Together, The Minneapolis Foundation, our funding partners, and our individual donors contribute more than $30 million in grants each year.

As a community foundation, our grantmaking takes two major forms:

  • supporting efforts to meet Minnesota's most pressing needs, and
  • helping donors connect with the causes they care about.

The Minneapolis Foundation last updated its grant guidelines in March 2004.

  • Download the Broader Reach grant guidelines.
  • Scroll down for an overview of our funding opportunities.

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The Minneapolis Foundation offers a variety of funding opportunities for Minnesota organizations – to meet the charitable interests of our donors and respond to community needs. These guidelines are designed to help you connect with resources to make a lasting, positive difference in the life of our community.

The Minneapolis Foundation's Broader Reach guidelines describe three funding opportunities:

Funding Opportunity Community Grants Connections Grants Requests for Proposals

Description

Grants awarded throughout Minnesota from the unrestricted funds of The Minneapolis Foundation and its funding partners.

See Recent Grant Awards for sample funded activities.

Opportunities for Twin Cities metro area nonprofits to connect with other funding sources through The Minneapolis Foundation.

Grants are typically less than $10,000 and focus on a specific need or program.

Time-sensitive opportunities for nonprofits to apply for issue-specific funding.

See RFPs for sample funded activities.


Eligible Organ-
izations

Minnesota groups only.

Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and emerging groups organized for nonprofit purposes. >learn more

Twin Cities area nonprofits only.

Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and emerging groups organized for nonprofit purposes. >learn more

Varies.

Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and emerging groups organized for nonprofit purposes. >learn more


Geographic Location Funded activities may take place in the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota, or statewide. Activities must take place within the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Varies.

Eligible Activities
(please review guidelines for more specific information)

Eligible activities include policy and systems change work in the following areas:

1. Affordable Housing

2. Economic Opportunity

3. Educational Achievement

4. Health and Well-being of Children, Youth, and Families

We also focus on systems and policy work that addresses the intersection of issues, such as housing and health.

Eligible activities include any charitable activity within the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Preference is given to requests for:

* one time only projects

* time-sensitive projects

* new opportunities

 

Varies.

Type of support / Duration

* Program/project support

* Operating support

* Capital support is limited and only available to organizations in the seven-county metro area

We do approve some multi-year grants, based upon satisfactory project process.

* Program/project support

Connections grants are for one year only.

Varies.


Proposal Format

Minnesota Common Grant Application and Cover Sheet.

Note: Be sure to check our Broader Reach guidelines before completing the Common Grant application. The Minneapolis Foundation requests specific information that is not requested in the Common Grant Application.

Letter of Inquiry
(must follow our format)

Varies.
Click here for Current RFPs.

Be sure to follow the proposal format required for each particular RFP. The application and proposal process will be available on-line.


Budget Format

Please follow the budget format included with the Minnesota Common Grant Application.

Please use the most recent available period.

For program/project and capital requests, we also request a project budget detailing the components of the project, how the money will be used, and proposed sources of funding (foundation, public, etc.) during the time period for which you are seeking funds.

Please submit an organizational budget.

If applicable, please also submit a project budget.

All applicants must provide evidence of 501(c)(3) status.

Varies.

Be sure to follow the budget format required for each particular RFP. The required format will be available on-line.


Deadline & Review Process

Proposals accepted year round.

An initial screening is conducted within 30 days of receipt of a proposal. You will be notified in writing whether your request will receive the full review, which can take up to six months. We will make every effort to keep you updated on the status of your proposal.

If your request is approved, we will send you a grant agreement letter that must be signed and returned within 10 working days. Checks are issued within three weeks after receipt of the signed agreement letter.

Letters of Inquiry are accepted year round and held on file for one year. Submissions are limited to one Letter of Inquiry per year.

Varies.

RFPs are publicized on our website and through other community outreach vehicles.

Typically, at least one RFP is issued per quarter.

For more information:
If you are considering a funding request, please download the Broader Reach grant guidelines to ensure that your proposal meets our funding criteria. If you have any questions, please contact us at (612) 672-3836 or grants@mplsfoundation.org.

Major Funding Partners of The Minneapolis Foundation

Our funding partners share The Minneapolis Foundation's grantmaking guidelines and strategies.

Donors of The Minneapolis Foundation

Donors of The Minneapolis Foundation have created a charitable fund or trust at the Foundation or have left a bequest for the Foundation to administer. These donors include families, businesses, communities, and groups of people with a common interest who want to make a difference through philanthropy.

We do not list donors individually on the website out of respect for their privacy.

For more information about community grantmaking please contact our Community Philanthropy staff at grants@mplsfoundation.org or (612) 672-3836.

For more information about Connections grantmaking please contact Robert Hybben, Research and Prospect Development Coordinator, at (612) 672-3863 or rhybben@mplsfoundation.org.

 

Grant Guidelines

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