Minnesota grants for Independent school districts

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Minnesota that provide essential services to individuals and families facing housing and food insecurity, helping them acquire necessary tools and infrastructure to improve their support efforts.

The Minneapolis Foundation announces a call for proposals from nonprofits, schools, and school districts seeking grants for work that advances equity and supports youth voice in local K-12 schools. Donor Name: Minneapolis Foundation State: Minnesota City: Selected Cities Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The Reimagine Education grants prioritize efforts to: Elevate student and community voices and power to build bridges between schools, families, and communities and improve school climates and academic outcomes. Provide opportunities for educators to build their understanding of race and equity and implement strategies that create culturally responsive and inclusive schools. Advocate for policies at the school, local, and state level to address systemic barriers to racial equity in Minnesota’s education system. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of  the types of work foundation plans to support: Student leadership and power building Recruitment and retention of diverse educators with equity-focused mindsets Principal and teacher leadership and collaboration Development of equity and climate frameworks Local or state policy advocacy Professional development and training to support teachers and school leaders to implement evidence-based literacy instruction Development and implementation of strategies to address student mental health challenges and improve school climate and culture Efforts to engage students and their families in district and school-level decision-making. Funding Information Grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000, with an average award of $25,000 to $40,000. Grant Period The grant period is September 2, 2024, to June 13, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Funding will be awarded to public schools or school districts and 501(c)(3) nonprofits that organize students, parents, and community members; engage in education policy advocacy to advance equity and eliminate disparities; and help educators collaborate to build their understanding of race, equity, and culture, and to create positive school climates. Foundation will prioritize proposals that impact Minneapolis; however, they will consider organizations in inner-ring suburbs (Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, etc.). For more information, visit Minneapolis Foundation.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applications from Minnesota educational cooperative service units that have prior experience in the provision of statewide leadership and other forms of technical assistance to ensure a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with low incidence disabilities. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Education State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The grant-funded partner selected for an award will provide supports to continue to sustain and increase the capacity of the special education workforce in Minnesota. The partner selected will provide aligned, requested and anticipated technical assistance, including purposeful and sustained collaborative opportunities to educational professionals who provide education to all students, with a specific focus on students with low incidence disabilities. The work will include a multi-tiered support framework for technical assistance (MTS-TA) to support skill building for educators and other educational professionals, including coordination and partnership with their local districts, coops and other educational agencies that provide special education services. This includes important disability-specific technical assistance and best practices for early identification and support, in collaboration and alignment with institutions of higher education focusing on development of a competent workforce and addressing staff shortages. Students with low incidence disabilities have been those students which comprise less than 10 percent of all students receiving special education services, or students within those historical categories where the needs for some of those students might require a layer of more intensive supports. The categorical areas in which they anticipate necessary supports are listed under specific program expectations for grant-funded partners. Funding Information This grant opportunity estimates that $875,000 per year is available. Project Period The term of the initial grant period is anticipated to be from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  This competitive grant opportunity is open to Minnesota education cooperative service units that have the capacity to provide leadership and technical assistance on a statewide scale. For more information, visit MDE.

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation, in partnership with the Initiative Foundation, offers the Rural Poverty Fund grants during even years (2020, 2022, 2024, etc.) for planning and implementation of projects or programs aimed at addressing rural poverty in central Minnesota. Eligible projects may include establishing or supplementing emergency and transitional activities, assessing community needs and assets, developing action plans, or providing for project implementation in rural areas. The grant aims to address the specific and immediate needs of rural people in poverty through a variety of identified programs or agency needs. The application period for the next round of funding opens on April 1, 2024, with a deadline of June 30, 2024. Grant decisions are made within 90 days of the application deadline. Decisions on grant applications are made within 90 days of the application deadline.

