Minnesota Income Security and Social Services Grants

This program provides $40 million in funding to support environmental and public health initiatives in underserved communities across the Great Lakes region, prioritizing tribal governments, small nonprofits, and local organizations addressing environmental challenges.

This program provides financial assistance to Minnesota student parents to help cover child care costs while they pursue their postsecondary education.

This funding opportunity provides financial support and technical assistance to develop affordable supportive housing for Hennepin County's most vulnerable residents, including those with extremely low incomes, disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness.

This funding initiative provides $5,000 to organizations in Northwest Minnesota to help meet the immediate needs of individuals and families facing urgent challenges, such as food insecurity and assistance with essential supplies.

This grant provides financial support to Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations that deliver dental services, promote oral health education, or offer career development in the dental field, particularly for underserved communities.

The National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), with generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is offering capacity building grants of $30,000 and customized technical assistance to 10 organizations. This program prioritizes organizations located in Wells Fargo’s priority geographic markets. The primary purpose of this award is to support a nationwide network of Latino- and immigrant-serving organizations to advance culturally relevant approaches to family financial health in low- and moderate-income Latino and immigrant communities. This aligns with the foundation's mission by strengthening the delivery of financial capability services within these communities. The target beneficiaries of this program are Latino- and immigrant-serving organizations, and ultimately, low- and moderate-income Latino and immigrant communities. The program aims to achieve several impact goals, including integrating culturally relevant financial curricula into asset-building programs like homeownership and small business development services, intentionally utilizing financial coaching to prepare participants to access capital for asset-building activities, and improving organizational capacity to track and report financial health outcomes. The program focuses on several key priorities to achieve its goals. These include integrating culturally relevant financial curricula, utilizing financial coaching, improving organizational capacity to track and report financial health outcomes, and prioritizing access to innovative financial products. The financial health outcomes specifically target improving credit, increasing savings, increasing income, and reducing debt. Innovative financial products are also prioritized to boost family financial wellness, with a focus on increasing savings, decreasing debt, or building or establishing credit. Expected outcomes and measurable results include meaningful and measurable impact and change for Latino and immigrant financial health. This will be demonstrated through a comprehensive and specific strategy. The program also expects to strengthen the delivery of financial capability services through grantmaking, technical assistance, and training. The grant period is from October 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that integrate, or plan to integrate, culturally relevant financial capability services into existing asset-building programs.

The City of St. Petersburg is offering Social Action Funding grants of up to $100,000 to social service agencies providing homeless services and/or homeless prevention services. This grant program aims to offer financial support for initiatives that positively influence the lives of homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness within the city. The program aligns with a broader mission to advance the health, economic, or social well-being of persons in need. The target beneficiaries include a wide range of vulnerable populations. Priority is given to agencies serving families with children (ages 0-5 and 6-17 years), elderly individuals over 62, unaccompanied youth, youth aging out of foster care, chronically homeless individuals (as defined by HUD), veterans, and victims of domestic violence. The overarching impact goal is to reduce and prevent homelessness in St. Petersburg by supporting comprehensive social service programs. The program prioritizes agencies that utilize a "housing first" and low-barrier approach. Specific critical services, such as storage units for personal items, call centers for homelessness prevention and assistance, and discretionary funds for street outreach, are also encouraged, allowing agencies to submit additional applications for these services. While there are no bonus points for matching funds or sole source proposals, all agencies are required to enter client data into the Pinellas Homeless Management Information System, with domestic violence providers being the sole exception. Expected outcomes include improved well-being for residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Measurable results will likely involve tracking the number of individuals and families served, successful housing placements, and the overall impact on reducing homelessness within the city. The grant period for projects is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, allowing for a one-year duration of funded services. This strategic approach emphasizes direct intervention and support for those most in need, with a clear focus on actionable and impactful services.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that deliver high-quality early childhood education and family services to low-income children and families across multiple states in the U.S.

