Racial Equity Accountability Grant

Racial Equity Accountability Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Amount: US $2,000 - US $7,500
Last Updated: April 03, 2026

Summary

The Racial Equity Accountability Grant aims to enhance outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness in Northwest Minnesota. Through the Racial Equity Accountability Project (REAP), members, primarily from diverse backgrounds, will guide initiatives focused on cultural competency, community relations, and stabilization efforts. The grant supports training, culturally relevant events, and job training opportunities, fostering a supportive environment for those affected by homelessness. It emphasizes collaboration between organizations and individuals to address systemic issues and promote healing.

Overview

Background In 2022, the Northwest Continuum of Care embarked on a project called the Racial Equity Accountability Project (REAP). Members of the REAP team serve as the decision-making body for the Northwest Continuum of Care’s (NWCoC) board of directors. Membership of the REAP team is primarily comprised of individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color, as well as individuals that have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity in Northwest Minnesota’s regional homeless response system. The purpose of this grant is to provide grants out to the community working to improve outcomes for individuals who have experienced homelessness. These goals include: Increasing cultural competency of NWCoC staff:Grant expenses can cover costs associated with providing and organizing training and professional development for staff working with those living through homelessnessDeveloping stronger relations between those living through homelessness and supportive housing staffThis can be accomplished by providing more culturally relevant events and opportunities for the community to express their cultural identify and provide healingExamples include sweat lodges, traditional ceremonies, drum circles, talking circles, community meals, and support groupsEvents related to specific cultural and racial identifiesImproving outcomes for individuals living through homelessness by increasing stabilization:Providing job training and acquisition opportunities for individuals leaving homelessnessCovering costs needed to maintain stable housing and employmentClothing stipends, furniture stipends, food stipends, hotel vouchers, utility payments, vital document fees, vehicle insurance fees, gas vouchers, or any other services that would improve stable housing outcomesCovering grant expenses related to educational development, business development, or any other form of professional development/entrepreneurship: Professional development training/certifications, scholarship and loan application costs, business development, professional development for individuals living through homelessness, certifications needed to maintain or achieve employment, etc.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 501c3 nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal organizations located within the Northwest Continuum of Care’s service area that includes the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, and 12 counties (Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake Falls, and Roseau).Eligible applicants include organizations in the non-profit, public, or private sector.Eligible applicants can also include individuals that have lived through homelessness and housing insecurity.Expenses may include, but are not limited to:professional development, job training and acquisition expenses for individuals living through homelessnessstaff and board trainingpurchasing professional licenses or certificates, travel, community/cultural events, technical assistance organizational or operational audits, culture diversity education and awareness initiativesother efforts that increase stabile outcomes for individuals that have lived through homelessness.

Ineligibility

Grants cannot fund: political activities religious activitiesdiscriminatory practicespast operating debtslegal fees, or similar activitiesThis fund will not consider applications for:fundraising planningfeasibility studiesmembership or subscription duescomputer license feesfinancial auditsbuilding constructioncapital campaigns