Special Initiatives
The Latest
OneMPLS Grants Provide Relief for Local Residents
Seven local organizations will receive a total of $830,000 to address basic needs such as food and housing during the ICE surge.
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Keeping Public Media Strong in Minnesota
Recognizing the importance of public and community media in our state, we are granting $75,000 from our OneMPLS Fund to Save the Signal Minnesota, a new statewide effort to protect the future of public media.
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Small Businesses May Now Apply for Economic Response Grants
Small businesses in Minnesota that have experienced operational disruptions in recent weeks may now apply for emergency financial support through the Economic Response Fund.
In addition to our core issues, we take on projects where we see opportunities to fuel community engagement and action on emerging local issues. Explore our recent efforts.
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Supporting Our Community in Pursuing Justice, Healing
We awarded $513,907 in grants to support 40 community-based groups that are using a broad spectrum of approaches to serve Twin Cities residents in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing in police custody.
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Minnesota Foundations Unite to Push for Racial Justice
Minnesota’s strong philanthropic and nonprofit sector has its own problems with racial inequities.
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Real Talk: Minneapolis Police – Present & Future
In June 2020, R.T. Rybak and Chanda Smith Baker hosted a virtual gathering to talk about how the Foundation was supporting community efforts to restore trust, rebuild, and reform the criminal justice system.
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A Partnership with the Timberwolves and Lynx
After George Floyd’s murder, Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve and former Timberwolves Head Coach Ryan Saunders partnered with the Minneapolis Foundation on behalf of their teams to pursue justice, equity, and healing through the Fund for Safe Communities.
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Statement on Police-Involved Death of George Floyd
Every day, we are painfully aware of the work that remains before we can say that we live in a just society. This week’s reminder cuts deep. We grieve with the family and friends of George Floyd, and we grieve with our community.
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Bail Reform Summit
Join local and national changemakers to take close look at our newly commissioned pretrial justice report, created in partnership with the University of Minnesota, and to discuss the local actions that can be taken to move the system forward.
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Pretrial Justice: A Report on Cash Bail
This report, produced in partnership with the University of Minnesota, unpacks problems in Minnesota’s bail system and points to opportunities for reform.
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A Gathering with Yusef Salaam
In 2019, the Minneapolis Foundation hosted a talk by Dr. Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five in the notorious Central Park jogger case. He was joined by a panel of Minnesota's top law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, and Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.
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Framing the Future of Arts
This video showcases the Minneapolis Foundation’s 2017 arts convening, which brought people together to focus on our vibrant arts community.
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This event series provides a space where people across the region can come together to learn, share ideas, and get inspired to act on our community’s greatest needs. Relaunched in 2024 with a convening focused on the environment, the Minnesota Meeting returns in October 2025 with a conversation about the future of journalism. Join us at the Minnesota Meeting: Next in News!
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