The Initiative Foundation works to ensure that every grant dollar achieves the greatest impact in central Minnesota. Our experience shows that the presence of a shared vision, strategic plan, mobilized volunteers and trained leaders greatly increases a project's probability for success.

For that reason, we devote a significant percentage of our grants to those communities and organizations that have completed our leadership training programs (also known as “partnership programs”).

In addition to planning and organizing support, our program participants often receive priority funding consideration to help them implement the plans developed during their training. The following is a list of foundation programs currently offering grant support to participants. Organizations must be accepted to one of these programs in order to apply for the grant amounts listed.

Healthy Communities Partnership
Depending on their population size, communities selected to the HCP program receive an initial grant of $10,000 to $15,000 for citizen-based planning, project implementation and related expenses. After completion of the program, communities are encouraged to apply for additional grants and earn priority funding consideration for those projects that help accomplish their plans.

Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership
Lake and river associations selected to the HLRP program receive performance-based grants totaling $2,400 after achieving major milestones. Upon completion of the program, associations may apply for future challenge-grants (requiring matching dollars) of up to $5,000 for projects that help implement their water management plans.

Healthy Organizations Partnership
Upon selection to the HOP multi-year training program, nonprofit organizations receive a grant of $6,500 for strategic planning, goal implementation and related expenses. After completion of the program, nonprofits earn priority funding consideration for additional capacity-building projects or programs that are directly related to their strategic plan.

Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative
Early Childhood coalitions selected to the MECI program receive an initial grant of $15,000 for a paid coordinator, community planning expenses and project implementation. Future challenge grants (requiring matching dollars) of up to $10,000 are available for projects that are directly related to coalition plans.

Minnesota ICE: A Rural Response to Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine coalitions selected to the Minnesota ICE program receive an initial grant of up to $15,000, dependant on local cash contributions, for a paid coordinator, community planning expenses and project implementation. Future challenge grants (requiring matching dollars) of up to $10,000 are available for projects that are directly related to coalition plans.

Youth as Resources
Depending on financial need and project size, volunteer boards receive an initial grant of $10,000 to $15,000 for program administration and re-granting funds. Future challenge-grants (requiring matching dollars) of $5,000 to $10,000 are available to highly successful YAR programs. HCP communities earn priority consideration for new YAR programs. Depending on financial need and project size, volunteer boards receive an initial grant of $10,000 to $15,000 for program administration and re-granting funds. Future challenge-grants (requiring matching dollars) of $5,000 to $10,000 are available to highly successful YAR programs.