COVID-19 Recovery Grants for Nonprofits

Propel Nonprofits awarded grants to support organizations' response to and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including resulting financial impacts on operations and effects on communities served.

Geographic Scope: Minnesota statewide

• 6 organizations based in and serving Greater Minnesota communities
• 14 organizations based in and serving Twin Cities/7-county Metro Area

Eligibility Requirements:

• Organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
• Serving BIPOC communities
• Organizational budget size between $100,000 and $2 million
• Minimum 1 year in operation
• Fiscally sponsored organizations were eligible

Funding:

• Grants provided general operating funds
• Benefited organizations across various fields of service
• Supported culturally specific and historically underserved communities

Grant Awards:

• 20 organizations funded
• Over 150 applications received (13% funding rate)
• Organizations founded between 1966 and 2017
• 16 organizations with budgets under $500,000
• 4 organizations with budgets over $500,000

2020 Grantees:
African Community Senior Services, Afro American Development Association, Al-Maa'uun, Bhutanese Community Organization of Minnesota, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, Connections to Independence, Dakota Wicohan, Free Clinic of Steele County, Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County, Immigrant Development Center, MADDADS, Manidoo Ogitigaan, Neighborhood Youth Academy, New American Development Center, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, Rosy Simas Dance, Sabathani Community Center, Teatro del Pueblo, Transforming Generations, Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota

Funding Source: Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund (MDRF), created by the Minnesota Council on Foundations and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation