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 and two tribal nations 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

4th Quarter 2022 Grant Highlights

• Hands Across the World—Business Training for Minorities Business People: $5,000 to train minority business owners at Waite Park’s International Market on financial and business planning.

• CommunityGiving—Racial Equity in Our Community, Phase II: $10,000 to address inequities and disparities in the St. Cloud region using a variety of strategies, including hosting community conversations, collecting data and producing accessible reports, and coordinating action groups to drive change in workforce, education, health and healthcare and community engagement.

• Minnesota Council on Foundations—2023 Membership: $12,500 to provide annual support for this statewide group that represents community foundations.

• East African Dream, Inc.—Employment and Soft Skills Training for Refugee Youth and Young Adults in St. Cloud: $5,000 to offer soft skills training in predominately low-income communities. The goal is to offer skills training to unemployed youth and young adults to help them land jobs.

• United Way of Central Minnesota—EPIC Coordinator Support Grant: $10,000 to help hire an coordinator for the Exploring Potential Interests and Careers (EPIC) program in St. Cloud.

• Tusen Tack—2023 Strategic Planning: $5,000 to support strategic planning for Tusen Tack to build organizational capacity.

• Funders Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities—2023 Membership: $3,000 to provide annual support to this affinty group that helps grantmakers across North America advance strategies to create fair, prosperous and sustainable regions and communities. The Funders Network hosts the Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Partnership (PPREP) group, which has helped build the capacity of rural low-income communities in Central Minnesota to be prepared for natural disasters.

• Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Education Association—Bridges Career Depot: $10,000 to support an online platform to help connect area employers with high school youth for first-time jobs that can encourage career exploration, development and workplace skills and behaviors. This platform will highlight employment opportunities in Crow Wing and Cass counties.

• St. Cloud State University Foundation, Inc.—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Sponsorship: $1,000 to sponsor the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration in St. Cloud.

• Faith in Action—Cass County Community Health Connections: $5,000 to support Cass County Faith in Action to build knowledge of community resources in the rural, low-income area it serves.

• Too Much Talent—Capacity Building: $10,000 to support capacity-building and general operations for Too Much Talent, which supports underserved populations in St. Cloud.

• Anna Marie's Alliance—General Operations: $5,000 to support the mission of Anna Marie's Alliance.

• Greater Twin Cities United Way—Start Early Funders Coalition 2022 Membership Dues: $1,000 to provide annual support for this affinity group of philanthropic organizations that support early childhood education and access to quality, affordable child care.

• Pine County—Pine County Child Care Strategic Supply Action Plan: $10,000 to implement a plan to improve access to quality, affordable, economically-sustainable child care in Pine County.

• Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota—Disaster Response in Morrison and Todd Counties: $5,000 to support disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts in Todd and Morrison counties. This grant was supported by The Funders Network.

• Boys & Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area—Building Fundraising Capacity: $2,500 to support a challenge match for Give to the Max Day for the Boys & Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area. This match will help staff build fundraising skills and experience.

• North Star Family Advocacy Center—Increased Fundraising Capacity: $5,000 to support North Star Family Advocacy Center as they begin fundraising with individual donors. This grant will help them to support and sustain the important work they do while also building organizational capacity for future fundraising endeavors.

• Tusen Tack—Facilities Update Initiative: $2,500 to support capacity-building and fundraising work at Tusen Tack.

• A Place For You—Warming Shelter: $10,000 to expand the capacity of A Place For You to serve those suffering from housing insecurity in Pine City and Pine County.

• Hands of Hope Resource Center—Outreach to Spanish-speaking Communities: $5,000 to support equitable access to crime victims services throughout Long Prairie and the surrounding area.

• Wright County Community Action, Inc.—Foreclosure Prevention Capacity: $10,000 to support staff capacity-building in affordable housing and foreclosure prevention.

• Todd County Development Corporation—Planning and Capacity-Building: $5,000 to support capacity-building efforts for staff.

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud—Organizational Culture Change: $5,000 to support internal culture consultation to build fundraising capacity.

• Higher Works Collaborative—Final Vibrant & Equitable Communities Cohort Grant: $5,000 to support enhanced capacity for Higher Works Collaborative.

• Jugaad Leadership—Final Vibrant & Equitable Communities Cohort Grant: $5,000 to support the enhanced capacity of Jugaad Leadership Program.

