Grant Guidelines, Eligibility

New Partnership Streamlines Grant Application Process

The Initiative Foundation has completed the transition from its legacy grant-making technology platform to its new partnership with Foundant Technologies. We trust that you will appreciate the new system and its ease of use.

All current and future Initiative Foundation and Partner Fund grantees will need to create a new account. To learn more about the registration and one-time account creation process, watch our video. 

View Open Grant Opportunities   APPLY/LOGIN

Learn More

Reference these tutorials to guide you through the account setup and application process:

• Create your account
• Navigate your dashboard
• Apply for funding

2023 Innovation Fund Guidelines

The Initiative Foundation makes grants through its Innovation Fund for projects and programs that advance our mission to empower people across Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity.

Innovation Fund grants primarily support start-up or capacity-building projects across the 14 counties of Central Minnesota. Applications to the Innovation Fund are accepted on an ongoing basis, with quarterly awards made through a competitive review process. 

2023 Review Schedule

Eligibility

Grant applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, or local units of government that serve the people and communities in Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and/or Wright counties, and the sovereign tribal nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe. Funding requests for use outside of this geography will not be considered. Individuals are not eligible to apply for grant funds. 

Innovation Fund grants seldom exceed $5,000. We typically receive many times more applications than we can fund, so our process is highly competitive. Grants are not intended to provide ongoing annual support. Priority consideration is given to projects that have local financial support. The Initiative Foundation also strives to allocate our grant resources around our entire region, so geographical diversity is a consideration in our review. Applicants are encouraged to contact one of our program officers—Don Hickman, Donniel Robinson or Zach Tabatt—to discuss proposal design and fit prior to submitting an application.

Proposals that focus on at least one of the following areas will be given priority consideration:

• General, program or capacity-building support for nonprofits addressing the urgent needs of historically disadvantaged populations. This includes support for business planning, fund development, training or other capacity-building initiatives.
• Cost share for projects intended to create behavioral change associated with combating racism, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Advancement of strategies to address workforce shortages. 
• Support for local and regional community and economic development entities advancing early-stage feasibility or pilot projects.

The following expenses are ineligible and will NOT be considered for Innovation funding:

• Grants or reimbursements to individuals and businesses.
• Expenses incurred prior to the receipt of a grant award.
• Capital expenses (e.g., buildings, equipment, vehicles, etc.).
• Programs or projects that DO NOT directly benefit residents in the Initiative Foundation’s 14-county service area.
• Replacement of or substitution for government funding.
• Religious activities.
• Lobbying or campaigning for a candidate, issue or referendum vote.
• Development or purchase of school curriculum or support for school athletic programs. 
• Out-of-state travel.

Once you’ve confirmed that your project fits within the guidelines, you can select the "Apply/Login" button to create an account, complete an eligibility quiz, submit an application, review your application history and submit grant reports.

   INNOVATION APPLICATION

 Additional Grant-Supported Opportunities

 In addition to the Innovation Fund, the Initiative Foundation has two other paths to award grants. 

• Partner Funds: A significant share of Initiative Foundation grantmaking is funded by donor-advised or community-based Partner Funds. View priority areas for each fund and their granting schedule. Each of these funds has specific priority areas and varying grant schedules. 
• Program Grants: The Foundation makes a limited number of discretionary grants related to specific localities within the region, or specific high-priority program activities. Current examples include:
• Childcare Solutions, a partnership with First Children’s Finance to help pilot communities improve access to economically sustainable, quality affordable childcare.
• The Foundation is administering grants on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Education to support young children (age birth to 8) impacted by COVID.
• Support for the City of Becker/Sherburne County as they prepare for the decommissioning (closure) of the Sherburne County Coal Generation Facility and associated loss of the community’s primary tax base.