The Art Project grant program provides nonprofit organizations with funding to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in the region. Donor Name: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council State: Minnesota County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Art Projects may include, but are not limited to: Music, dance, and theater productions by community groups Productions by professionals brought into the community Visual art exhibits Readings by authors Arts classes for community members of all ages (excluding projects in schools) Public art Arts festivals. Funding Information Art Project grants are available for up to $7,000. Grant Period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Who Can Apply? Geographic Areas  Applicant organizations must be located within the SW MN Arts Council service region, consisting of eighteen counties (Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties) and two tribal nations (Pezihutazizi/Upper Sioux Community, Cansayapi/Lower Sioux Community). They acknowledge that the Southwest Minnesota region occupies the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Dakota people.  Types of Organizations  The Art Project grant program is open to nonprofit organizations as described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code with Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Minnesota or official units of city, county, or state government of the State of Minnesota. Public schools may apply if they have a community project. (Otherwise, public schools should see the Arts in the Schools grants.)  Fiscal Sponsors  If your organization is not yet a registered nonprofit, you may apply using a fiscal sponsor. Some examples of organizations in this situation include one that has just recently been formed, with only a few board members and a couple of activities completed so far. Or, an organization may have been in existence for years, but the scale of its activities and capacity of its volunteers haven’t warranted filing for nonprofit status.  The fiscal sponsor organization must meet the requirements listed above under the types of eligible organizations. A signed agreement outlining the relationship between the applicant and the fiscal sponsor must be submitted with the application. A fiscal sponsor, if used, must sign the application and, if funded, sign the grant contract. The fiscal sponsor is legally responsible for the proper management of grant funds and for the completion of the project. For more information, visit SMAC.

The Community Foundation of Grand Forks is currently accepting applications for its Women’s Fund Grant Program to provide ideas, energy, and resources so that girls and women are empowered to achieve economic, social, and political equity. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Grand Forks East Grand Forks & Region State: Minnesota, North Dakota County: Grand Forks County (ND), Polk County (MN), Walsh County (ND) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/14/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The vision of the Women’s Fund is to: raise awareness of challenges, concerns, and opportunities facing girls and women today support opportunities that build leadership skills and confidence among girls and women encourage women to become philanthropists. Funding Information ​​​ ​Grants are ​typically awarded in the $5,000 range. ​Grant Period  October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025,​. Eligibility Criteria  Grant applicants must fulfill the following criteria: Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax exempt status or be fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit with such tax exempt status. Or be a public entity, such as a library or school, or a unit of government. Have principal operations in Grand Forks, Walsh, or Polk County, unless prior approval received. Be current with all reports if a prior Community Foundation grant recipient. Demonstrate general fiscal responsibility and agree to use the funds in a manner consistent with the grant application. Have a Board of Directors that meets on a regular basis. ​​Submit a complete and accurate application, providing all requested information, by the stated deadline. ​For more information, visit Community Foundation of Grand Forks.

The Initiative Foundation provides grants to nonprofits and local government units for program or capacity-building support; projects that advance diversity, equity and inclusion; and strategies to address workforce shortages. Donor Name: Initiative Foundation State: Minnesota County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Proposals that focus on at least one of the following areas will be given priority consideration: Capacity-building support for nonprofits, with priority to those addressing urgent needs and/or the needs of low-income communities. This includes support for business planning, fund development, training, or pilot programming. Cost share for projects intended to create behavioral change associated with advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Advancement of community-based strategies to address regional workforce shortages in sectors which lead to family-sustaining wages. Support for local and regional community and economic development entities advancing early-stage feasibility or pilot projects. Funding Information Grants seldom exceed $7,500 and are not intended to provide ongoing support. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, or local units of government that serve Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and/or Wright counties, and/or the Native nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe within the boundaries of the 14-county region served by the Initiative Foundation. Ineligible Expenses  Funding requests from outside the Initiative Foundation’s geographic service area will not be considered. Individuals are not eligible to apply for grant funding. The following expenses are ineligible and will NOT be considered for funding: Grants or reimbursements to individuals and businesses. Expenses incurred prior to the receipt of a grant award. Capital expenses (e.g., buildings, equipment, vehicles, etc.). Programs or projects that DO NOT directly benefit residents in the Initiative Foundation’s 14-county service area. Replacement of or substitution for government funding. Religious activities. Lobbying or campaigning for a candidate, issue or referendum vote. Development or purchase of school curriculum or support for school athletic programs. Out-of-state travel. Healthcare, arts and historic preservation are not focus areas for the Initiative Foundation’s discretionary grants. Potential applicants are encouraged to speak with staff before beginning an application associated with one of these areas. For more information, visit Initiative Foundation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for large-scale public art projects in southwest Minnesota, aimed at organizations, cities, and tribal governments that will create a lasting arts legacy in the region.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to develop programs that improve access to education and career readiness for children and families facing inequities.

