Minnesota Education Grants

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota Fund for Safety resources innovation to end gender-based violence, a continuum that includes sex trafficking, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Donor Name: Women’s Foundation of Minnesota State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/20/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Fund for Safety continues and expands investment in women’s safety as it works with communities to end gender-based violence. In partnership with community leaders, the Women’s Foundation follows an ethos of listening and responding to community concerns to drive strategic, cross-sector plans and create collective impact. The focus on Safety prioritizes ending all forms of violence that affect women, girls, and gender-expansive people including sexual violence, physical violence, state and structural violence, and exploitation and abuse experienced by elders and people with disabilities. The Fund responds to community concerns and drives strategic cross-sector plans for collective impact as they eliminate barriers that create health, economic, gender, and racial inequities. WFM is committed to investing in organizations working with Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander communities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, Greater and rural MN communities, and immigrant and refugee populations. The Fund for Safety has three priorities with anticipated outcomes listed below. As a result of listening to communities and grantee-partners, WFM invests in healing from trauma and cultivating community-centered solutions for survivors of gender-based violence, which includes sex trafficking, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse of elders and people with disabilities, as well as state and structural violence. Goals Strengthen systems and infrastructure to sustain the movement to end genderbased violence, which includes sex trafficking, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse of elders and people with disabilities, as well as state and structural violence. Build and sustain the movement for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; missing and murdered Black women and girls; and preventing violence against Latina women to address systemic inequities and reform policies that perpetuate gender-based, state-sanctioned violence. Prevent cycles of gender-based violence with young women, men, and gender-expansive people to address misogyny, misogynoir, and toxic masculinity through education to promote healthy gender norms and relationships. Grant Amount Grant is a one-year investment of $20,000 in general operating support. Eligibility Criteria Nonprofit tax-exempt organizations and schools that are based in Minnesota and operate programs in Minnesota. Unincorporated organizations with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. American Indian Nations. Funding Criteria Programs located in Minnesota Programs are specific to benefit Minnesota women, girls, and gender-expansive people and/or organizations serving at least 50 to 75 percent of women, girls, and gender-expansive people. The definition of a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman. The program is inclusive of transgender, gender nonconforming, gender nonbinary, and all gender-expansive people who experience gender-based structural harm. Organizations demonstrate the ability to work in partnership with other organizations Programs are driving innovative solutions that advance gender and racial equity and justice by increasing access to safety. For more information, visit WFMN.

The Minneapolis Foundation, in partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, is offering grants between $1000 and $10,000 to Minnesota K-12 educators for the development and implementation of resources, curriculum, and activities that accurately teach Native content and support Native students, with a total of $150,000 available for the 2024-2025 school year.

This program provides funding and resources to Minnesota residents for creating pollinator-friendly gardens in their outdoor spaces to support at-risk pollinators.

The Metro Regional Arts Council's Flexible Support grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is available for Minnesota-based arts and cultural organizations or groups to fund operations, enhance organizational capacity, or support arts programming, with a focus on enhancing Minnesotans' access to the arts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and public entities in Roseau County, Minnesota, for health-related projects and services that benefit the community.

This funding opportunity supports local communities in Northwest Minnesota by providing resources to enhance and expand quality child care services, benefiting public entities, tribal nations, community service agencies, and nonprofit organizations experienced in child care.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is accepting applications for its 2025 Clinical Dental Education Innovations Grant Program. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Clinical training is a requirement for dental professionals to become licensed, but opportunities to receive clinical training are limited. Under the authority of Minnesota Statutes, the Commissioner of Health is authorized to award grants to sponsoring institutions and clinical dental training sites for projects that increase dental access for underserved populations and promote innovative clinical dental education or clinical training programs. Funding Information Estimated Amount to Grant: $1,122,000  Estimated Award Maximum Approx: $150,000  Estimated Award Minimum Approx: $30,000 Project Period Grant Agreements begin (estimate) January 1, 2025. Grant Agreements end December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants include teaching institutions and clinical training sites that train dental professionals. The teaching institution or the clinical training site must provide accredited clinical training, an exception can be made if the organization is actively seeking accreditation with a reasonable assumption of success.  Grant funds are not transferrable to any other entity. Applicants that are aware of any upcoming mergers, acquisitions, or any other changes in their organization or legal standing, must disclose this information to MDH in their application, or as soon as they are aware of it. For more information, visit MDH.

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.

This program provides funding to non-profits and public organizations for projects that improve the community in areas such as arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation within the ISD 88 region.