2022 Grant Highlights

2nd Quarter 2022 Grant Highlights

• Jugaad Leadership Program—Intercultural Development Inventory Training: $3,600 for staff to complete training on the Intercultural Development Inventory.
• HousingLink—Beyond Backgrounds: Creating Housing Security for Vulnerable Renters: $5,000 to help vulnerable renters find and secure stable housing.
• Lakes Area Senior Activity Center—Technology Transformation: $8,000 to support technological advancements for the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center.
• Foster Advocates—Minnesota Promise to Fosters: Central Minnesota Listening Sessions: $5,000 to support listening sessions to surface community-driven solutions to drive change across the child welfare system.
• Eagle Bend Area Development Corporation—Hilltop Senior Campus: $5,000 to support planning and preparation for a Hilltop senior campus.
• Great River Area Faith in Action—Furniture for Families: $2,500 to support a furniture delivery program for those in need.
• CentraCare Health System—Granite Table Community Scorecard: $2,500 to refine a community health scorecard and to guide collaborative strategies and response in Greater St. Cloud.
• Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation—Spirit of Hope Matching Support Funding: $5,000 challenge grant to support nonprofits addressing the urgent needs of Brainerd-area vulnerable populations.
• St. Cloud State University Foundation, Inc.—Diversity Teacher Initiative: Workforce Development: $5,000 to support recruitment, retention, graduation and placement of people of color in teaching positions within Central Minnesota.
• True Friends—Training Staff for Human Services Jobs: $5,000 to support an employment training program.
• Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation—Keep It Clean Campaign: $5,000 to create a culture around Mille Lacs Lake that encourages anglers and other winter recreational lake users to "leave no trace." The campaign includes geo-fencing ads, banners, posters, window clings, stickers, table tents, robust media and social media campaigns and presentations to local units of government and others.
• The Yes Network—Building Community Through Art, Music and STEM: $5,000 to support the Yes Network's summer programs for youth community building and enrichment.
• Wright County Community Action, Inc.—Assessing the Needs of Wright County: $5,000 to support a needs analysis in Wright County.
• Region Five Development Commission—Cultivating Communities Sponsorship: $5,000 sponsorship for a Sept. 19-20 Cultivating Communities event at Arrowwood Conference Center in Baxter. Citizens from throughout Region Five will learn and share ideas and create next steps for a more inclusive, equitable and just region for all who live here and for all who are yet to come.
• Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures—Onamia Childcare Center: $10,000 to support start-up costs associated with a child care center in Onamia, intended to meet the common needs of the community, Mille Lacs Health Systems and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. When fully operational, the center will support 63 children.
• Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization—Vibrant and Equitable Communities: $5,000 to support organizational capacity building.
• Jugaad Leadership Program—Vibrant and Equitable Communities: $5,000 to support organizational capacity building.
• Too Much Talent—Employee Expansion: $5,000 to support organizational capacity building.
• Sherburne County—Public Charging EV Service Pilot With Xcel Energy: $40,000 to install a public EV charging station at the local high school. The project provides funds for the design of charging infrastructure, the actual construction and infrastructure maintenance post construction. Corresponding infrastructure would cost $70,000 and will be funded by Xcel Energy. This project is funded with support from the McKnight Foundation's Climate and Energy Program.
• City of Swanville—Implementation of Energy and Environmental Plan: $5,000 to support a Region Five Development Commission partnership to enhance energy efficiency, including conversion to LED lighting and investment in a more efficient furnace.
• St. Cloud State University—Central Region Small Business Development Center Inclusivity Project: $10,000 to provide technical assistance and culturally appropriate support for underrepresented and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Greater St. Cloud area.
• City of Bertha—Todd County Broadband Coalition: $10,000 for a community survey and to implement strategies identified through the Blandin Foundation's Broadband Accelerator program.

View past Innovation Fund grant awards.

1st Quarter 2022 Grant Highlights

• Someplace Safe—General Operating Support for the Wadena Advocacy Office: $2,500 to support general operating expenses for programming and services provided by the Wadena Advocacy Office.


• Amherst H. Wilder Foundation—Minnesota Compass: $5,000 to provide annual support to Minnesota Compass, which provides community- and county-specific data to help track progress or disparities across critical measures of community health and vitality.


• Minnesota Council on Foundations—2022 Membership: $12,500 for 2022 membership dues.
• 
Anderson Center—Forum Scholarships: $10,000 to provide scholarships for private and nonprofit sector leaders to benefit from the array of professional development training offered by the Anderson Center.


• Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota—CareerSTART Program: $2,000 to support the CareerSTART program, which provides exploration, development and application of career paths for youth in grades kindergarten to grade 12.


• Friends of Career Solutions—Career Trek for Teens: $5,000 to support Career Trek, a career exploration program. 


• Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest—2021-22 Finance Park Virtual Programming: $2,000 to support the Finance Park virtual program.


• Sakan Community Resource, Inc.—Families Prosper: $5,000 to prepare families and individuals for financial stability and homeownership with culturally informed services that lead to more stable and affordable housing.


• Community Dental Care—Workforce Pipeline Project: $10,000 to support a partnership with St. Cloud Technical and Community College to recruit, retain and place dental hygiene program graduates at the new Community Dental Care Clinic in Wright County.


