Minneapolis Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Minneapolis Foundation supports arts and culture, economic vitality, environment and conservation, civic engagement, community health, and education in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, economic vitality, environment and conservation, civic engagement, community health, education
IP TAKE: This is one of the most well-established community foundations in the nation and also one that makes equity a priority in everything it does.
PROFILE: Established in 1915, the Minneapolis Foundation is a community foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. E. L. Carpenter is a founder of this philanthropic organization and also helped create the Minnesota Orchestra. Today, the foundation administers over 1,400 charitable funds and awards millions of dollars to community organizations each year. The Minneapolis Foundation aims to help create a “greater Minneapolis that is vibrant, inclusive, and positioned to thrive locally and compete globally. The foundation funds local efforts for arts and culture, economic vitality, environment and conservation, civic engagement, community health, and education.
The Minneapolis Foundation has a competitive grantmaking program and focuses its resources on economic, racial, and social equity. The funder supports education causes that address needs in early childhood education, low-income students of color, improving teacher performance, and getting parents involved. It funds economic vitality efforts that help prepare a local workforce, build community wealth, help minority-owned businesses, and advocate for workforce development policies. Meanwhile, civic engagement grants help boost voter participation, leadership development, and the promotion of a representative democracy. Other opportunities exist through the Catalyst Initiative, which focuses on self-care to advance health and wellbeing, and the Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund. The community foundation provides grants in the form of general operating support and project support.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the recent grants page of the foundation website. Grantmaking focuses on the city of Minneapolis and surrounding region. Past local grantees include KIPP Minnesota, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and Appetite for Change.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits through a competitive annual cycle. Occasionally, it also offers issue-specific requests for proposals as well. The Minneapolis Foundation requires first-time applicants to register on its online system. The foundation notifies nonprofits about grant decisions in December. Direct general questions to the staff at e-mail@mplsfoundation.org or 612-672-3878.
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