OneMPLS Fund Awards Grants for Domestic Violence Services
The Minneapolis Foundation has awarded $300,000 through the OneMPLS Fund to strengthen services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, helping to offset the impact of profound disruptions during Operation Metro Surge.
“Heightened immigration enforcement made it harder for many survivors to seek safety and support, with many fearful of leaving their homes or seeking assistance from law enforcement,” said Julia Ruther, Program Officer for Impact and Collective Giving, who leads Foundation investments in initiatives that increase safety, well-being, and economic opportunity for women and girls.
The grants announced today reflect feedback from local organizations, which reported fewer in-person visits, longer shelter stays, and more calls to crisis lines. Providers pivoted rapidly to expand remote services, train staff on immigration enforcement policies, and revise procedures for transportation, home visits, and court accompaniment. These adaptations required nonprofits already operating on tight budgets to make large, unplanned investments of staff time and financial resources.
“Community organizations responded with urgency and compassion during an extraordinarily difficult time,” said Patrice Relerford, the Foundation’s Vice President of Collective Impact and Giving. “These grants will help ensure survivors continue to have access to safe shelter, legal support, financial assistance, and other critical services.”
The grants build on the Minneapolis Foundation broader response to Operation Metro Surge. Including the funding announced today, the Foundation has awarded 30 OneMPLS grants since January, distributing a total of $4.12 million for food assistance, housing stability, and other critical needs. These grants were made possible by contributions from people and businesses near and far—from 74 Foundation fundholders to donors in 39 states and as far away as Germany and Australia.
One grant will support Tubman, a Minneapolis-based provider of crisis services for survivors of relationship violence, sexual exploitation, homelessness, and other trauma. “This grant will make a tremendous impact in addressing both the human and organizational toll of Operation Metro Surge,” said Tubman CEO Jennifer Polzin. “From covering unanticipated costs like enhanced security and time to develop protocols and provide training, to meeting the increased needs for emergency financial assistance, to responding to the cultural trauma and unique safety needs of people experiencing relationship violence, we appreciate this investment in the people we serve, our community, and our staff!”
Photos courtesy of Tubman
The grants include:
- Cornerstone Advocacy Service: $100,000 to support expanded emergency financial assistance and crisis call line staffing, housing stabilization services, and shelter operations.
- Domestic Abuse Project: $100,000 to expand interpreter services, strengthen direct assistance that helps clients meet basic and safety needs, and support long-term organizational sustainability.
- Tubman: $100,000 to expand crisis, legal, and security staffing and improve security systems at the Chrysalis Center.
Each year, the Minneapolis Foundation identifies 1-3 emerging local needs and directs support through the OneMPLS Fund to address them, with over $10 million distributed to more than 170 nonprofits since 2019.
