Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation’s Community Partners Grants

The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation administers the Community Partners Grants program, a competitive funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations and government entities serving the Greater White Bear Lake region in Minnesota. The Foundation, which operates under the larger CommunityGiving network, emphasizes strengthening local communities by empowering community foundations to harness resources and goodwill for greater impact. Its Community Partners Grants reflect this mission by funding innovative and meaningful projects that benefit local residents and schools within the defined geographic area. The Community Partners Grants provide support across multiple focus areas, including education, social services, health, arts and culture, and civic engagement. Within education, the program prioritizes early education through twelfth grade and after-school programs. In social services, the focus is on basic needs and strengthening families, children, and youth. Health-related funding supports physical and mental health programs, health education, and initiatives to reduce abuse or violence. Arts and culture funding emphasizes appreciation of diverse cultures and increased access to cultural opportunities, while civic funding supports activities that promote and preserve community engagement and cohesion. The Foundation notes that new applications and collaborative partner projects are encouraged. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities. While applicants do not need to be located within the designated service area, they must serve residents of Birchwood Village, Dellwood, Grant, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, and Willernie, or students in White Bear Area School District #624 and Mahtomedi School District #832. Applications from individuals, religious organizations for religious purposes, political organizations or campaigns, and projects such as event sponsorships, endowments, multi-year requests, debt retirement, or post-secondary academic scholarships will not be considered. Similarly, projects already completed, requests for government funding replacements, or those solely for travel or conferences are ineligible. The Foundation makes its funding decisions through a competitive process. Applications are submitted online via the CommunityGiving Grant Management System. After submission, the Grant Advisory Committee reviews and recommends applications for funding, and the Board of Directors makes the final decisions. Notification of awards is delivered by email. Successful applicants are required to electronically sign a Grant Agreement, after which funding will be disbursed. Grantees must also submit a final report and may be required to provide a progress report if requested. All follow-up reporting is submitted through the same online management system. The Community Partners Grants program opens applications on August 1, 2025, with a submission deadline of September 30, 2025, at 11:50 p.m. Funding decisions will be communicated by mid-November. The Foundation will award up to $100,000 annually through a single grant cycle, with individual award amounts ranging between $1,000 and $10,000. The program operates on an annual basis, and applicants should expect similar cycles in future years. For inquiries about the Community Partners Grants or assistance with the application system, applicants may contact CommunityGiving staff by phone at (320) 257-9715. General inquiries can also be directed to the CommunityGiving office located at 101 7th Avenue South, Suite 100, St. Cloud, Minnesota, or by phone at (320) 253-4380. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Applicants are encouraged to reach out to local staff before applying if unsure about eligibility. New applications and partner projects are encouraged.