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity offering $100,000 to $500,000 for up to 3 years to researchers, educators, and organizations exploring sustainable agriculture, with the aim of improving economic viability, environmental quality, and quality of life in the North Central Region's agricultural sector.

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Partnership Grant Program is seeking applications to provide funding of $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers, aiming to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.

The LifeCare Health Care Fund Grants provides financial support for charitable, educational and health care related activities, projects and services benefiting residents and visitors of Roseau County. Donor Name: Northwest Minnesota Foundation State: Minnesota County: Roseau County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The fund includes a general endowment fund as well as several sub-funds that support specific purposes, such as cancer care, diabetes and dialysis care, updating and replacing medical equipment, hospice projects, and financial assistance for individuals and families that have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or child. Funding Information Grant more than $175,000. Grant Proposal Guidelines The LifeCare Health Care Fund will consider grant requests from nonprofit organizations for monies from the following funds: General Endowment – The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support for health care, wellness, and senior living related charitable and educational activities, projects or services benefiting residents and visitors to the LifeCare Medical Center service area.        Roseau Eagles Auxiliary Diabetes and Dialysis – The purpose of this fund is to provide direct financial support for equipment, training, patient support or other related purposes for diabetic and dialysis needs in Roseau County. Think Pink Breast Cancer  – The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support for patient transportation, education, equipment, and activities related to breast cancer programs within the communities served by LifeCare Medical Center.  Roseau County Cancer – The purpose of this fund is to provide funding for projects, programs, equipment, and services necessary to meet the needs of the community as they relate to cancer care and support of individuals being treated for cancer at Lifecare Medical Center or that reside in Lifecare’s service area. Selection Criteria  Selection Criteria will focus on: How the project/program fits within the mission of LifeCare Health Care Funds, as well as the purpose of the fund being accessed. The scope of the project/program. The number of participants served, number of communities served and number of organizations served. For more information, visit Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

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.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is seeking applications for its International Medical Graduate Career Guidance and Support Program. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: International medical graduates (IMGs) have the potential to contribute significantly to Minnesota’s efforts to strengthen the health care workforce and expand access to care, support healthy communities, and provide culturally responsive care to underserved populations. Yet IMGs face many barriers to becoming licensed and practicing medicine in Minnesota. To address these barriers, the IMG Career Guidance and Support program, authorized by Minnesota, awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations and postsecondary educational institutions to provide career guidance and support services to immigrant IMGs seeking to enter the Minnesota health workforce. Funding Information An estimated $400,000-500,000 will be available to grant this cycle. Funds will be distributed in approximately one or two awards, with an estimated maximum award amount of $400,000 and a minimum of $100,000. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and postsecondary educational institutions that fulfill all of the following criteria:  Are located in Minnesota.  Are in good financial standing.  Demonstrate strong experience and success in:  Working with immigrants and refugees  Working with IMGs Providing health care (physician and non-physician) career guidance and support Grant funds are not transferrable to any other entity. Applicants that are aware of any upcoming mergers, acquisitions, or any other changes in their organization or legal standing, must disclose this information to MDH in their application, or as soon as they are aware of it. For more information, visit MDH.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is accepting applications for its International Medical Graduate Primary Care Residency Grant Program. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Minnesota faces a shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state. Physicians who received their medical training in other countries and have immigrated to Minnesota can help strengthen primary care workforce and serve diverse communities across the state. The Minnesota Legislature established programs to facilitate pathways to integrate these physicians into the Minnesota health care workforce. The IMG Primary Care Residency Grant Program provides funding to accredited primary care residency programs in Minnesota to support the training of IIMG residents. IIMGs who accept a grant-funded residency position enter into an agreement with MDH to provide primary care for at least five years in a rural or underserved community in Minnesota after graduating from the residency program. IIMGs also make payments into a revolving account that contributes to sustaining MDH IMG assistance programs, including this residency grant program. Funding Information Estimated Amount to Grant: $390,000. Estimated Award Maximum: $390,000. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants fulfill all the following criteria:  Residency program in one of the following primary care specialties:  Family medicine,  General internal medicine,  General pediatrics,  General surgery,  Obstetrics and gynecology, or  Psychiatry.  Located in Minnesota and train medical residents in Minnesota.  Demonstrate current accreditation by and compliance with the Institutional and Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in the specialties listed above of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). For more information, visit MDH.