• Too Much Talent—Final Vibrant & Equitable Communities Cohort Grant: $5,000 to support the enhanced capacity of Too Much Talent.

• Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota—Final Vibrant & Equitable Communities Cohort Grant: $5,000 to support the enhanced capacity of Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota.

• Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization—Final Vibrant & Equitable Communities Cohort Grant: $5,000 to support the enhanced capacity of Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization.

• City of Becker—Comprehensive Water System Study: $35,000 to support infrastructure planning for water and wastewater treatment and improvements needed to help generate new economic development in advance of the closure of the Sherburne County Coal Generation Station. This grant is funded with resources provided by the McKnight Foundation's climate program. 

• Sherburne County—Transportation Planning & Environmental Linkage Study: $35,000 to support a transportation study that integrates environmental and community values in and around the cities of Becker and Monticello. This grant is funded by the McKnight Foundation's climate program to help diversify the local economy in advance of the Sherburne County Coal Generation Station closure. 

• Environmental Initiative—Lottery Reauthorization Coalition Transformation Subgroup: $12,000 to reform the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund processes to support greater engagement and funding for rural, low-income and minority communities across Minnesota. This grant was supported by the McKnight Foundation.

• University of Minnesota Foundation—Clean Energy for Food Shelves: Efficiency, Electrification and Renewables: $20,000 to help up to three food shelves in Central Minnesota explore energy efficiency and renewable energy options to help control costs and improve service to food-insecure residents of the region. This grant was supported by the McKnight Foundation.

• Benton Economic Partnership, Inc.—Identifying Housing Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: $10,000 to support a partnership with the Central Minnesota Re-Entry Project to help individuals with past incarceration gain housing, job skills and employment while shoring up the region’s acute need for workers.

• Friends of Career Solutions—Worker Insight Survey: $5,000 to help conduct a survey of workers to assess barriers to returning to the workforce.

• Chisago County Economic Development Authority—Countywide Economic Growth: $10,000 to implement the 2020 strategic plan developed by the Chisago County Economic Development Authority.

• The City of Cambridge—Regional Wellness Center Feasibility Study: $10,000 to commission a feasibility study into a regional wellness center.

• Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc.—Federal Reserve Survey: $5,000 to help conduct a survey of workers to assess barriers to returning to the workforce.

• City of Sandstone—Workforce Housing Development: $10,000 to support preliminary design and feasibility analysis for converting the former Sandstone School into affordable workforce housing.

View past Innovation Fund grant awards.

 Main Street Economic Revitalization

In Quarter 4, the Initiative Foundation awarded 13 Main Street Economic Revitalization grants in four communities. Learn more about the grants.

