Small Town Grant

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is currently accepting applications for its Small-Town Grant Program. The Small Town Grant Program seeks to invest in collaborative initiatives which improve the way your community works together, solves challenges, creates a welcoming community and sense of belonging for all. SMIF seeks proposals which focus on collaboration throughout the project and will impact the culture, education, economy and/or social aspects of your community.The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) offers the Small Town Grant Program to support collaborative, community-building efforts in southern Minnesota towns with populations of 10,000 or fewer. This initiative aims to strengthen the social, cultural, educational, and economic fabric of small towns by funding projects that create a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of belonging for all residents. The program is designed to help communities work together in new ways to solve challenges and enhance local vitality. Grants are awarded to initiatives that demonstrate strong collaboration and impact across multiple aspects of community life, including education, economic development, cultural inclusion, and civic engagement. Projects must either be new or contain a significantly new component. Previous recipients are eligible to reapply, provided the proposed project is distinct or significantly evolved from earlier efforts. The 2025 application cycle opened on July 23, 2025, and closed on August 28, 2025. Grant recipients will be notified by October 15, 2025. Although the application window for 2025 is now closed, the program is expected to recur on an annual basis. The funding amount per award is not publicly specified, but past grant recipients have represented a wide range of community-based projects tailored to the unique needs of their towns. This grant program is supported in part by a memorial gift from the late Paul Johnson, a longtime southern Minnesota resident with a deep commitment to rural vitality. His legacy continues through contributions made by his children to sustain this grant initiative in his honor. Applicants and interested community leaders can contact Sarah Scheffert, Communications & Community Vitality Specialist at SMIF, for assistance. Inquiries may be directed via phone at 507-214-7015 or by email at sarahs@smifoundation.org.