Constellation Fund General Grant Program

Constellation Fund General Grant Program

Funder: The Constellation Fund
Website: constellationfund.org
Geographic Scope: Seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties), Minnesota

Mission

Constellation Fund supports poverty-fighting nonprofit service providers with direct services to improve health or increase income for individuals living below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Grant Cycles

Two application cycles per year:
• October cycle: Applications due October 31, grant decisions in May
• April cycle: Applications due April 30, grant decisions in November

Current Cycle: April 1 – 30, 2026 (decisions November 2026)

Focus Areas (Current Round)

#### Education

Onsite school improvement services (PreK-12 and postsecondary)

Served in Twin Cities seven-county metro area

Eligible programs:

- Student success interventions
- Teacher professional development
- Curriculum support
- Evidence-based programs inside schools improving educational outcomes

Priority: Organizations primarily serving low-income students with demonstrated track record of improving graduation rates or test scores

#### Employment

Adult literacy services in Twin Cities seven-county metro

Eligible programs:

- Adult Basic Education (ABE) such as High School Equivalency (GED or HiSET)
- Minnesota Standard Adult High School Diploma
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Support for English Language Learners (ELL)
- Other adult literacy programs enabling advancement in employment or education

#### Health

Programs promoting healthy birth and infancy for low-income families

Served in Twin Cities seven-county metro area

Eligible programs:

- Prenatal education and care coordination
- Doula services
- Community health worker-delivered maternal support
- Evidence-supported approaches improving mother and child outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and first year of life

Priority: Programs serving Black, American Indian, and immigrant communities (facing greatest disparities in low birthweight and infant mortality)

Ineligible: Large health systems and Federally Qualified Health Centers

Organizational Requirements

Geographic: Must operate within one or more of the seven Minnesota counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepal, Ramsey, Scott, Washington)

Service Population: Must predominantly serve those living below 200% of federal poverty line in seven-county Twin Cities metro

Programming: Significant portion of organization's programs must address one or more core poverty-fighting impact areas: education, housing, health, and employment

Budget: Accepts organizations of all budget sizes; organizations with budgets exceeding $10 million encouraged to contact staff about appropriate proposal type

Grant Structure: Only provides one-year grants; intention is to build long-term relationships

Application Frequency: Organizations may apply only once per year

Assessment Categories

Programs and Impact

Proven model with documented outcomes for clearly defined target population

Clear theory of change, programming refined through participant feedback and data

Services fill genuine community gaps not addressed by other providers

Leadership and Strategy

Leaders building thriving organizations and serving as strong external ambassadors

Strategic plan actively guides daily operations with measurable outcomes tracked and used for improvement

Appropriately sized and diverse board with clearly defined roles and strong working relationship with staff

Team and Culture

Staff capacity matched to organizational needs with clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Team intentionally reflects diversity of communities served

Ongoing investment in staff development and retention

Financial Health

Strong financial position with transparent reporting and clean audits

Adequate reserves, sound cash flow, and effective internal controls

Reliable funding sources with clear and intentional development strategy

What Constellation Does NOT Fund

• Organizations that discriminate based on color, creed, national origin, marital status, familial status, public assistance status, race, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, or physical disability
• Organizations focusing on policy, advocacy, or organizing work
• Capital projects (new buildings or facilities)
• Grants to individuals
• Event sponsorships

Application Success Rates

• First-time applicants: Historically 10% receive grants
• All applicants (multiple cycles): Historically 20% receive grants
• Note: Application must first be selected for full evaluation to be considered

Contact Information

Email: [email protected] Address: The Constellation Fund, 323 N. Washington Ave. Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Phone: Available on website

Application Timeline (Current Cycle)

1. Application Submission Period: April 1 – 30, 2026 2. Applicant Selection Period: May 2026 (notification of denial or advancement to full evaluation) 3. Full Evaluation Period: Program officers conduct benefit-to-cost analysis, request program data, financial reports, and team meetings 4. Board Decision: November 2026 (Board of Directors meeting) 5. Notification and Payment: November 2026 (notification), December 2026 (checks mailed)

Reapplication Policy

If application is not selected for full evaluation, organization can reapply one calendar year later