The Minnesota Department of Health is seeking applications for its 2025 Primary Care Residency Expansion Grant. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: In 2015, the Minnesota Legislature enacted Minnesota Statutes Section 144.1506, authorizing the Commissioner of Health to award grants to fund new primary care residency positions. The Primary Care Residency Expansion Grant Program supports the establishment of new primary care residency programs or the training of eligible residents in newly created residency positions within existing programs in Minnesota. This grant program was enacted to address the shortage of primary care physicians in many areas of the state, with the goal of increasing access to primary care for rural and underserved communities. Funding Information The Minnesota Legislature has appropriated $1,900,000 in grant funds for fiscal year 2025. Eligible programs may receive up to $75,000 for primary care residency planning projects. For implementing a new primary care residency slot over a three-year residency period, the maximum award will be $150,000 in year 1, $100,000 in year 2, and $50,000 in year 3. For eligible residency programs longer than three years, training grants may be awarded for the duration of the residency, not exceeding an average of $100,000 per residency slot per year. Eligible Projects Grant funds may be used for: Planning related to establishing an accredited primary care residency program; Obtaining accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or another national body that accredits residency programs; Establishing new residency programs or new resident training slots; Recruitment, training, and retention of new primary care residents and faculty; Travel and lodging for new primary care residents; Salary and fringe for new primary care residents, as well as faculty and preceptors related to new residency slots; Training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required for new primary care resident training slots; and Supporting clinical education in which primary care residents are part of a primary care team model. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants are programs, sponsors, and potential sponsors of primary care residency positions that fulfill all the following criteria: Located in Minnesota and train, or propose to train, medical residents in Minnesota. Train, or propose to train, medical residents in the following primary care specialties: Family medicine, General internal medicine, General pediatrics, Psychiatry (including child psychiatry fellowships), Geriatrics, or General surgery. Demonstrate current accreditation by and compliance with the Institutional and Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in the specialties listed above of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or submit a credible plan to obtain accreditation. Propose to plan or implement one or more new primary care residency slots. Applicants that currently train residents must document the baseline number of residents in the eligible specialty and agree to maintain that baseline number of residents as well as the new resident(s) to be supported with grant funding. Agree to verify the number of residents in the program each year to continue to receive funds. For more information, visit MDH.

The Health Professionals Clinical Training Expansion (HPCE) grant program support the establishment or expansion of clinical training for eligible health professional training programs. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Providing funding opportunities for clinical training programs will strengthen Minnesota’s health care workforce and increase access to primary care and mental health services for rural and underserved urban communities. This grant program funds activities associated with planning and implementing new clinical training programs and expanding the number of professionals trained through existing clinical training programs in rural and underserved urban areas in Minnesota. Priorities Health Equity Priorities The Health Professionals Clinical Training Expansion Grant seeks to expand Minnesota’s health care workforce by establishing and expanding clinical training opportunities, with a particular focus on increasing the number of health professionals serving in rural and underserved urban communities in Minnesota. Clinical training is a necessary component of health professional education, but capacity for clinical training is limited and barriers to expansion exist.  This grant will serve: Rural and underserved urban communities by strengthening Minnesota’s health care workforce and improving access to health care. Eligible health professional programs and students by expanding clinical training opportunities. Grant outcomes will include: Greater access to health care in rural and underserved urban Minnesota communities. An increase in the number of clinical training opportunities for health professionals. Other Competitive Priorities Program advances health equity. Program incorporates strong model of team-based primary care. Program is likely to be sustainable after the grant period. Funding Information The Minnesota Legislature has appropriated $500,000 annually for this program. Distribution of Funding: Eligible clinical training programs may receive up to $75,000 for a one-year planning project. Eligible clinical training programs may receive up to $300,000 for a three-year expansion project. Eligible Expenses  Grant funds awarded may only be spent to cover the costs of: Establishing or expanding clinical training for physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, pharmacists, dental therapists, advanced dental therapists, and mental health professionals in Minnesota.  Recruitment, training, and retention of students and faculty.  Connecting students with appropriate clinical training sites, internships, practicums, or externship activities.  Development and implementation of health equity and cultural responsiveness training.  Supporting clinical education in which trainees are part of a team-based primary care model.  Travel and lodging for students.  Faculty, student and preceptor salaries, incentives, or other financial support.  Training site improvements, fees, equipment, and supplies required to establish, maintain, or expand an eligible training program.  Evaluations of the clinical training program(s). Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants are programs that fulfill the following criteria: Are located in Minnesota and train, or propose to train, students residing and working in Minnesota.  Plan to establish or expand clinical training for students in the following health professional programs: Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Program  Must be accredited as a master’s, doctoral, or postgraduate level advanced practice registered nursing program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, or be a candidate for accreditation. Dental Therapy Program or Advanced Dental Therapy Program  Must be approved by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry or currently accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.  Mental Health Professional Program  Must be accredited by the appropriate accrediting body for clinical social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or licensed professional clinical counseling, or be a candidate for accreditation.  A mental health professional is defined as an individual providing clinical services in the treatment of mental illness who meets one of the qualifications under MN Statutes Pharmacy Program  Must be accredited as a Doctor of Pharmacy program by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education.  Physician Assistant Program Must be accredited as a physician assistant program by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or be a candidate for accreditation.  Applicants must be able to demonstrate membership and compliance with the corresponding accrediting bodies.  Applicants from the same organization may hold two grants as long as they are providing clinical training program planning or expansion in two different departments. For more information, visit MDH.

