Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation Grant

The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, which serves Central Minnesota by empowering local communities to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a lasting culture of generosity. The Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation functions as a philanthropic vehicle for collecting and distributing charitable donations aimed at creating a meaningful and sustained impact within the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area. Contributions to the Foundation are professionally managed and stewarded by the Initiative Foundation to ensure long-term community benefit. The primary purpose of the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation is to fund projects that foster environmental stewardship, enhance community beautification, promote economic vitality, support sustainable farming and food initiatives, and cultivate community pride. Grants are made to support endeavors such as protecting and improving water quality, maintaining natural habitats and green spaces, conducting environmentally conscious recreational activities, delivering nutrient-rich foods to those in need, and celebrating local history and culture through art, events, and storytelling. Grant applications are accepted annually from June 1 through September 15. Applications are reviewed in October, and funding recommendations are awarded in November. Eligible applicants include organizations operating within the geographic boundaries of the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area. This includes the cities of Isle, Garrison, Onamia, Vineland, and Wahkon; the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe; and the townships of Bay Lake, Eastside, Garrison, Hazelton, Isle Harbor, Kathio, Lakeside, Malmo, Roosevelt, South Harbor, and Wealthwood. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, other local units of government, or community groups operating under a mission-related fiscal host with appropriate tax-exempt status. The grant submission process does not require a pre-application or letter of intent. Applicants must complete the application during the open window and submit it by the final deadline of September 15. The Foundation evaluates applications based on alignment with its focus areas and potential for positive community impact. While specific evaluation criteria or detailed application questions are not explicitly provided, projects that demonstrate a clear connection to the Foundation’s priorities and serve the designated geographic area are prioritized. Contact information for the Foundation includes Amy Gray, Community Philanthropy Manager, who can be reached at agray@ifound.org or by phone at (320) 631-2062, and Carl Newbanks, Vice President of Philanthropy, reachable at cnewbanks@ifound.org or (320) 631-2042. Interested applicants and donors can also engage with the Foundation through advisory team members listed on the Foundation’s site. The Foundation maintains a record of past grant recipients, including grants awarded to a diverse range of community-focused projects. Since its establishment in 2006 as the Isle Area Community Foundation, the fund has grown and evolved, with a relaunch in 2020 under the Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation name. The Foundation awarded its first grants in 2021 and continues to play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life within the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area. Potential applicants and donors are encouraged to reach out to the Foundation for more information and guidance on participating in this community-focused funding opportunity.