This grant provides funding for Minnesota farmers, educational institutions, and organizations to implement and showcase innovative sustainable agriculture practices that improve energy efficiency, environmental health, and farm profitability.

Art Project Program Grant Application Program Overview: The Art Project program provides funding of up to $5,000 to support relevant, meaningful arts activities with value to the community your organization serves. Support may be used to create, perform, exhibit, or publish artistic works; or to present arts events by contracting the services of other organizations or individuals. Important Dates for FY24: Open: April 1, 2024 Deadline: Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Project Start Date: July 1, 2024 Deadlines are firm, applicants are encouraged to finish in advance of the deadline. Assistance is available during normal business hours via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants include: State-registered and federally recognized non-profit, tax-exempt organizations Accredited schools Tribal governments Units of government Eligibility Criteria: Organization must be primarily based (permanent address) in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis County (outside Duluth) or of the four Tribal Nations within our region: Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, or Leech Lake (within Itasca County) for at least six months. All Duluth organizations are eligible regardless of budget size. Organizations outside of Duluth with minimum prior year arts operating expenses of $40,000 are eligible. No outstanding or overdue final reports from past funding. Applicants may apply only once per grant round and cannot receive funding from the same grant program twice in a fiscal year. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed for groups without non-profit, tax-exempt status. What Can I Fund? Art supplies Volunteer and administrative costs Advertising, marketing, and promotional materials Equipment or technology purchases (integral to the artistic project, <25% of total request) How Do I Apply? Applications must be completed using the ARAC Grant Portal. Submissions in any other format will not be accepted. Instructions for navigating the online system can be found by clicking on the ‘Apply Now’ button on our website. Ensure your application includes all required materials. Contact Us: For assistance or inquiries, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] during normal business hours. Grant renewed every year.

This funding opportunity supports K-12 schools in nine Minnesota counties to collaborate with professional artists on various arts projects, promoting access to the arts for historically marginalized communities.

This grant provides funding for schools in northwestern Minnesota to purchase equipment that enhances artistic programs and supports local artistic development.

The East Central Regional Arts Council's Art in Our Schools Grant Program, open to schools in Region 7E of Minnesota, offers up to $5,000 to enhance existing arts curriculum through residencies, field trips, and special events or projects, with no requirement for a match and a deadline of October 1, 2024.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Douglas County, Minnesota, to support initiatives that create meaningful community change in areas such as education, social services, health, arts and culture, and civic engagement.

This fund provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in the St. Cloud area to empower girls and young women through outdoor activities and initiatives that promote self-esteem and mutual respect.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Benton, Stearns, and Sherburne Counties, Minnesota, to support initiatives that address homelessness and prevent housing instability.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups in the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area to support projects focused on environmental stewardship, economic vitality, sustainable farming, and community pride.

This grant provides financial support to local government entities in Hennepin County for projects that create or improve youth play areas and athletic facilities, promoting increased access to recreational activities for children and teenagers.

This funding initiative provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in northeastern Minnesota that deliver essential services to low-income individuals and families, helping them meet basic needs and overcome challenges.