Initiative Foundation - Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants

The Initiative Foundation offers Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants to support organizations in Central Minnesota. These grants aim to strengthen local nonprofits, schools, and government units, with funding typically not exceeding $10,000. The grants focus on enhancing local economies, fostering community engagement, and promoting generosity. The program emphasizes geographic equity and aims to empower organizations that provide essential services.

Mission & Strategy
The Initiative Foundation’s mission to serve the people of Central Minnesota hasn’t wavered since its inception in 1986.

• To empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity.
• Our Vision
• Economy

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Community
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Generosity
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Initiative Foundation Grants
The Initiative Foundation awards grants for projects and programs that empower people across Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity. Foundation grants support capacity-building projects for nonprofits, local units of government, schools, and economic and workforce development initiatives across the 14 counties and two Native nations of Central Minnesota.
The Initiative Foundation’s family of Partner Funds includes community, education and donor-advised funds. These funds also award grants based on specific priorities and typically are more localized to make investments in Central Minnesota communities.
Capacity-building grants are designed to strengthen organizations that lift up local economies, build a strong workforce, and add to the vibrancy of the region’s economy. We strive for geographic equity by annually delivering grants to each of the 14 counties and two Native nations we serve.
Funding Amount
Grants seldom exceed $10,000 and are not intended to provide ongoing support.
Economic roots: We focus on grants that improve economies, build economic opportunity, and create community vibrancy.Leverage: We believe in building the capacity of nonprofits and economic development entities so that our initial investment acts as a catalyst to attract larger and ongoing support from the community, businesses, and philanthropic organizations.
Applicants will typically be notified of decisions within two weeks of the application deadline.
We fund capacity-building initiatives for organizations that provide:
basic needs such as food or housingimprove economic conditions such as jobs training, career education, life skills, and apprenticeshipssupport for victims of crime or discriminationnon-clinical mental health services and supports related to suicide prevention and substance abuse.
Capacity building can include strategic planning; training to grow staff skills; board and governance training; process-improvement initiatives; and staff time that supports capacity-building activities.

Eligibility

Grant GuidelinesGrant applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, school districts, or local units of government operating within the 14-county region served by the Initiative Foundation.
The service area includes: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright counties, and the Native nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe.We support Central Minnesota nonprofits with budgets of $1 million or less.

Ineligibility

For this grant, capacity building is nothiring a grant writer or fundraiser
general technology improvements or website upgrades
operating expenses (rent, utilities, etc.).Healthcare, arts, and historic preservation are not focus areas for Initiative Foundation grants.Potential applicants are encouraged to speak with staff before beginning an application associated with one of these areas.