Initiative Foundation’s Joy & Connection Grant

The Initiative Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Little Falls, Minnesota, dedicated to supporting the economic and community vitality of Central Minnesota. The Foundation offers various funding and programmatic opportunities to strengthen local communities, encourage connections among residents, and promote overall well-being. As part of its commitment to fostering community resilience and inclusivity, the Initiative Foundation has introduced the 2025 Joy and Connection Grant program. The Joy and Connection Grant aims to provide financial support for community-led projects that spark joy, foster stronger social connections, and promote healing across Central Minnesota. With a total funding pool of $100,000, individual grants will range from $1,000 to $7,500. The purpose of this one-time funding opportunity is to encourage initiatives that bring people together, build trust, and create opportunities for belonging, meaning, and community purpose. The Foundation seeks to distribute grants across its service area and welcomes a mix of proposals for both existing work and new projects. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, school districts, and local units of government that are based in and serve the Initiative Foundation’s designated region. This region encompasses Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and Wright counties, along with portions of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe within these counties. Past and current Foundation grant recipients are also eligible to apply. Ineligible applicants include individuals, fiscally sponsored organizations, and those seeking funding for projects or organizations outside the service region. The grant does not support capital requests, advocacy efforts, benefit events, debt reduction, endowments (with specific exceptions), animal welfare, primary medical research, sporting events, camps, religious programs with proselytizing intent, municipal infrastructure, or emergency response equipment. The application process for the Joy and Connection Grant involves two steps designed to lower barriers and broaden access. First, interested organizations must submit a brief interest form by 4 p.m. on June 20, 2025. This form provides a short overview of the organization and its project idea. The Foundation will use a randomized selection process to invite 25 organizations from the pool of eligible interest forms to submit a full application. Those invited must then complete and submit a detailed full application by 4 p.m. on July 22, 2025. Successful full applications should clearly describe the proposed project and how funds will be used, identify the beneficiaries, demonstrate existing relationships within the community, and show how the applicant is trusted and connected to the target population. Applications should focus on creating inclusive, meaningful opportunities for social connection and reflect community values such as faith, family, service, safety, and opportunity. Projects aligned with funding priorities include fostering social gatherings, supporting local belonging, promoting non-clinical healing and well-being, and strengthening community purpose through mentoring, leadership, or volunteer efforts. The timeline for this grant is as follows: the interest form opens on June 4, 2025, and is due by June 20, 2025. Notifications regarding selection for full application submission will be made the week of June 23, 2025. Full applications are due by July 22, 2025, with grant selection notifications issued within three weeks of this deadline. All funded work must be completed, and a final report submitted by July 15, 2026. For assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact Nicole Clements, the Initiative Foundation Nonprofit Development program officer, at nclements@ifound.org.

Focus on community connection, inclusivity, and alignment with community values such as faith, family, service, safety, and opportunity.