Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program (NIGP)

NIGP supports the missions of small, culturally led organizations by strengthening their infrastructure. Building the capacity of small organizations that focus on historically underserved cultural communities helps position them to have greater impact in their community and increases their ability to secure and manage the requirements of public funding in the future.

Geographic Scope:

• Minnesota statewide
• 64% of grantees based in Twin Cities Metro Area
• 18% based in Greater Minnesota
• 18% based in Twin Cities with statewide services

Eligibility:

• Small, culturally led nonprofit organizations
• Organizations serving historically underserved cultural communities and ethnic minority populations
• Organizations connecting isolated and marginalized populations to needed services

Focus Areas:

• Technology investments
• Staff development and hiring
• Relationship building
• Financial controls and systems development
• HR policies and benefits planning
• Fundraising infrastructure
• Database management systems
• Administrative process improvements
• Leadership development

Award Details:

• Multi-year reimbursement-based grants
• 2021-2023 round: 38 organizations funded, grants ranged from $22,000 to $48,520
• 2023-2025 round: 50-70 grant awards of up to $65,000
• 2023-2024 round (fourth cycle): $3.2 million awarded to 56 organizations

Key Outcomes from 2021-2023 Round:

• 113 staff or consultants added (92% increase in workforce)
• 34 organizations upgraded operational, financial, accounting, and/or grants management systems
• Over 50% initiated relationships with state and other public funding partnerships
• 100% increased understanding of administering reimbursable grants
• 100% indicated readiness to seek state or other publicly funded opportunities

Post-Award Requirements:

• Required technical assistance in financial administration, nonprofit finance, strategy, and governance
• Midterm and final grant reports
• Attendance at one annual grantee convening each year
• Grants administration and government fund management oversight by Propel Nonprofits

Funding Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED) state appropriation; partnership with Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL)

Application Process

Grants are awarded through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process.

RFP Timeline

• 2023-2025 RFP: Open October 4-26, 2023
• Competitive selection based on applications received

Selection Process

• Applications reviewed by a diverse selection committee including nonprofit, philanthropic, and state government representatives
• Committee comprised of 28 multi-sector leaders from across the state
• Organizations ranked based on application merit and alignment with program goals

Required Information

Applications should address:

• How funding will strengthen organizational infrastructure
• Specific infrastructure improvement goals
• Plans for technology, staff, systems, or other capacity-building investments
• Organizational mission and community served
• Current operational capacity and readiness for technical assistance

Post-Award Requirements

• Agreement to participate in Propel Nonprofits' post-award technical assistance
• Commitment to attend annual grantee convenings
• Submission of midterm and final grant reports
• Collaboration with Propel on grants administration and government fund tracking/reporting

Technical Assistance Provided

Grantees receive:

• Intensive technical assistance
• Cohort-model learning opportunities
• Capacity-building services
• Training in financial administration and nonprofit finance
• Strategy and governance guidance