General Grants Program

Geographic Scope: Greater Nicollet Area, Minnesota

The Greater Nicollet Area Community Foundation awards grants annually to support community needs and initiatives. Grants are distributed from endowment fund proceeds and designated donations.

Funding Focus Areas

Grants are awarded to address community needs in one or more of the following areas:

• Education – projects, programs, life-long learning, scholarships
• Culture – celebrations, events, programs, projects
• Recreation – parks, activities
• Aesthetics – projects to enhance and beautify the community
• Civics – efforts or projects that serve the public interest and good
• Social Services
• Economic Development
• Health and Welfare
• Environment

Specific Grant Categories

The Foundation accepts grant requests in the following areas:

• Civics: Community programs, including projects for local service groups, youth groups, and other organizations that address community needs
• Aesthetics: Projects that beautify and enhance the natural assets of the Nicollet area
• Recreation: Useful and visible improvements to area parks or recreational activities that impact a large number of people
• Culture: Community celebrations, programs and projects that share passions and talents for music, drama and the arts
• Education: Collaborative programs, seminars, and projects with area schools that bring people of all ages together for lifelong learning
• Other: Additional areas to support

Recent Grant Awards (2025)

• Nicollet American Legion kitchen remodel (Phase 2): $5,000
• Nicollet Public High School baseball equipment: $3,000
• Trinity Lutheran School playground: $3,000
• Nicollet Pickleball net: $2,807
• Feeding our Communities Partners (Hunger Relief Program for Youth): $2,000
• Junior Achievement: $2,500
• Nicollet Community Education field trips: $1,960
• Nicollet Friendship Days: $1,900
• Little Raiders field trips: $600
• Immanuel Lutheran School State Capital trip: $489
• NPS K-4 MSU Children's Theater: $400
• Nicollet Pickleball court painting: $300

Contact Information

Mailing Address: Greater Nicollet Area Community Foundation (GNACF), PO Box 416, Nicollet, MN 56074

Application Process

1. Obtain Application Form
   • Download the Grant Application PDF from the Grant Request page at investinnicollet.org/grant-request/
2. Two Submission Options

Option A: Mail Application

• Print the Grant Application PDF file
• Manually complete the application
• Mail to: Greater Nicollet Area Community Foundation (GNACF), PO Box 416, Nicollet, MN 56074

Option B: Digital Submission

• Download the fillable PDF (compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Complete the application in Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Save the completed application as a PDF file
• Email the PDF to: sue@investinnicollet.org

1. Required Materials
   • Completed Grant Application form
   • All requested information on the application

Additional Notes

• Adobe Reader is required to open and complete the fillable PDF form
• Free Adobe Reader can be downloaded if not already installed
• Contact the Foundation if you have difficulty downloading the application