The Ramsey County is seeking applications for its Ramsey County Trusted Messenger Initiative Grants. Donor Name: Ramsey County State: Minnesota County: Dakota County (MN), Ramsey County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of these grants is to generate and grow innovative ways to deliver a variety of public health services, resources and information. Focus an Scope Services Each organization must only submit one application and can only select one priority area below. Healthy Communities: The applicant collaborates to increase awareness and access to culturally informed public health information and programs which include healthy aging, Hmong health, sexual violence services, adolescent health, and child and teen checkups. Extra effort is made to reach racially and ethnically diverse communities, immigrant families and new Minnesotans who face the greatest health inequalities, language barriers, and/or may be isolated from county and other community services. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): The applicant collaborates to increase WIC program awareness and referrals of pregnant and postpartum women and their children so they may receive healthy food, nutrition education and lactation support. Extra effort is made to reach people early in pregnancy and multigenerational African American populations. Family Health and Home Visiting: The applicant collaborates to promote equity in birth outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse communities, especially African American, Native American, Latino/x and immigrant populations. Extra effort is made to support families, fathers and other caregivers, to navigate care before and after birth and to increase cultural and community connections using a holistic approach. Clinical Services: The applicant collaborates to increase awareness and access to vaccines and immunizations, tuberculosis care, sexual and reproductive health services such as HIV and STD testing and treatment, syringe services, wound care, naloxone training and outreach for people using drugs. Environmental Health: The applicant collaborates to find creative ways to increase participation in food scraps pick-up, household hazardous waste drop-off and electronics recycling programs, especially within racially and ethnically diverse communities. They also increase awareness of the Environmental Service Center, the future “one stop shop” for recycling and waste collection. Climate Action: The applicant collaborates to increases awareness of climate change and its impacts on health as well as the county’s resources and programs to lessen those impacts. Funding Information Ramsey County Public Health is continuing this initiative and anticipates awarding approximately 10 grants, up to $36,000 each. Eligibility Criteria Current and former Trusted Messenger organizations may apply. The following are not requirements, however these people or organizations are encouraged to apply: Those who have never contracted with Ramsey County before. Ethnically and culturally diverse, women-owned or veteran-owned organizations. Organizations with less than 50 employees. Organizations serving not only Ramsey County but also adjacent counties including Dakota County. For more information, visit Ramsey County.

This funding opportunity supports cultural and historical projects that commemorate the 50-year presence of Southeast Asians in Minnesota, aimed at organizations dedicated to preserving and sharing this significant community history.

