Minnesota Community IDEAS Program

The Minnesota Community IDEAS Program is a statewide grantmaking initiative operated by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with the Bush Foundation. Now in its second year, the program awards $1.6 million annually from 2025 through 2027 to Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations, with the aim of supporting bold, community-led ideas that can result in transformative and lasting change. The program prioritizes innovation, development, equity, agency, and solutions—encapsulated in the acronym IDEAS—and encourages organizations to approach community challenges creatively and inclusively. The 2026 grant round will award nine unrestricted grants of $125,000 each. These funds may be used for any charitable purpose that aligns with the program’s vision, including general operations, programmatic activities, or capital expenditures. There are no reporting requirements; instead, the Foundation conducts annual check-ins with each grantee to foster learning and partnership. Grants are distributed evenly across three defined target communities: Greater Minnesota, the Twin Cities 7-County Metro Area, and Native-led organizations that serve Native communities in Minnesota and the 11 Native Nations in the region. The application process is designed to reduce barriers to entry and promote equity. It includes a two-step process. In the first step, interested organizations submit a brief online interest form confirming eligibility, describing the proposed idea, and selecting one of the three target communities. Organizations may only apply under one target category. From the pool of eligible submissions, 20 organizations per target community are randomly selected to proceed to the full application phase. This randomized approach removes merit-based bias and opens access to organizations of varying sizes and capacities. Organizations selected for the second step receive support from the Foundation, including dedicated guidance from program staff. These organizations are also awarded a $750 grant in recognition of the time and effort required to prepare the full application. Applications are reviewed by Community Selection Committees specific to each target community. These committees, composed of community members, are tasked with selecting the three final awardees per target group. Selection criteria focus on innovation, development strategy, equity impact, community agency, and the potential for long-term solutions. To qualify, organizations must be based in Minnesota and use the funds for charitable purposes benefiting Minnesota communities. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities and government entities such as schools and tribal governments. Organizations operating under a fiscal sponsor are also eligible, provided the sponsor meets the same criteria. Collaboratives may apply as a group, but only one organization may serve as the applicant and recipient of the award. Organizations previously awarded a Minnesota Community IDEAS grant are not eligible to reapply. The 2026 timeline begins with interest form submissions accepted from January 5 through January 28, 2026, closing at 1 p.m. Selected organizations will be notified in February and invited to submit their full applications by April 30, 2026. Community Selection Committees will review these applications in May, and awards will be announced and distributed in July. Additional inquiries may be directed to [email protected] or 651.325.4202.

Align responses with IDEAS criteria; prioritize equity and community agency