2025 Training and Education Endowment Grants

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is currently offering the NMF Training and Education Grants to support nonprofit organizations and leaders within the Northwest Minnesota region. The foundation, established to enhance the quality of life in this region, provides these grants through its Training and Education Fund, which was created in 2004. The fund is specifically designed to help nonprofit organizations and their leaders build knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity to ensure the long-term viability and efficiency of their operations. The purpose of the NMF Training and Education Grants is to foster organizational capacity building in nonprofit organizations. Financial support from this program is intended to assist in various leadership and organizational development efforts. The foundation prioritizes applications that focus on leadership skill enhancement, organizational sustainability, and long-term impact. Eligible uses of the grant include staff and board training, travel and conferences, hiring consultants, strategic planning, leadership training, and conducting organizational or systems audits. These funds cannot be used for political activities, religious propagation, discriminatory practices, past operating debts, membership or subscription dues, computer license fees, financial audits, building construction, or capital campaigns. Grants are available to nonprofit organizations that serve the Northwest Minnesota region, which includes Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, and the counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake Falls, and Roseau. Priority is given to organizations physically located within this service area. To be eligible, applicants must be designated as a nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are currently being accepted and must be submitted by July 15, 2025. Interested applicants should complete and submit their applications online at https://form.jotform.com/251187283977168 or visit the Grants page at www.nwmf.org for more information. The application process does not specify a list of required questions, but organizations should be prepared to demonstrate how the proposed activities will enhance leadership skills and organizational capacity. Evaluation criteria are not explicitly stated but will likely prioritize alignment with the fund’s purpose, the potential for organizational impact, and the feasibility of proposed activities. Grants typically awarded are around $2,500, although requests up to $5,000 will be considered. The foundation has not specified whether the awards will be recurring or the total amount of funding available. Matching funds are not required. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Dawn Ganje, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, via email at dawng@nwmf.org. No phone number is provided in the source. The open date for the grant cycle is not stated, but the application period is currently active and closes on July 15, 2025. No information is provided regarding pre-application deadlines, Q&A opportunities, or the exact award date.