of change appears to be centered on fostering innovative solutions, encouraging collaborative efforts with various community partners, and supporting projects that create highly impactful and visible outcomes, inspiring further community investments. Expected outcomes include creating innovative solutions to community challenges, capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and building or supporting collaborative efforts among community partners. The grant also emphasizes making a sustainable positive impact, building social capital, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Projects are expected to have a lasting impact, whether through capital projects, new or expanded programs, or other strategic investments. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $30,000, and the grant encourages initiatives that can demonstrate measurable results in these focus areas.

The Initiative Foundation offers grants to nonprofits and local government units, focusing on program or capacity-building support, projects that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strategies to address workforce shortages. This aligns with the Foundation's mission to serve its 14-county region in Minnesota and Native nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe, by fostering community and economic development. The grants are intended to be strategic investments, not ongoing support, with individual grants seldom exceeding $7,500. The grants target 501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, or local government units serving specific counties and Native nations within the Initiative Foundation's geographic service area. The impact goals are to strengthen communities by addressing urgent needs, particularly in low-income communities, promote behavioral change towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, and develop community-based solutions for regional workforce shortages, leading to family-sustaining wages. The Foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrably contribute to these outcomes. Priority consideration is given to proposals focusing on capacity-building support for nonprofits, especially those addressing urgent needs or low-income communities, including business planning, fund development, training, or pilot programming. Other key focuses include cost-share for projects creating behavioral change related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advancement of community-based strategies to tackle regional workforce shortages in sectors with family-sustaining wages. Support for early-stage feasibility or pilot projects by local and regional community and economic development entities is also a priority. Expected outcomes include strengthened organizational capacity for nonprofits, measurable progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and tangible reductions in regional workforce shortages. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on "behavioral change" and "community-based strategies" implies a desire for demonstrable and sustainable impact. The Foundation's strategic priorities are clearly laid out in the priority areas, indicating a theory of change that by investing in these key areas, they can foster stronger, more equitable, and economically resilient communities. Ineligible expenses include grants to individuals and businesses, expenses incurred before grant receipt, capital expenses, projects not directly benefiting residents in the service area, replacement of government funding, religious activities, lobbying, school curriculum development or athletic programs, and out-of-state travel. Healthcare, arts, and historic preservation are not focus areas for discretionary grants, and potential applicants in these areas are encouraged to consult with staff before applying.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations in northeast Minnesota for programs and projects that promote literacy, children's health, mental health services, and capital improvements for hospitals and clinics.

The Greenbush Area Community Fund, managed by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, offers grants to nonprofit or public entities within the Greenbush area of Minnesota. This grant program aims to support projects or activities that enhance and/or promote educational experiences and other related purposes aligned with the Greenbush Area Community Fund's mission. While the explicit mission of the Greenbush Area Community Fund is not detailed, the focus on community enhancement and specific areas of impact suggests an alignment with broader community development and quality of life improvement goals. The target beneficiaries of these grants are qualifying programs and services within the Greenbush area that serve the community. The impact goals are to support economic development, education, aesthetic enhancement, or youth and senior enrichment. The selection criteria emphasize how a project meets the Greenbush Area Community Fund's mission, its capacity to extend beyond traditional opportunities, and the number of participants or organizations served. This indicates a desire to foster innovative and far-reaching community initiatives. The grant program prioritizes projects within the areas of economic development, education, aesthetic enhancement, and youth and senior enrichment. Special consideration is given to applicants who partner with other qualifying organizations or include cash or in-kind matches, highlighting a strategic focus on collaboration and shared investment. This encourages a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to community improvement. Expected outcomes include enhanced educational experiences, improved economic conditions, more aesthetically pleasing community spaces, and enriched opportunities for youth and seniors. Measurable results would likely be tied to the number of participants served, the scope of the projects, and the demonstrable impact within the prioritized areas. The strategic priorities and theory of change appear to center on empowering local organizations to drive positive change through targeted investments that foster education, development, and community well-being, leveraging partnerships for greater collective impact.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for large-scale public art projects in southwest Minnesota, aimed at organizations, cities, and tribal governments that will create a lasting arts legacy in the region.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit arts organizations in Ely, Minnesota, to strengthen their operational capacity and sustain their artistic missions.

This program provides financial support to artists and culture bearers in specific Minnesota counties to help them enhance their creative development and pursue artistic opportunities.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

The Food Recovery Grant, supported by BizRecycling, is designed to combat food waste and address food insecurity by funding programs that recover surplus, edible food from various businesses and organizations for distribution to those in need. This initiative aligns with a broader mission of environmental sustainability through waste reduction and social welfare by ensuring access to nutritious food. The program's foundation is built on the principle of resource optimization, transforming potential waste into a valuable community resource. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are people in need within Ramsey and Washington counties of Minnesota, who will receive recovered food. The grant also supports a wide array of eligible organizations including food producers, distributors, grocers, cafeterias, food shelves and banks, colleges with donation and food shelf programs, and farmers markets. The impact goals are two-fold: to significantly increase the amount of edible food recovered and redistributed, thereby reducing landfill waste, and to improve food access for vulnerable populations. The grant prioritizes both food recovery and donation, as well as education and engagement. Funds can be used for materials such as collection buckets, boxes, bags, and food mobility equipment, as well as storage and transportation costs. Limited staffing costs related to food recovery/gleaning work and infrastructure/equipment for these efforts are also supported. Additionally, the grant allows for staff recycling training, demonstrating a focus on comprehensive waste reduction strategies beyond just food. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the volume of food recovered and distributed, a reduction in food waste sent to landfills, and an expansion of the capacity of local organizations to engage in food recovery efforts. The grant awards, up to $20,000, are strategically deployed to foster sustainable food recovery ecosystems. By supporting operational costs and infrastructure, BizRecycling's strategic priority is to build resilient systems for food recovery that lead to tangible reductions in hunger and waste within the target counties, embodying a theory of change where targeted financial support leads to improved environmental and social outcomes.