• Jugaad Leadership Program: $6,000 to support networking and training for emerging leaders in the Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community of Greater St. Cloud.
• Community Grassroots Solutions—Halal Meat Slaughterhouse Feasibility Study: $5,000 to support a feasibility analysis for a halal-certified meat processing facility to serve the Muslim population in Central Minnesota.
• Bridges of Hope—Resource Connection Services: $5,000 to support the Resource Connection Services program at Bridges of Hope.
• Community Aid of Elk River: $4,000 to support software research, acquisition and staff training for fund development.
• Sprout—Little Falls Local Food Collaborative Feasibility Study: $4,000 to support a feasibility study to identify linkages in the local foods value chain.
• Sourcewell—Students of Character Sponsorship: $1,000 to support the annual Students of Character celebration at Sourcewell.
• Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation—Recharge St. Cloud: $10,000 to support the Recharge St. Cloud electric vehicle expo.
• Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation—2022 Annual Investment: $25,000 to support the work of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation.
• Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College—Technical Assistance for Small Business Success: $10,000 to support business planning and technical assistance.
• Chisago County Economic Development Authority—Highway 8 Strategic Framework: $7,500 to support community engagement and professional planning along the Highway 8 corridor to encourage thoughtful economic development.
• City of Sandstone—Pine County Logistics & Transportation Analysis: $5,000 to complete a study on railroad, highway, and other forms of transportation to provide tools to guide infrastructure investments to expand the area tax base and economic opportunities.
• Northern Waters Land Trust—Exploring Carbon Sequestration-Land Conservation Coordination in North Central Minnesota: $10,000 to explore the feasibility of creating an incentive program to support protection or restoration of forests that generate revenue for the property owner while also capturing carbon and buffering sensitive lands and waters. This grant was funded by the Morgan Family Foundation.
• Leech Lake Housing Authority—Leech Lake Housing Authority Homebuyer Program: $41,250 to support the Leech Lake Housing Authority's down payment assistance program, improving the resiliency of the community and supporting increased homeownership. This grant was funded by The Funders Network.

View past Innovation Fund grant awards.

2022 Partner Fund Grant Highlights

2nd Quarter 2022 Partner Fund Grant Highlights

Rum River Community Foundation

• Milaca Fine Arts Council—Music in the Park 2022: $1,000
• Mille Lacs County Operation Community Connect: $500
• Trinity Lutheran Church of Milaca—Snack Pack Program: $1,000
• Milaca American Legion Post 178—Project Mobile Scouts: $900
• Milaca School District—Milaca High School Day of Service: $500

The following grants were awarded to the City of Milaca:

• Milaca RecFest: $500
• 2022 Kids Events: $500
• 2022 Milaca Parade and Festival: $1,000
• South Trail Expansion: $1,000

1st Quarter 2022 Partner Fund Grant Highlights

Three Rivers Community Foundation

• Sherburne County Health & Human Services—Donation for Car Seats: $1,600

Three Rivers Community Foundation Scholarship Fund

The following grants were awarded for scholarships:

• Elk River High School: $7,500
• Rogers High School: $7,500
• Zimmerman High School: $4,000
• Ivan Sand High School: $1,500
• Spectrum High School: $1,500

Staples-Motley Area Community Foundation

• Sourcewell Students of Character—Platinum Event Sponsorship: $1,000
• Lakewood Health System Foundation—Night of Giving Venue Sponsor: $1,000
• City of Staples—Playground Project: $3,757
• City of Staples—Dower Lake Project: $7,621

Tollefson Scholarship Fund

• Pine City High School—Tollefson Scholarship: $15,000

Mary Jean Tillman Healthcare Scholarship Fund

• Little Falls Community High School—Mary Jean Tillman Healthcare Scholarship: $5,000

Irene Myres Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund

• Pequot Lakes High School—Irene Myres Memorial Endowed Scholarship: $1,000

Silver Lining Scholarship Fund

• Little Falls Community High School—Silver Lining Scholarship Fund: $750

Dorn Family Fund

• Delano High School—Dorn Family Fund Scholarship: $1,100

Bert & Helen LeBlanc Legacy Scholarship Fund

• St. Cloud State University Foundation, Inc.—Bert and Helen LeBlanc Legacy Scholarship: $1,000
• Central Lakes College Foundation—Bert and Helen LeBlanc Legacy Scholarship: $500

Archie & Isabelle Powell Family Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Elk River High School—Archie & Isabel Powell Family Memorial Scholarship: $1,500

Sacred Heart School Area Endowment Fund

• Sacred Heart School Area Endowment Fund: $1,300

Staples Knights of Columbus Council #1803-Lloyd & Marion Giddings Scholarship Fund

• Staples & Motley Dollars for Scholars: $2,900

Manufacturing Fund of Central Minnesota

• Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc.—Women's Business Alliance: $5,500

