Minnesota grants for Independent school districts

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities that create programs and projects benefiting women and girls in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area, focusing on empowerment, education, and health.

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 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.

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 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.

Minnesota Housing, in partnership with Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) announces the availability of funds through the Single Family RFP. Donor Name: Minnesota Housing State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/11/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The Community Homeownership Impact Fund (Impact Fund) Program provides multiple sources of competitive funding to increase the supply of affordable, owner-occupied, single family housing, while maintaining the safety and habitability of existing owner-occupied, single family homes in communities throughout Minnesota. The Single Family RFP is funded by a variety of state resources provided by the Minnesota Legislature and Minnesota Housing’s own resources. The amount of available funding is dependent, in part, upon state appropriations approved by the Minnesota legislature, as well as demand for other uses of Minnesota Housing resources. Types of Funding  Applicants can apply for a variety of funding types, and in combinations suited to the applicant’s project. Awarded applicants may receive the following types of funding: Grants  Grants are awarded to selected applicants on a competitive basis to fund value gap, affordability gap/down payment assistance grants or forgivable loans, owner-occupied rehabilitation, the Tribal Indian Housing Program, interest-rate write downs, and other eligible activities for which Minnesota Housing may not recapture loans without increasing housing costs beyond affordability to the eligible homebuyer. Grants are subject to policies and requirements set by the Minnesota Department of Administration’s Office of Grants Management. Housing Infrastructure Bond (HIB) Proceeds Deferred Loans  HIB proceeds are awarded to selected applicants in the form of 3-year, 0% interest, deferred, forgivable loans to finance value gap or owner-occupied rehabilitation. HIB proceeds may also be used by community land trusts (CLTs) for land acquisition, demolition and utility connections. HIB proceeds loans will be forgiven if the awarded applicant satisfies all contract conditions. Interim Loans  Interim loans are awarded to selected applicants in the form of 42-month, interest bearing, deferred, repayable loans to finance the acquisition, demolition, rehabilitation or construction of owner-occupied homes. Interim loans must be repaid and include monthly interest payments, quarterly financial reporting, and a demonstration of the ability to meet net asset and current ratios according to contract conditions. Interest rates will be set at a future time and are anticipated to be between 4.5% and 8.5% subject to the market. Interim loans may be secured or unsecured and may not be transferred to eligible homebuyers. Deferred Loans  Deferred loans are awarded to selected applicants to originate and close affordability gap/downpayment assistance loans to homebuyers or owner-occupied rehabilitation loans to homeowners. Loans to homebuyers and homeowners are structured as 30-year, 0% interest, deferred, repayable loans. Deferred loans are originated and closed by the awarded applicant then assigned to Minnesota Housing. Funding Information GMHF provides funding for affordability gap in the form of deferred, subordinate loans at 0% interest. The maximum loan amount per homebuyer is $15,000. GMHF will give preference to applications that apply a racial and economic equity lens to promote economic inclusion in the benefits of homeownership among households of color, immigrant households, and households with disabled members, and that seek to leverage cross-sector health and housing partnerships to improve community and individual health through investments in affordable housing. Grant Period Funded awards will have 3-year contract terms, with the exception of Interim Loans which will have 42-month contract terms. Awarded applicants are expected to complete funded projects within three years, not to exceed five years. Eligible Activities The Impact Fund may be used for the following activities related to single family, owner-occupied housing, including manufactured homes. See each item below for relevant details. Acquisition, Rehabilitation, Resale New Construction Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Stand-Alone Affordability Gap Tribal Indian Housing Program All funded projects must result in homes that are: Owner-occupied; Residential in nature; No more than four units with at least one unit occupied by the owner of the structure; Occupied by eligible homebuyers or homeowners (see income limits section); and Affordable to the local workforce. Eligibility Criteria  Impact Fund grants or loans may be awarded to a: City Federally recognized American Indian Tribe or subdivision located in Minnesota Tribal housing corporation Private developer Nonprofit organization School district, cooperative unit as defined in Minnesota Statute 123A.24 subdivision 2, or charter school. For more information, visit Minnesota Housing.

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.

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 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.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is offering approximately $4.5 million in grants to support organics management projects aimed at reducing the amount of organic material sent to landfills or incinerators. This funding is intended for projects that enhance or establish collection, processing (through composting, anaerobic digestion, or feeding to animals), and education/outreach initiatives related to organics management. Eligible entities must serve or operate within Minnesota, and include not-for-profit organizations, businesses, institutions, political subdivisions (e.g., counties, cities), state agencies, and tribal governments. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on June 10, 2024.

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

The Thief River Falls Area Community Fund is inviting applications for grants from nonprofit or public entities within the Thief River Falls School District area. Grants are intended for projects, programs, or activities that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors of the Thief River Falls area. Primary focus areas include youth engagement, social need, senior enrichment, and overall quality of life enhancement. Applications are open until May 1, 2024. The fund is a component of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, which serves 12 northwestern Minnesota counties. More information and application details can be found on their website.

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.

This grant provides up to $500 to teachers and students in Minnesota to help fund service-learning projects focused on water and sanitation initiatives.