The PRISM (Promoting Rural Interconnections for Sexual Minorities) grant program, offered by the PFund Foundation, is designed to bolster the capacity and connectivity of rural LGBTQ+ organizations across a five-state service area: Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, including Native Nations within these states. This initiative directly aligns with PFund's mission to support LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in underserved rural areas. By focusing on rural interconnections, PFund aims to address the unique challenges faced by queer individuals in small towns and rural parts of the upper Midwest, fostering a more connected and resilient LGBTQ+ ecosystem in these regions. The primary beneficiaries of the PRISM program are LGBTQIA2S+ populations in rural communities within the specified states. The program targets organizations that primarily serve these populations, have been in operation for at least one year, are based in or serve rural areas (towns under 50,000 people), and are registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits or informal groups with a fiscal sponsor. The impact goals are to increase the capacity of these organizations, enhance their connections through networking, and empower them to effectively respond to the specific issues affecting queer people in their communities. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around creating networks for LGBTQ+ organizations and groups to facilitate resource sharing, collaborative learning, and collective action. This cohort collaboration is a central tenet, designed to build a strong, supportive community among rural LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations. The funding, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 for a 12-month period, supports these organizations in strengthening their infrastructure and programs to better serve their constituents. Expected outcomes include more robust and sustainable rural LGBTQ+ organizations, increased inter-organizational collaboration, and a more unified response to the challenges faced by queer individuals in the upper Midwest's rural areas. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, the program's emphasis on capacity building, connection, and cohort collaboration suggests that metrics would likely include the number of organizations participating, the types of resources shared, the attendance and engagement in monthly virtual meetings, and qualitative assessments of increased organizational effectiveness and community impact. PFund Foundation's strategic priority with the PRISM program is clearly to support and uplift rural LGBTQ+ communities, recognizing their distinct needs and often overlooked struggles. The theory of change underpinning PRISM is that by providing targeted financial support, training, and fostering a collaborative network, rural LGBTQ+ organizations will become more resilient and effective. This, in turn, will lead to improved services, stronger advocacy, and a better quality of life for LGBTQ+ individuals living in these areas, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and inclusive Upper Midwest.

This funding opportunity supports K-12 schools in nine Minnesota counties to collaborate with professional artists on various arts projects, promoting access to the arts for historically marginalized communities.

The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) offers grants to support health and wellness within the Alexandria area, with a particular emphasis on addressing the health needs of individuals experiencing poverty. This initiative aligns directly with the AACF's mission to foster a healthier community by providing essential resources and support where it is most needed. The grants aim to create a tangible, positive impact on the well-being of residents, especially those who are vulnerable. The grant program targets residents within Douglas County, focusing on individuals who are underserved or experiencing poverty. The overarching impact goal is to improve overall health and wellness in the community. This includes providing health education to prevent disease, supporting food and nutrition education, and helping isolated individuals build social connections to combat the negative health effects of loneliness. The AACF prioritizes grant proposals that demonstrate innovative solutions to community challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. They also favor projects that build or support collaborative efforts among various community partners, including other nonprofits, government entities, businesses, and citizen groups. Sustainable positive impact, the building of social capital across diverse community segments, and highly visible projects that inspire additional investment are also key focuses. Furthermore, projects that support diversity, equity, and inclusion are highly regarded. Expected outcomes include a reduction in preventable diseases through increased health education, improved nutritional health within the community, and enhanced social connections for isolated individuals. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the focus on health education, nutrition support, and social connection building implies a theory of change where targeted interventions lead to improved community health indicators and stronger social fabric. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly centered on fostering a connected, healthy, and equitable community through collaborative and impactful initiatives.

The Individual Artist Equity program, provided by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, offers grants of up to $3,000 to individual artists. This funding is specifically designed to support artists who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+). The program aims to foster the growth and development of these artists by allowing them to undertake well-planned projects or seize impending opportunities that further their artistic practice or career. The target beneficiaries are individual artists from the specified underrepresented groups residing in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis County in Minnesota, or one of the four Tribal Nations within the region (BoisForte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, or Leech Lake within Itasca County). The impact goal is to empower these artists, providing them with the financial resources necessary to pursue creative endeavors and professional development. This aligns with a strategic priority to promote equity and inclusion within the arts community by directly supporting artists who may face systemic barriers. The program prioritizes activities that directly advance an artist's creative practice or career. This includes funding for art supplies, educational opportunities, and labor, such as services from other artists, babysitters, or paid time off for art creation. Equipment or technology purchases are also allowed, provided they are integral to the artistic project and constitute less than 25% of the total request. This focus indicates a theory of change where targeted financial support leads to enhanced artistic output, skill development, and career advancement for underrepresented artists. Expected outcomes include artists successfully completing projects that contribute to their growth, taking advantage of professional opportunities, and producing new works or developing new skills. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond project completion, the program's structure suggests an emphasis on the individual artist's development and the successful execution of their proposed artistic projects. The requirement for projects to begin within six months of approval also implies a focus on timely and impactful engagement with the grant funds.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.