Mardag Foundation: Responsive Grant

Overview

Begun in 1969, Mardag Foundation has continued the legacy of its founder, Agnes Ober, who overcame poverty in her early life and whose charitable spirit led her to create a permanent means by which to give back to and strengthen her community. Mardag Foundation is a family foundation that for more than 50 years has focused on ways to engage with and invest in communities across Minnesota through nonprofit grants. The Foundation has evolved its grantmaking as community needs have changed, while staying true to our founder’s commitment to caring for those most in need.

As our mission, Mardag Foundation supports Minnesota nonprofits to remove barriers and create opportunities for low income or traditionally marginalized children, youth and families; older adults with barriers to living independently; and to build capacity of organizations supporting the arts and humanities. Grant seekers should note that beginning in 2026, Mardag Foundation will move away from its Arts & Culture funding priority. 2025 will be the last year of funding in this priority area

Mardag Foundation offers two types of grants (beginning in 2026): Responsive Grants and [System-level Grants](). Beginning in 2026 organizations serving older adults will only be eligible in Mardag’s Responsive grant process.

Responsive Grants

Responsive Grants will provide grants within select funding priorities to support ongoing, urgent, emergent and timely community opportunities. The goal of our Responsive grantmaking is to support community-driven solutions to emergent needs in the East Metro and Greater Minnesota. Our Responsive Grants will offer one-time emergency support of $2,500 – $20,000 per grant depending on the need.

Funding Priorities

We fund Food Access or Housing organizations that serve low-income children, youth, families and/or older adults from Native American/Indigenous or immigrant/refugee communities in the East Metro or Greater Minnesota, filling an unexpected emergency financial gap in response to:

* Unexpected maintenance or repairs for buildings, vehicles, technology and/or equipment
* Natural, environmental and/or civic disasters

Eligibility

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

* An organization can only receive one Responsive emergency grant at a time from Mardag Foundation and must wait a full calendar year before being eligible for another
* Priority will be given to organizations that have not received a grant from this priority in the last 18 months
* 501(c)3 nonprofits, government entities, educational institutions, groups working through an eligible fiscal sponsor
* Demonstrated commitment to the geography served with preference for organizations based in Minnesota