$3.4 Million in Grants to Advance Economic Mobility

These grants, totaling $3,424,750, will support organizations and projects that:

• Advance structural and systems change through civic participation, community organizing, and policy advocacy.
• Invest in economic systems and practices that support economic mobility, close wealth gaps, and stabilize communities.

These awards build on the Minneapolis Foundation’s Racial and Economic Justice grant program, which has distributed more than $17.5 million over the past five years. In 2025, the Foundation updated its grant guidelines to incorporate community feedback about the need for more flexible resources to support organizations that serve the needs of those most affected by economic injustice. This grant round provides partners with capacity building and operating support as they navigate a volatile funding and policy climate.

Grants were awarded through a competitive process, with applications reviewed by a committee of Foundation staff and community members.

One of this year’s awards will support the Ignite Fund, a grant program started by the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) to address systemic inequities and foster economic growth in Minnesota’s Asian American community. “With this investment, CAAL provides intentional financial support to sustain and grow small businesses,” said ThaoMee Xiong, the organization’s Executive and Network Director.

Another grant will support Public Functionary, an organization based in Northeast Minneapolis that fosters the expression of art and culture through services that include a studio program for early career artists. “This grant helps us strengthen the foundation of our PF Studios program, ensuring we can continue supporting young BIPOC artists with the stable resources, mentorship, and long-term relationship they need to build sustainable careers,” said Tricia Heuring, the organization’s Artistic Director. “By investing in our capacity, Public Functionary can deepen its impact in dismantling barriers to economic mobility in the arts.”

Photos courtesy of Public Functionary and CAAL

A third award will go to Propel Nonprofits, which fuels the impact and effectiveness of Minnesota’s entire nonprofit ecosystem by providing other organizations with guidance, expertise, and capital. “We are deeply appreciative of this grant to support our own capacity building,” said Garrett Backes, Propel’s Chief Advancement Officer. “These funds will support a new strategic plan for Propel, as well as help us meet the growing demand for our strategic consulting services as nonprofit leaders grapple with the many current challenges to their organizations and the communities they serve.”

This year’s Economic Mobility grants were supported by contributors to the OneMPLS Fund, including a fundholder at the Minneapolis Foundation who gave $75,000. The OneMPLS Fund pools contributions from businesses and people across our community to respond nimbly to urgent local needs. Learn more or make a tax-deductible online donation to the OneMPLS Fund.

African Career Education and Resources: $60,000 for legal resources and strategic planning to support real estate acquisition and community ownership in the northwest metro.

African Development Center: $75,000 to support enhanced financial literacy tools, program evaluation, and outcomes tracking.

All Square: $75,000 to enhance employee experience and increase staff retention through the addition of an HR Director.

Build Wealth Minnesota: $75,000 for a Certified Financial/HUD Coach and an updated CRM database.

CAPI USA: $75,000 to update the organization’s security infrastructure, and for communications and strategic planning to support its rebranding.

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha: $75,000 to support efficient internal systems, including updates to the organization’s administrative, financial, and communications plans.

Charities Review Council: $50,000 for strategic organizational planning and merger exploration.

City of Lakes Community Land Trust: $75,000 to strengthen internal systems, rebuild and deepen funder relationships, and explore shared leadership models.

Coalition of Asian American Leaders: $75,000 to build out a new evaluation framework for the Ignite Fund.

ConnectUP Institute: $75,000 for technology and software upgrades to support the implementation of an online learning platform.

COPAL MN: $75,000 to support an updated risk management protocol, strategic plan, and financial analysis.

East Phillips Neighborhood Institute: $75,000 to support financial and audit process planning and strategic community ownership opportunities.

Family Housing Fund: $75,000 to support community engagement that will inform the organization’s planning for a new strategic framework and an updated organizational governance structure.

FMW Nonprofit Solutions: $57,500 to support the expansion of fiscal sponsorship infrastructure, including training, software, and additional staffing.

Folwell Neighborhood Association: $40,000 to support asset management strategies, community engagement, and an updated strategic plan.

Friends of Compass: $50,000 to support services to local nonprofits, including high-quality strategic planning and the connections it makes between nonprofits and skilled business professionals who serve as volunteer board members.

