Building Better Lives Grants

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) serves as a key regional resource, supporting efforts that stabilize and enhance community wellbeing across Northwest Minnesota. Through its Building Better Lives Grants, NMF aims to empower local leaders and organizations to create resilient, inclusive, and vibrant communities. The foundation’s mission-driven approach focuses on engagement, collaboration, equity, and sustainability. This program reflects NMF’s commitment to helping underserved populations by supporting innovative, community-led projects that improve regional outcomes in economic mobility, health, and social cohesion. The Building Better Lives Grants fund organizations addressing a broad set of priorities, including family strengthening through essential services like housing, food, and childcare; mental and physical health initiatives aimed at underserved populations; projects that foster inclusive and welcoming communities, particularly for Indigenous and immigrant groups; efforts promoting economic mobility and workforce development; and internal capacity-building for nonprofits through training, leadership development, and infrastructure improvements. Eligible expenses range from salaries and training to travel and technical assistance, with the restriction that indirect costs cannot exceed 10% of the grant and event-based projects are capped at $5,000. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, or local government/public agencies with a physical presence in or providing services to the NMF service area, which includes the Red Lake and White Earth Nations and thirteen counties in Northwest Minnesota. Fiscal hosts are permitted with proper documentation. Projects should align with the foundation’s core funding areas and demonstrate meaningful community involvement, clear planning, and sustainable impact. The grant evaluation process considers six key areas: a concise purpose statement, understanding of community needs, defined activities and partnerships, accessibility and inclusivity of participation, realistic outcomes with long-term impact potential, and a clear and justified budget. Proposals that reflect strong local knowledge, collaborative partnerships, and scalable impact are especially competitive. Applications are accepted three times per year. For the upcoming cycle, the application window runs from November 3rd to December 1st, with award decisions communicated by December 31st and disbursements made in January. Applications must be submitted online through the NMF Web Portal. New portal users should account for a potential one-day approval delay. Informational webinars are hosted two weeks before each application window, and applicants are encouraged to reach out with questions or accessibility needs. A final report is due within one year of receiving funds. The program is recurring and applicants may reapply in future cycles if not selected. Additional cycles follow similar timelines in March and June. Contact Chloe Keprios, Operations Coordinator, at chloek@nwmf.org or 218-558-5326 for further assistance.

Align with one or more funding priorities; include community input and clear outcomes; partnerships and sustainability are emphasized.