The Minneapolis Foundation

We bring together people, ideas, and resources to improve the lives of everyone. The Foundation is more than a grantmaker. We convene, collaborate, partner, invest, and advocate — that’s how we make a donor’s giving go further! It’s a 100-year-old tradition — and we have big plans for the future.

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Conversations with Chanda

This event and podcast series is hosted by Chanda Smith Baker, The Minneapolis Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Impact. Chanda has over 20 years of experience working in, for, and with underestimated communities.

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Youth Cultural Healing Summit

Join our Catalyst Initiative on October 17th as they dive in to explore integrative and culturally-specific healing strategies and practices for youth. Featured youth performances include the Irreducible Grace Foundation and the Ikidowin Theater Group at Indigenous People’s Task Force.

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Reducing Greenhouse Gases in Minneapolis

First grants were awarded from the Minneapolis Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund

See our list of grant recipients

Investing in Our Community’s Future

We awarded nearly $4 million to 87 organizations for work in 2019. Learn more about the nonprofits we support through competitive grants to strengthen the economic vitality, education, and civic engagement of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

See our list of grant recipients

Make Your Giving Go Further

We are here to help you turn your passion into action.

1,400

Charitable funds administered

$890M

Total assets under management

$70M

Annual grants to community

10.2%

Investment returns, long-term growth portfolio, FY 2018

Each year, our donors support more than 2,000 different causes and charities in Minneapolis and beyond. We offer wise investment strategies, unmatched expertise about community issues, and first-class donor services.

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Our Community Impact

Our vision is of a greater Minneapolis that is vibrant, inclusive and positioned to thrive locally and compete globally. Through donor advised funds and competitive grants, we are investing in six key focus areas to help this vision come to life:

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Arts & Culture

We are committed to sustaining our robust and diverse arts community. That commitment is reflected in the ranking of The Minneapolis Foundation as one of the largest funders of the arts in Minnesota.

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Economic Vitality

We are working toward building an inclusive workforce, reflective of our changing demographics, as well as a business climate that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-sufficiency. Creating stable, well-paying jobs is critical to the long-term vitality of our economy.

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Environment & Conservation

Preserving our city’s rich river history and reducing our carbon footprint are two cornerstones of our community’s future. That’s why, on a monthly basis, the Foundation invests a quarter of a million dollars to support environmental causes.

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Civic Engagement

We are fostering a community where everyone is encouraged and motivated to participate in the democratic process and public decision making.

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Community Health

We are committed to building a healthy community where all people have access to critical necessities including excellent medical care, social services, stable housing and livable wages.

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Education

We believe that children are our future. That’s why we are investing in systems and programs that put all children on track to compete in a global economy, participate in civic life and pursue their dreams.

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Competitive Grantmaking

We are privileged to steward and invest gifts that have been entrusted to us throughout the past century
It’s our responsibility… and we take it very seriously.

We focus these resources on promoting social, economic and racial equity. We believe in realizing our community’s full potential, rather than simply resolving problems. Funding is available through a competitive process and the opportunities are targeted toward achieving a very select set of outcomes that bring us closer toward this vision.

Grantmaking Information
Learn Our Strategy
Support Our Work

Community Buzz

Learn the latest about upcoming events, community issues, community impact, and giving opportunities right here.

The Minneapolis Foundation awards first grants from OneMPLS Fund

The Minneapolis Foundation today announced $500,000 in grants from a new charitable fund that expands on its work to advance racial, social and economic equity. The OneMPLS Fund builds on the Foundation’s grantmaking by making more resources available to address emerging issues in the community. Designed to be nimble, the…

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The Minneapolis Foundation Welcomes Chris Beach as Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services

The Minneapolis Foundation is pleased to welcome Chris Beach as the Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services, effective October 1. Beach comes to The Minneapolis Foundation from Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, where he became President of that organization’s Foundation and Chief Development Officer in July 2015. As…

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First grants awarded from Minneapolis Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund

A new charitable fund that supports local action on climate change has awarded its first grants. The Minneapolis Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund, a partnership between the City of Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Foundation and the McKnight Foundation, today announced funding to three local organizations that are doing innovative work…

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Help Protect Our Lakes

The city lakes are Minneapolis’s family jewels. Few people in other places enjoy such natural wonders to wade, paddle, sail, fish, swim, stroll, bike, skate, ski, sunbathe, picnic, and experience nature in the midst of a bustling city.  We all owe a debt of gratitude to the civic leaders…

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Fourth Generation Awards $60,000 in Grants

Fourth Generation, a program of The Minneapolis Foundation that brings together emerging philanthropists, awarded $60,000 in grants to six local organizations working to address place-based disparities. Each organization will receive $10,000. Members of Fourth Generation work together to learn the skills of strategic giving and pool their resources to make…

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Helping Kids Grow Strong Brains

Martin and Beth Peyer have been passionate about education for a long time. For many years, they led a company that provides schools with web-based services and software. When the company was sold and they used some of the proceeds to establish a fund at The Minneapolis Foundation, they knew…

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Strategic Partnerships