The **Mardag Foundation** is now accepting applications for its **2024 Grant Program**, supporting organizations that promote equity, strengthen communities, and improve quality of life for Minnesotans. Rooted in collaboration and racial equity, the foundation’s approach emphasizes community-informed work that empowers marginalized populations and fosters lasting, inclusive change. Grant funding is available to organizations serving residents in **Greater Minnesota** and the **East Metro counties of Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington**. The foundation’s giving focuses on three primary areas. The first is **improving the lives of low-income children, youth, and families** who face barriers to opportunity. Priority is given to organizations serving marginalized communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)—and addressing intersections of education, mental health, basic needs, employment pathways, healthcare access, and housing stability. Projects that eliminate inequities and expand equitable opportunities for youth and families are especially encouraged to apply. The second focus area supports **older adults who face isolation, financial hardship, or barriers to full participation in community life**. Funding will prioritize organizations serving low-income older Minnesotans, particularly those who are also members of marginalized groups such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, or people with disabilities. Grants may support efforts to meet basic needs, improve caregiving quality, promote mental health, reduce isolation, and enable aging in place through stable and safe housing. The foundation also welcomes programs fostering **intergenerational connections**, which enrich both older adults and younger participants through shared experiences. The third priority is **strengthening community vitality through arts and culture**. The Mardag Foundation believes that the arts play a vital role in honoring diverse cultures and fostering shared understanding. Funding will support arts and culture organizations that elevate underrepresented voices and amplify the creative contributions of BIPOC, low-income, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Through these efforts, the foundation aims to build stronger, more connected, and culturally vibrant communities across Minnesota. The foundation offers two types of grants: **General Operating Support** and **Capital Project grants**. General operating grants provide flexible funding to nonprofits that serve at least 50% of their beneficiaries in the East Metro or Greater Minnesota. Capital grants support facility improvements or equipment purchases for projects based in these same regions, typically distributed over multiple years. Eligible applicants include **501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, and religious organizations**. Preference is given to entities whose work is led or informed by the people most affected by the issues they address. The Mardag Foundation does not fund organizations using fiscal sponsors, those exclusively serving Minneapolis or the West Metro, scholarships, sectarian programs, or large-scale capital campaigns for private schools or universities. By focusing its support on community-led efforts that address inequality and strengthen social infrastructure, the foundation continues its mission of advancing opportunity, dignity, and well-being for all Minnesotans—especially those facing the greatest barriers to success.

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.

The Minnesota Housing, in collaboration with Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF), is launching the Single Family RFP through its Community Homeownership Impact Fund. This initiative is designed to expand and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities across all counties in Minnesota. The program’s mission aligns closely with the foundation’s broader vision: ensuring that every Minnesotan has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing. By focusing on single-family, owner-occupied homes, this funding opportunity aims to address both supply and quality gaps, particularly in underserved and economically marginalized communities. Through multiple financing mechanisms—grants, deferred loans, housing infrastructure bonds, and interim loans—the program seeks to foster community stability, economic inclusion, and equitable pathways to homeownership. The program’s primary beneficiaries are low- to moderate-income households, with a targeted emphasis on households of color, immigrant households, and those including people with disabilities. This focus reflects GMHF’s commitment to applying a racial and economic equity lens to homeownership initiatives, aiming to reduce historic disparities in property ownership and wealth accumulation. Targeted investments will support both the creation of new affordable housing units and the rehabilitation of existing homes, ensuring that communities not only gain new housing stock but also preserve their existing neighborhoods. Special priority will be given to applicants leveraging cross-sector collaborations—particularly in health and housing—to improve overall community well-being. Strategically, the program prioritizes projects that deliver tangible, lasting impact. Priority activities include acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale of existing properties; new construction of single-family homes; and stand-alone affordability gap assistance. Additional emphasis is placed on projects that advance Tribal housing initiatives, ensuring that Tribal Nations and communities have equitable access to homeownership opportunities. By offering flexible funding types—including forgivable loans and deferred downpayment assistance—the program allows local governments, nonprofits, Tribal entities, and developers to structure their projects to meet community-specific needs and financial realities. Expected outcomes are centered on measurable, high-impact results. Awarded projects must lead to the creation or preservation of affordable, owner-occupied homes with no more than four units, ensuring at least one unit is owner-occupied. The program anticipates that these efforts will expand the affordable housing inventory, increase homeownership rates among underrepresented populations, and stabilize neighborhoods. Success metrics will include the number of homes developed or rehabilitated, the number of households served, demographic diversity among beneficiaries, and the degree to which affordability thresholds are met and maintained. Additionally, the program seeks to generate long-term community benefits such as improved health outcomes, greater neighborhood investment, and increased intergenerational wealth. The foundation’s strategic priorities and theory of change rest on the belief that stable, affordable homeownership is a critical lever for advancing economic mobility and community resilience. By combining capital investment with equitable housing strategies, the program aims to dismantle systemic barriers to homeownership and create conditions for sustained prosperity. Through partnerships with municipalities, Tribal governments, nonprofits, and developers, Minnesota Housing and GMHF are fostering a collaborative ecosystem that ensures funding leads to meaningful, measurable, and community-driven change. This initiative is not merely about building houses—it’s about empowering people, strengthening communities, and reshaping the housing landscape in Minnesota for a more inclusive future.

