The New Ulm Area Foundation offers a community-focused grant program that aims to support initiatives within the geographic boundaries of ISD 88 in New Ulm, Minnesota. This foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that originally began as a community affiliate of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in 1987. It received its own IRS tax-exempt status in 2019 and manages contributions through local investment policies established in 2020. Grantmaking is driven by four foundational pillars: arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation.
Eligible applicants must fall into one of three categories: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public entities such as the City of New Ulm, or entities with a fiscal host capable of receiving and disbursing funds on their behalf. The projects funded must directly benefit communities within ISD 88 and must enhance the community through at least one of the foundation's focus areas. Applications must demonstrate that the project serves a charitable purpose.
The application process is conducted online, although submissions via email, U.S. mail, or in-person delivery are also accepted. Required documentation includes the completed grant application, proof of nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsorship agreement, a history of past grants received from NUAF (if applicable), a list of the organization's board of directors, project staffing details, recent financial statements, and a detailed project budget. The foundation encourages applicants to prepare narrative responses offline for ease of submission.
The grant program operates in two cycles annually. Applications submitted by March 15 are reviewed in the spring and awarded by May, while those submitted by August 15 are reviewed in the fall and awarded by October. Incomplete applications may be considered at the discretion of the Grants Committee, which evaluates each proposal based on its community impact, focus area alignment, collaborative fundraising efforts, and track record with past grants.
Each eligible application is reviewed by the Executive Director before being advanced to the Grants Committee. Recommendations are then submitted to the Board of Directors for final approval. Grant recipients, along with fiscal hosts if applicable, are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding before receiving funds. The foundation does not currently state award amounts or caps, and matching funds are not required. The program is recurring, with grant cycles continuing on an annual basis.
Submit early, ensure all documentation is complete, and clearly align with one or more focus areas.
