Building Community Capacity Grants

Overview

_NOTE: Currently paused for 2025._

Commitment To Community

The Saint Paul Foundation believes that our community should not only benefit from our work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. Our work is also rooted in a commitment to racial equity. We recognize the rich cultures and multifaceted identities that make our region strong.

Our Building Community Capacity grants are designed to be broadly responsive to community-identified priorities for residents in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties across six areas of community vitality.

Grant Guideline

We offer general operating, program and some capital support to nonprofits serving the east metro.

Areas of community vitality

We support work that addresses at least one of six areas of community vitality. Data and our experience suggest that the following elements play key roles in community health and vitality.

Community Connectedness: creating opportunities for equity in arts, civic dialogue, community problems solving as well as supporting natural and built spaces where people live, work and play.

Economic Opportunity and Security: strengthening support for low-income individuals and families through community development, workforce education and training and creating sustainable employment pathways.

Education: exploring high-quality educational opportunities for everyone, from cradle to career, and more equitable access for racial and cultural communities.

Health: increasing health equity through quality, affordable health services, particulary for low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals.

Housing and Transportation: strengthening our region through affordable, quality housing, addressing homelessless and investing in equitable transportation options and benefits.

Human Services and Family Support: meeting basic needs for individuals and families, helping them be safe, stable and independent.

Types of Grants

Our current grant opportunity includes funding for general operating support for the whole organization, support for a specific East Metro serving program or project, and capital support.

General Operating Grants

These one-year grants provide flexible funding for the overall operations of nonprofits in which at least 50% of the organization’s service benefits residents in the East Metro.

Capital Grants

These grants are designed to support your organization’s investment in buildings, facilities and equipment. Foundation investments are typically limited to buildings owned by nonprofits or held by long-term lease agreement. These grants are generally paid over multiple years.

We will consider capital grants for projects located in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties for:

* Renovations/repairs
* Land acquisition
* Construction costs
* Technology hardware and software
* Equipment
* Furniture
* Appliances

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* The Saint Paul Foundation is proud to serve and fund Saint Paul’s East Metro region, which is defined as Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties.

* We will consider grant applications from organizations based outside the East Metro that serve individuals both within and outside these counties, but we will direct our resources only to the East Metro aspects of the work.
* Capital grants are limited to organizations located in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties.

* Grants can be made to 501(c)3 organizations, education or governmental units and religious institutions.
* Grants can also be made to groups working through an eligible fiscal sponsor.

Ineligibility

* The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will not consider grant requests for support of:
* Sectarian religious programs or organizations
* Work by an individual
* Capital projects located outside Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties
* Program/project specific requests