GiveMN: $75,000 to upgrade the organization’s technology infrastructure and implement an online fundraising education service.

HACER: $75,000 for an upgraded database and CRM to effectively and efficiently track data.

Housing in Action: $75,000 to increase the organization’s capacity to respond to the community’s unique housing needs.

Lake Street Council: $75,000 for new technology and security systems that will safeguard the organization’s data and increase its capacity to engage with the community and build relationships.

Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota: $75,000 to support an updated strategic plan that includes board development, fundraising, and an assessment of the organization’s operations capacity.

LatinoLEAD: $50,000 to develop an organizational evaluation framework.

Longfellow Rising: $52,250 for long-term financial management systems and fundraising resources that will strengthen and diversify revenue streams.

Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers: $75,000 to support a new strategic plan that aligns initiatives, long-term financial scenario planning, and improvements to internal technical assistance infrastructure.

Metropolitan Economic Development Association: $75,000 to create an Enterprise Resource Plan and update technology resources to improve the organization’s data tracking and reports.

Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund: $70,500 to support organizational consolidation and the development of new strategic and operational plans.

Minnesota Training Partnership Inc.: $70,000 to support educational accreditation and internal systems for data tracking and evaluation.

Mni Sota Fund: $75,000 to hire a Business Program Director who will manage and scale the organization’s business assistance program.

Native Sun Community Power Development: $75,000 to support diversified revenue streams, financial systems, and administrative and evaluation tools.

Neighborhood Development Center: $75,000 for an updated fundraising plan that will diversify funding streams, the strengthening of financial systems to protect data, and legal resources for risk management.

New American Development Center: $75,000 for financial software updates, a loan officer, and a CDFI-Financial Assistance specialist to grow the organization’s loan fund.

Newgate Education & Research Center Inc: $75,000 for an updated financial assessment that will include a fundraising plan, integration of the organization’s CRM and data systems with the software it uses for auto repair orders, and an updated organizational strategic plan.

Nexus Community Partners: $75,000 to support organizational restructuring through the addition of an Advancement Department and increased alignment with communications strategies.

Northcountry Cooperative: $75,000 to support expanding cooperative housing models.

Northside Economic Opportunity Network: $75,000 for additional advising and loan staff who will deepen the organization’s relationships, build support for its work, and increase its impact in the community.

Partnership in Property Commercial Land Trust: $75,000 for a financial assessment, organizational planning, and legal resources to better support complex, community-controlled commercial spaces.

Philanthrofund Foundation: $74,500 to expand opportunities for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs through increased mentorship and updated data management systems.

PRG, Inc.: $75,000 to develop a three- to five-year strategic vision and engage with stakeholders as the organization explores a brand refresh.

Propel Nonprofits: $75,000 to create a new three-year strategic plan and increase its staff capacity.

Public Functionary: $75,000 to update the organization’s mission through stakeholder engagement, organizational planning, and financial assessments.

RIVERSIDE PLAZA TENANTS: $75,000 to support an updated strategic plan outlining short- and long-term organizational goals and updated financial data management software and processes.

Seward Redesign, Inc.: $75,000 to increase the organization’s efficiency by improving its data management systems and streamlining its operational procedures.

The Awood Center: $50,000 to increase stakeholder outreach and deepen leadership development.

The Lift Garage: $65,000 to implement a shared leadership model and update the organization’s structure.

The Mixtape Strategy: $60,000 to develop a five-year strategic plan and increase community engagement through an advisory committee.

The Neighborhood Hub: $75,000 to create an updated fund development plan and implement new data and financial management software.

Unidos MN: $75,000 to update the organization’s financial assessment and management policies and procedures, implement new database and security protections, and increase legal resources to ensure contract compliance.

WHITTIER ALLIANCE: $25,000 for community engagement and resource mapping to build a small business network and online resource hub.

Wildflyer Coffee: $50,000 to develop additional revenue strategies and update financial management tools.

WomenVenture: $60,000 to increase the organization’s operational capacity and enhance the services it provides in the community by improving and integratng its data and financial software.