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is seeking applications for its 2024 Open Grant Round. Donor Name: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation State: Minnesota County: Dakota County (MN), Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/07/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Areas of Community Vitality The Foundation supports work that addresses at least one of six areas of community vitality. Data and the experience suggest that the following elements play key roles in community health and vitality. Community Connectedness Creating opportunities for equity in arts, civic dialogue, community problem solving as well as supporting natural and built spaces where people live, work and play While community connectedness can be fostered in many ways, the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation is prioritizing three broad strategies: arts and culture, civic engagement and environmental justice. The Foundation shares Grantmakers in the Arts’ view that “[a]ll peoples, their cultures, and their art contribute to the meaning and understanding of the humanity and should be honored and celebrated.” Priority will be given to arts and culture organizations that seek to amplify narratives and voices across BIPOC communities and other communities experiencing marginalization (e.g., people with disabilities, low-income communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, formerly incarcerated people, etc.) through the arts. The civic engagement priorities include work designed to build the capacity and power of marginalized community members through organizing and training. The goals for this work should be focused on advancing equity. The Foundation’s environmental justice priorities include work that contributes to an intergenerational, multi-racial movement that promotes a safe, clean community and workplace environment. The Foundation also seeks to aid East Metro communities to build and strengthen enduring community connections between people, to heal and revitalize the community while restoring natural spaces, and to encourage stewardship of natural resources through education programs. Economic Opportunity and Security Strengthening support for low-income individuals and families through community development, workforce education and training and creating sustainable employment pathways The Foundation seeks to invest and partner in solutions informed and formed by the people facing the highest barriers to wealth creation, economic security and family-sustaining career pathways. In the East Metro, this includes BIPOC, women, veterans, young people, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people and LGBTQ+ people. Specific priorities for wealth creation include strengthening the entrepreneur ecosystem, increasing local ownership of businesses and homes, and expanding access to culturally appropriate services. Regarding economic security, the Foundation recognizes the importance of anchor institutions embedded at the neighborhood level. For workforce development, they will prioritize employment pathways that meet the needs of individuals and employers alike. Education Exploring high-quality educational opportunities for everyone, from cradle to career, and more equitable access for racial and cultural communities The Foundation recognizes how important it is for students and young people to feel cared for, protected, valued and seen after a difficult period in their learning and growth. This is complex and urgent work, and the Foundation will prioritize organizations that blend academic, social and emotional supports for young people most impacted by educational inequity. The Foundation will also support the policy change and other systems change efforts of organizations working toward ensuring a robust early childhood system that gives children and families access to high-quality early care and education programs. Health Increasing health equity through quality, affordable health services, particularly for low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals The Foundation continues to prioritize health organizations that focus on health equity and increasing access to affordable, culturally relevant health services. The Foundation hopes to better align its health grants to be inclusive of programs and organizations that serve low-income families and provide free or affordable, culturally relevant services and holistic care. Given the increase in severity, cost of and demand for mental health services, urgent care and/or crisis prevention, access to reproductive health care, trauma-informed health care, and free or reduced services for uninsured or underinsured communities, the Foundation will prioritize these programs and organizations to continue to serve the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Housing and Transportation Strengthening the region through affordable, quality housing, addressing homelessness and investing in equitable transportation options and benefits The Foundation embraces the vision for housing justice articulated by the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness. The Foundation will prioritize work that ensures the most marginalized people experiencing housing instability and homelessness are able to access housing that is “safe, decent, affordable,” and “free of prejudice” while also receiving the additional supports and services they need. Work within the transportation sector that explicitly addresses intersections of racial justice, climate justice, economic opportunity and health equity will also be prioritized. Human Services and Family Support Meeting basic needs for individuals and families, helping them be safe, stable and independent The Foundation will prioritize grants that assist residents in navigating life transitions, find safety and stability, and promote independence. In addition to supporting work that centers the voices of the people most impacted by an organization’s work, special priority will be given to disability support services, child welfare support services, family and parent support services, food relief and assistance, older adult services, immigration and legal services, and re-entry supports for formerly incarcerated people. Types of Grants The current grant opportunity includes funding for general operating support for the whole organization and capital support. General Operating Grants These grants provide flexible funding for nonprofits. To be eligible for general operating support, organizations must primarily serve the East Metro area with 50% or more of all services provided by the entire organization benefiting East Metro (Washington, Dakota and Ramsey counties) residents. Capital Grants These grants are designed to support your organization’s investment in buildings, facilities and equipment. Foundation investments are typically limited to buildings owned by nonprofits or held by long-term lease agreement. These grants are generally paid over multiple years. Capital projects must be located in the East Metro AND 50% or more of all services provided by the entire organization are benefiting East Metro residents. They will consider capital grants for projects located in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties for: Renovations/repairs Land acquisition Construction costs Technology hardware and software Equipment Furniture Appliances. Geographic Areas The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is proud to serve and fund Saint Paul’s East Metro region, which is defined as Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties. Eligibility Criteria  Grants can be made to 501(c)3 organizations, education or governmental units and religious institutions. Grants can also be made to groups working through an eligible fiscal sponsor. While an organization may be eligible to apply, attention and preference will be given to organizations: Prioritizing those experiencing the most marginalization, especially due to race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, ability, immigration status, etc. Establishing a clear connection to the Informs, Forms, Benefits framework, which states that those experiencing barriers should not only benefit from the work they support but inform, form, and lead it as well. Ineligibility  The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will not consider grant requests for support of: Sectarian religious programs or organizations Work by an individual Capital projects located outside Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties Program/project specific requests. For more information, visit Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.