Minnesota Food and Nutrition Grants

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations in Beltrami County that provide housing solutions, including construction, rehabilitation, and supportive services, to improve the availability and affordability of safe housing for low to moderate-income families and individuals.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Soil Health Financial Assistance Program. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Grant funds are available for purchasing and retrofitting equipment that will assist with implementing soil health farming practices. This grant program is funded through the 2023 and 2024 Legislative Sessions, which established the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program to support healthy soil management practices in Minnesota. This program is administered by the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Funding Information The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $2.375 Million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 using a competitive process. Applicants may apply for up to 50% of their project’s total cost with a minimum grant award of $500 and a maximum grant award of $45,000. Eligible Expenses Grant applications must be for the purchase of equipment that will be used to establish, improve, or accelerate soil health. Equipment can be new or used. Parts and materials used to retrofit existing equipment (this does not include tools that can be used again on another project) may also be eligible. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must:  Be an owner or lessee of farmland in Minnesota or a LGU, including cities, towns, counties, soil and water conservation districts, Tribal Nations, and joint powers boards.  A LGU that receives a grant for equipment purchases must make those purchases available for use by the public.  Be in good standing with the State of Minnesota:  No back taxes owed  No defaults on Minnesota state-backed financing for the last seven years Acceptable performance on past MDA grants  Not be an employee or spouse of an employee of the MDA For more information, visit MDA.

This grant provides funding to organizations and initiatives focused on improving access to newborn hearing screening and services in Minnesota.

This funding opportunity is designed for non-profit organizations in Minnesota to implement lead hazard mitigation services, including education, blood lead testing, and environmental interventions, particularly in communities at high risk for lead exposure.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that conserve and improve natural resources, targeting municipalities, nonprofits, schools, and private property owners in Hennepin County.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Douglas County, Minnesota, to support health and wellness initiatives that address the needs of residents experiencing poverty.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Mardag Foundation Grant Program. Donor Name: Mardag Foundation State: Minnesota County: Dakota County (MN), Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN) Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) Details: Mardag Foundation believes that the community should not only benefit from the work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. The work is also rooted in a commitment to racial equity. Funding Priorities The Mardag Foundation has three focus areas and will consider proposals that address one or more of the following: Improving the lives of low-income Children, Youth and Families that lack access to critical opportunities and resources that they need Mardag Foundation seeks to support organizations focused on eliminating barriers and increasing access to equitable opportunities for children, youth and families.  Priority will be given to organizations working with marginalized communities (especially Black, Indigenous and communities of color) at the intersections of education, basic needs, mental health, access to healthcare, pathways to employment, and stable and affordable housing. Supporting older adults across Minnesota who lack access or have barriers to critical opportunities to thrive and create community connections Mardag Foundation supports organizations directly serving low-income older adults who may also be experiencing other forms of marginality (e.g., Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, etc.). Priorities include meeting basic needs, improving the well-being and quality of caregiving, addressing isolation and mental health issues, services to help older Minnesotans age in place and/or in safe and stable housing, and intergenerational programming. Building capacity to improve community vitality through Arts & Culture Mardag Foundation shares Grantmakers in the Arts’ view that “all 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., older adults, people with disabilities, low-income children/youth/families, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, etc.) through the arts. Types of Grants The Foundation will consider grant applications for: General Operating Support These grants provide flexible funding for nonprofits in which at least 50% of the organization’s services benefit residents in the East Metro and/or Greater Minnesota. Any organization meeting this threshold is eligible for general operating support (including organizations that have never previously received support from Mardag Foundation). Capital Projects Capital projects must be located in Greater Minnesota or the East Metro AND 50% or more of all services provided by the entire organization must benefit Greater Minnesota and/or East Metro (Washington, Dakota and Ramsey counties) residents. Grants are designed to support 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. Geographic Areas  The Mardag Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations and public entities located within and serving residents of Minnesota. The geographic focus of our grantmaking is the East Metro area of Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties, as well as Greater Minnesota. Eligibility Criteria  Grants can be made to 501(c)3 organizations, education or governmental units and religious institutions. While an organization may be eligible to apply, attention and preference will be given to organizations: Prioritizing people experiencing the most marginalization, especially due to race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, ability, immigration status, etc. Where work is informed, formed and led by the people most impacted by it. Ineligibility The Foundation will not consider grant applications for: Organizations using fiscal sponsors Organizations exclusively serving Minneapolis and the surrounding West Metro area Scholarships and grants to individuals Sectarian religious programs or organizations Federated campaigns Events and conferences Capital campaigns of private secondary schools Capital and endowment campaigns of private colleges and universities Program/project specific requests For more information, visit Mardag Foundation.

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.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations in Richfield, Minnesota, to help community members recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on issues like housing stability, food insecurity, and economic support for low-income households.

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 Make it Minnesota Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program, funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's AGRI Program, supports Minnesota-based consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies in food, beverage, or pet food sectors. The program reimburses 50% of eligible marketing investments up to a maximum of $3,000 per company per fiscal year. This funding can be used for in-store demonstrations, Minnesota Pavilion events, and B2B tradeshow costs, among other high-impact marketing activities. The program aims to help these companies increase their market presence both domestically and internationally.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local public health agencies in Minnesota to improve food security and promote local food economies in low-income and disadvantaged communities through regional collaboration.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

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 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.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Minnesota that are dedicated to improving services and resources for individuals and families facing homelessness and food insecurity.

Arts Midwest is offering Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations rooted in communities of color, providing general operating support for those with annual expenses up to $500,000 in selected states.

The Forecast Public Art’s Midwest Memory Grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is open to non-profit organizations in rural Midwest communities, aiming to elevate and preserve the stories of BIPOC communities through monuments, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities and advancing racial justice.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska that focus on improving financial literacy and employment readiness to help individuals achieve financial stability.