Cuyuna Lakes Education Foundation

• Cuyuna Lakes Education Foundation—Operating Support: $10,000

Albany Area Education Foundation

The following grants were awarded to the Albany Area School District:

• Middle School Science Advanced Hot Plate Stirrer: $1,000
• Multisensory and Game-based Learning: $500
• Music Department Computer Project: $1,000
• Social Emotional Learning within Multi-tiered System of Supports: $500
• Interval Timers: $939
• Digital Art, Graphic Design, and Publication: $1,630
• Getting Torqued with Diesel: $672
• Collaboration Space: $1,500
• Greenhouse: $1,625
• Growing Healthy Plants with Meters: $840

Braham Area Education Foundation

The following grants were awarded to Braham Area Schools:

• Lego Stop Motion Animation: $750
• Calming Items for Elementary Classrooms: $840

Bridges Manufacturing Workforce Development Fund

• Central Lakes College—Bridges Manufacturing Workforce Development Scholarship to Wyatt Bunting: $1,000
• Central Lakes College—Bridges Manufacturing Workforce Development Scholarship to Riley DeVriendt: $1,000

Bob & Pauline Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Isle High School—Scholarship: $3,000

Playing it Forward: The Kenneth and Evelyn Pinckney Young Musicians' Fund

The following grants were awarded to the Little Falls Community School District:

• Purchase of an Eastman Euphonium and Selmer Bass Clarinet: $3,195
• Instrument and Supplies for Music Program: $385

Paula & Chad Becker Fund

• Christ the King Catholic Church—Operating Support: $12,000
• Browerville Public Schools—High School Athletics: $2,000
• Southwest Minnesota State University—Wrestling Program: $2,000
• Saint John’s University—Wrestling Program: $2,000
• Delano Youth Baseball-Softball—2022 Cooperstown Baseball: $2,000

CWEPA Fund

• Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance—General Operating Support: $3,700

The Thrive Fund

• Milestones—2022 Disbursement: $6,000

Alternative Sources of Energy Fund

• Milaca Scholarship Foundation: $4,200
• Milaca High School Science Department: $1,400

Patrick and Jane Mitchell Family Fund

• Rocori Area Dollars for Scholars: $500

Beverly M. Pantzke Scholarship Fund

• Little Falls Community High School—Scholarships: $24,000

Anderson Brothers Family Fund

• Salvation Army—Food Pantry Donation: $1,000

Mark Wood Foundation

• Little Falls Community School—Lincoln Elementary School: $5,700

Paws & Claws Animal Shelter

• Paws & Claws Rescue & Resort—Operating Support: $1,700

Little Falls Scholarship Fund

• Little Falls Community High School—Scholarship: $3,300

William & Ethel Nelson Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Royalton School District—Scholarship: $1,600

Betty Ford Menzel Scholarship Fund

• Crosby-Ironton High School—Scholarships: $2,300

Shawn Grittner Memorial Fund

• St. Cloud Technical & Community College Foundation Fund—Scholarships: $1,100

Lake Region Conservation Club

• Hillman Area First Response Team—Operating Support Grant: $500
• Sullivan Lake First Response Team—Operating Support: $500

H. Eugene Menzel Scholarship Fund

• Aitkin Dollars for Scholars—Scholarships: $1,300

Artesian Homes Charitable Fund

• Pillager School District—Huskies Fishing Team: $1,000
• Pillager Booster Club—Grad Blast Committee 2022: $500

Corey Borg-Massanari Foundation

• Silverton San Juan County Ambulance Association, Inc.—Equipment and Supplies: $6,000

Fregin Foundation

• Little Falls Community High School—Scholarships: $500

Skolmate Fund for the Welfare of Animals

• Paws & Claws Rescue & Resort—Operating Support: $1,500
• Morrison County Animal Humane Society—Operating Support: $1,500

To see the list of grantees from the Initiative Foundation partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, click here.

Partner Fund Grant Rounds

The Initiative Foundation is proud to host a variety of Partner Funds for families, businesses, nonprofit organizations and volunteer-led groups. Our Partner Fund program allows local leaders to champion local causes while we provide the 501(c)(3) public charity infrastructure necessary for donor gifts to receive the highest possible charitable tax deduction. From community foundations to educational funds to special project and field-of-interest funds, the Initiative Foundation and its Partner Funds are working together to ensure strong and vibrant communities throughout Central Minnesota.

View Our Partner Fund Grant Schedule

• For more information on starting a Partner Fund, contact Community Philanthropy Manager Kate Bjorge. 
• For more information on applying for a Partner Fund grant, contact Program Specialist Kerie Thoma.