Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Grant Program for Nonprofits in Minnesota

The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) serves as a philanthropic institution supporting community-centered projects and initiatives throughout the Greater Itasca Area in Minnesota. Rooted in its mission to improve local quality of life, the foundation offers a structured annual grant cycle that operates from July 15 through September 1. Through these grants, GRACF amplifies the efforts of nonprofit organizations and charitable projects aligned with community needs and donor interests. The foundation collaborates with advisory committees, donors, and community partners to make funding recommendations based on the type of fund involved. The primary goal of the GRACF’s Annual Grant Cycle is to provide moderate yet impactful grants to nonprofit organizations whose work significantly benefits the community. The Foundation seeks to fund programs and projects that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and strong alignment with identified community priorities. Ideal proposals will also show a high return on investment in terms of community benefit, leverage additional resources, foster volunteer engagement, and avoid duplicating existing services. These evaluation criteria ensure the grants support thoughtful and effective solutions to pressing local needs. GRACF restricts funding for several categories. Ineligible activities include fundraising events, marketing or promotional materials that do not relate to program delivery (such as brochures or videos), travel or conference participation, and grants to individuals. Additionally, religious organizations may not apply for grants intended for religious purposes. Government agencies are only eligible when applying in partnership with a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Applications for projects located outside of the Greater Itasca Area are not considered. Also, organizations that have funds held at GRACF but lack their own 501(c)(3) designation are ineligible. Eligible applicants must either be nonprofit organizations or entities with a charitable mission that are sponsored by a fiscal agent with valid 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Projects must be located within the Greater Itasca Area, which includes Itasca County and surrounding communities. This geographic restriction ensures that the foundation’s funding remains focused on strengthening the immediate regional community it serves. The application process begins annually on July 15 and concludes on September 1. During this period, organizations can submit their applications through the GRACF’s grant portal. While the Foundation provides limited information about application-specific questions or review stages, they encourage organizations with questions to call their main line for assistance. The foundation does not list an email contact but provides a phone number for inquiries. The grant opportunity is recurring, with the same application window anticipated each year. For 2025, the current cycle closes on September 1. Based on its annual recurrence and fixed schedule, the next expected cycle would open in July 2026. The foundation’s physical office is located at 350 NW 1st Ave, Suite E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, and can be reached by phone at 218-999-9100. Interested applicants are encouraged to engage early in the application period to align proposals with GRACF’s funding priorities and maximize potential impact.