West Bank Community Fund Micro Grants
The West Bank Community Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation offers grants to organizations working to serve the needs of residents living in the West Bank area of Minneapolis, which falls in ZIP code 55454 or the triangle of land bounded by Interstate 94, the Mississippi River, and Interstate 35W.
The purpose the West Bank Fund is to: 1) Recognize the diverse cultures of West Bank residents and improve social connections across cultures and generations; and 2) Encourage West Bank residents to engage in community and policy issues that are important to them.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, your organization must be…
- A 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Working to bridge barriers in the West Bank, especially by increasing access to public services and support.
- Designed to empower African youth, their families, and immigrant elders.
- Committed to building on community assets and expanding opportunities for the full participation of West Bank residents in the arts, culture, the local business community, and society at large.
Priority for funding will be given to organizations that are physically located in the 55454 ZIP code. Organizations located elsewhere will be considered if they demonstrate that this is their primary service area and meet the other funding criteria.
Capacity Building Micro-Grants
The West Bank Fund is offering one-time micro-grants to support organizations as they expand the competencies, strategies, and systems that enable them to accomplish their mission and goals. These grants may be used to fund…
- Staff Development
- Wellness
- Training
- Planning
- Programming
- Technology
- Other Projects
A total of $19,000 is available to grant, with awards ranging from $750 to $1,500. We anticipate awarding up to 20 grants. Funded activities are expected to be short-term in nature and completed within 12 months.
How to apply
We will begin accepting applications on March 20, 2023. Applications must be submitted online via the Minneapolis Foundation’s online portal. We recommend downloading this preview document, which will help you prepare to apply online. Once the application portal opens, we encourage you to log in to ensure that you have access and that your organization’s contact information is current. The deadline to apply has been updated to 1 p.m. on May 4, 2023.
Required documents include:
- Application
- Project budget
WE WILL NOT FUND
- Capital requests
- Individuals
- Organizational deficits
Questions
For more information about this funding opportunity, please contact Jo-Anne E. Stately, Director of Impact Strategy – Economic Vitality at jstately@mplsfoundation.org or 612-672-3831; or Josh Johnson, Program Associate, at jjohnson2@mplsfoundation.org or 612-672-3862. For assistance accessing the online application portal, please contact, Maria Andrew, Grants Administrator – Community Impact, at mandrew@mplsfoundation.org or 612-672-8666.
