Minnesota Youth Grants

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota has launched the Innovators Program. Donor Name: Women’s Foundation of Minnesota State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) believes in the leadership and ideas of young women and gender-expansive leaders in state. Through the Innovators program, WFM provides microgrants of $3,000 directly to young women and gender-expansive people (ages 16-24) to fuel their ideas and support their development as leaders with microgrants, cohort-based learning, and individual leadership coaching. Innovators leadership, ideas, and solutions advance key recommendations in the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota’s (YWI MN) Blueprint for Action. Grants through the Innovators program fund projects that advance gender and racial equity and justice, led by visionary leaders who are leading within their communities from the intersections of their identities and experiences. Innovators meet as a cohort in-person for technical support and leadership development.  Focus Areas GOAL 1: Build Pathways to Economic Opportunity. GOAL 2: Improve Safety and Well-being. GOAL 3: Promote Young Women’s Leadership. Project Period The funds must be used within 12 months. Funds can be used Think creatively: How can this microgrant uniquely help move your leadership and ideas forward? How can it help you be more effective in the impact you want to make? Example projects could be executed in the following ways: Start or continue a social change initiative. Design and pursue a personal learning plan. Attend a conference and share learnings with community for impact. Organize an event for impact. Supply resources to organize people for advocacy. Research Travel as part of greater learning and share in Minnesota for impact. Participation Leadership Convenings & Coaching – WFMN will engage young women in mandatory online and/or in-person convenings for leadership development, advocacy, and building community. The convenings will give young women an opportunity to support, develop, and scale their leadership and ideas. This leadership development includes direct professional coaching to support Innovators in their grant-funded projects and to deepen their leadership for the long term. Eligibility Criteria The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is accepting applications from eligible applicants in the state of Minnesota. Eligible candidates: Must be 16-24 years old at the date of program kickoff. Identify as a young woman and/or gender-expansive youth. The definition of a young 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. Applicants must reside in the state of Minnesota throughout the grant period. Priority given to young women and gender-expansive leaders who identify with at least one of the priority communities of the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota: Black/African American, African Immigrant, American Indian, Hispanic/Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, Disabilities, Greater/Rural Minnesota. Citizenship is not required For more information, visit WFMN.

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

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in the Brainerd Lakes region to support projects that improve community quality of life and address local needs.

This grant provides funding for programs and services that empower women and girls in Northwest Minnesota, focusing on entrepreneurship, safety, leadership, and personal development.

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 projects that celebrate cultural diversity, strengthen community connections, and empower residents in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis.

This grant provides financial support to grassroots community organizing groups in the Midwest that focus on empowering low- and moderate-income populations, particularly those historically excluded from civic participation, to drive systemic change and promote social justice.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that connect diverse Minnesotans to careers in public health, particularly through experiential learning and partnerships.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public institutions in Southern Minnesota to distribute books to children from birth to age eight, particularly focusing on diverse and at-risk populations.

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

This funding opportunity supports 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in Hubbard County, Minnesota, that provide essential community services focused on youth education, financial stability, and health, with grants ranging from $500 to $5,000.

This grant provides funding for individual artists and culture bearers in five northern Minnesota counties to create community-engaging art projects that enhance public access to the arts.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions in Minnesota that support innovative programs benefiting youth and families.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that offer hands-on STEAM training and paid summer internships for teens aged 16-19 from low-income areas, in partnership with Best Buy Teen Tech Centers.

This program provides funding and support to develop affordable housing with services for Hennepin County's most vulnerable residents, including those experiencing homelessness, severe health issues, or complex needs.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota communities in preventing youth substance use by implementing a proven prevention framework and fostering local coalitions to address risk factors.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for arts projects that improve accessibility and engage the community in the five-county area of Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen, Minnesota.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups in Region 7E to create public arts and cultural projects that enhance community engagement and accessibility to the arts.

This grant provides financial support to Minnesota girls in grades K-12 to engage in activities that foster confidence, leadership, and personal development.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities that empower underserved teens through hands-on technology learning and career readiness programs.