Open Road Fund

The Open Road Fund is a community-driven initiative facilitated by Nexus Community Partners. Established to address the long-standing economic disparities faced by Black individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, the fund provides direct financial support in the form of $50,000 gifts to eligible individuals. Its primary goal is to catalyze intergenerational Black wealth and promote self-determined prosperity, healing, and liberation. It specifically supports Black descendants of African people who were kidnapped and enslaved in the Americas. Nexus Community Partners, the administering organization, has a long-standing commitment to equity, justice, and community-based development across the region. This grant opportunity is exclusively designed for individuals—not organizations. While individuals can use the award for business ventures or collaborative wealth-building projects with up to five other members, the fund explicitly prohibits its use for launching nonprofits or primarily charitable endeavors. Inappropriate uses of the funds include gifting the money to others, supporting political campaigns, or implementing any project that could cause or perpetuate harm in communities. Instead, the fund emphasizes flexible and empowering financial support, which recipients have used in diverse ways—from purchasing homes and paying college tuition, to starting trucking businesses and taking heritage trips to Africa. Applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria. They must identify as Black and be descendants of enslaved African people in the Americas. Additionally, they must be at least 14 years old and reside in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or in one of the 23 Native nations within these states. Prior awardees of the Open Road Fund are not eligible to reapply. To validate eligibility, applicants must provide specific identification documents as outlined in the registration materials. Group applications are permitted, provided all members meet the eligibility criteria and apply jointly for a shared wealth-building initiative. The application process is simple but thorough. The 2025 application cycle opened on June 19 (Juneteenth) and will close on July 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM Central Time. There is no indication of rolling deadlines or multiple phases such as letters of intent. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, with the grant reopening each year on Juneteenth and closing roughly one month later. While evaluation criteria are not exhaustively detailed in the public-facing material, applicants should expect a process that centers on alignment with the fund's wealth-building mission, integrity of proposed projects, and personal eligibility. Prospective applicants seeking support or with questions can reach the Open Road Fund at ORFSupport@nexuscp.org or by phone at 612-886-3449. Nexus Community Partners is headquartered at 2314 University Ave W, Suite 18, St. Paul, MN 55114. In addition to contact avenues, educational resources, FAQs, and past recipient stories are available on their website to assist applicants in understanding the fund's purpose and submission expectations. In sum, the Open Road Fund is a highly targeted funding initiative designed to return resources to Black individuals who have historically been excluded from wealth-building opportunities. Its mission is reinforced through direct cash gifts, a non-restrictive application framework, and a commitment to community healing and prosperity. This annual opportunity provides not only financial support but also a symbolic gesture of reparative justice and community restoration.