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 supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

This grant provides funding to states and territories to develop a coordinated early childhood education system that integrates various programs, including Head Start, to improve access and efficiency for families with children from birth to age five.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota-based organizations and individuals conducting applied crop research to improve agricultural practices and outcomes for local farmers and rural communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations in Minnesota to deliver job training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial skills development for individuals from communities of color and low-income backgrounds, focusing on high-growth industries.

This grant provides financial support to grocery stores and small food retailers in Minnesota to improve their facilities and equipment, making healthy and affordable food more accessible in underserved communities.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking proposals for its 2025 Tradition Grant Cycle. This grant program is habitat-focused, aiming to enhance, restore, or protect various natural environments across Minnesota. Eligible activities include work on forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitats vital for fish, game, and wildlife. All applications must clearly identify the direct habitat benefits, specifying species, ecosystems, habitat types, and natural heritage features that will be positively impacted. This program aligns with a mission to conserve and manage Minnesota's natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations, focusing on tangible, on-the-ground conservation efforts. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are the diverse ecosystems and wildlife within Minnesota, as well as the communities and organizations dedicated to their preservation. The impact goals are centered on measurable improvements in habitat quality and quantity. Restoration and enhancement projects are specifically funded on lands that are permanently protected by a conservation easement, in public ownership (including tribal, federal, state, county, city, school district, and special district entities), or within public waters as defined by MN Statutes. The program prioritizes projects that contribute directly to the health and sustainability of Minnesota's natural heritage, supporting a strategic approach to environmental stewardship. The funding information for the Traditional (Statewide) cycle totals $4,400,000, with up to two funding cycles available. Grant requests can range from $5,000 to $500,000, with a total project cost not exceeding $1,000,000. The grant period typically lasts 3 to 3.5 years, commencing upon the full execution of the grant contract. Eligible expenses are those directly incurred and necessary for the described project activities, encompassing contracts, supplies, materials, and salaries. This financial framework ensures that resources are directed towards impactful projects, with a clear understanding of funding limits and duration. Eligibility for the CPL funding is restricted to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Private individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, though partnerships are highly encouraged. Examples of eligible non-profit applicants include land trusts, lakes associations, charitable organizations, private colleges and universities, fishing and hunting organizations, and "Friends of" groups. Government entities such as cities, counties, tribal governments, federal agencies, conservation districts, public universities, and school districts are also eligible. This targeted eligibility ensures that the grants support organizations with a proven commitment to public and environmental benefit, fostering a collaborative approach to conservation outcomes.

This funding opportunity supports local nonprofits, schools, and government entities in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to implement projects that foster community connections, inclusivity, and long-term positive change.