Otto Bremer Trust – Nonprofit Funds

• Brainerd Family YMCA—Capital Development Project: $40,000

3rd Quarter 2022 Grant Highlights

• My Neighbor to Love Coalition—Supportive Housing Community: $5,000 to support organizational goals to raise funds for Brainerd Lakes area affordable housing.
• Wadena Development Authority—Lead for Wadena: Fellowship for Artisan Economic Development: $4,000 to support a Lead for Minnesota student for a second year to organize community development opportunities around a creative economy theme.
• Reach Out and Read Minnesota—Mirrors and Windows Diverse Books Project: $5,000 to support the purchase of age-appropriate books for distribution through health care providers to young parents in the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe communities.
• Pregnancy and Life Resource Center—Hispanic Interpreting: $2,000 to provide Spanish-language interpreting for those seeking health care and guidance related to pregnancy.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud—Financial Literacy Education: $5,000 to support financial planning and literacy with low- to moderate-income seniors in Central Minnesota.
• City of Crosslake—Community Connection Channels for Parks and Public Spaces: $5,000 to support public engagement and planning efforts related to potential public open space in the Downtown Crossing area of Crosslake.
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation—Rural Voice Series: $10,000 to support the Rural Voice series, specifically the Central Minnesota event on Sept. 20, 2022, at Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits—2023 Membership Renewal: $1,200 to provide annual support for this nonprofit affinity organization.
• Wadena County Developmental Achievement Center, Inc.—Building Maintenance for Sebeka Main Campus and Verndale: $5,000 to support the Wadena County Developmental Achievement Center in building fundraising capacity.
• Brainerd Family YMCA—Capital Development Project: $50,000 to support the Transformative Capital Campaign of the Brainerd Lakes Area YMCA. This grant was supported by the Otto Bremer Trust.
• Lakes Area Food Shelf, Inc.—2022 Sponsorship Challenge: $10,000 to build fundraising capacity at the community level for Lakes Area Food Shelf.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud—Senior Dining and Meals on Wheels: $5,000 to support food access for low-income seniors in Kanabec County.
• Veteran Resource & Enrichment Center, Inc.—Recovery: $5,000 to support Veterans Resource and Enrichment Center in building organizational capacity.
• Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Inc.—Give to the Max Day Challenge Grant: $5,000 to support enhanced fundraising on Give to the Max Day 2022 to support pop-up pantries in rural communities.
• MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc.—Todd Wadena Child Care Expansion: $10,000 to support child care programming in Todd and Wadena counties.
• Higher Works Collaborative—Vibrant and Equitable Community: $5,000 to support organizational capacity building.
• Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota—Organization and Community Empowerment: $5,000 to support organizational capacity-building.
• Becker Public Schools—Public Electric Vehicle Charging Service: $45,000 to install a public electric vehicle charging station at the high school. Funding supports design, construction and post-construction maintenance. This $70,000 project is funded with support from the McKnight Foundation's Climate and Energy Program. Additional support is provided by Xcel Energy.
• Northern Waters Land Trust—Exploring Carbon Sequestration, Phase Two: $26,000 to expand an existing program to explore how foresters, farmers and other properties owners can gain financial benefit from carbon sequestration through the protection or restoration of woody biomass. This effort will import lessons learned in Hubbard County and adapt to the needs and interests of property owners in Crow Wing and Cass counties. This grant was supported by the Morgan Family Foundation.
• Eagle Valley Custom Meat Processing—Eagle Bend Tornado Relief: $800 to provide small business disaster relief in the aftermath of a May 2022 tornado. This grant was supported by The Funders Network.
• Eagle Bend Farm & Lumber Supply, Inc.—Eagle Bend Tornado Relief: $4,600 to provide small business disaster relief in the aftermath of a May 2022 tornado. This grant was supported by The Funders Network.
• Shirley's Gas & Grocery, Inc.—Eagle Bend Tornado Relief: $4,600 to provide small business disaster relief in the aftermath of a May 2022 tornado. This grant was supported by The Funders Network.

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

4th Quarter 2022 Partner Fund Grant Highlights

Delano Area Community Foundation

• Delano School District—COMPASS Program: $600
• Delano Friends of the Library—Pizza and Concert in the Park Fundraiser for Delano Public Library: $500
• Love INC-Heartland—Fresh Start Program: $500
• Nourishing HOPE: $500
• City of Delano - Delano Senior Van Purchase: $1,000

The following grants were awarded to Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture:

• 2023 Sculpture Fest and Sculpture Walk: $500
• Delano 2022 Old Fashioned Christmas: $1,000
• Delano Community Band 2022-2023 Season: $500
• Delano Dramatic Company 2022 – 2023 Season: $500
• “Trumpeter” Sculpture by Willicey Tynes: $500

3rd Quarter 2022 Partner Fund Grant Highlights

Three Rivers Community Foundation

• Faith in Action in Sherburne County—Furniture for Families Program: $1,500
• Youth Investment Foundation—Elk River Area Timber Bay: $4,000
• Christians Reaching Out In Social Service—Marketplace Food Shelf: $3,000
• Sherburne County Health & Human Services—Child Foster Care and Kinship Provider Support: $3,000
• Open Doors For Youth—Connections for Youth Experiencing Homelessness: $4,000
• Main Street Family Services—Creating Access to Services for Underserved Individuals, Children and Families: $4,000
• Rivers of Hope—Domestic Violence Prevention Through Youth Advocacy and Education: $4,000
• Granny's Closet—Good Nights From Granny's by Granny's Closet: $3,000
• Thumbs Up High 5K—No One Eats Alone: $2,000
• Young Life Capernaum—Special Needs Ministry Rebuild and Collaboration: $2,500
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota—Youth Mentoring: $2,000
• Elk River YMCA—Child Care Scholarships: $2,500
• Community Aid of Elk River—Kids Weekend Package Program: $4,000
• Sherburne County Area United Way—Community Connect: $2,500

Greater Pine Area Endowment

• Pine Center for the Arts, Inc.—Art on the Corner: $1,200
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc.—No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town: $7,500

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 or applying for a Partner Fund grant, contact Program Specialist Kerie Thoma.