RBC Foundation Grants - Minneapolis & St. Paul Metropolitan Area

The RBC Foundation Grants prioritize support for youth-focused programs in the Minneapolis & St. Paul area, targeting ages 15-29. Emphasis is placed on initiatives that enhance work-integrated learning, address skills gaps, and promote access to critical educational opportunities. Additionally, the Foundation invests in arts and culture, supporting emerging artists and programs that foster community engagement. Health grants focus on youth mental well-being, ensuring access to necessary care through innovative navigation and technology-based solutions.

For maximum impact, RBC Foundation – USA prioritizes its giving to the following areas:

• Youth (priority)

Youth grants are focused on programs that prepare students for future success. We concentrate our giving on programs that fall within one of the following areas and target young people in their transitional years, specifically ages 15-29.
Programs that provide work-integrated learning experiences, for example internships, apprenticeships, vocational training;Programs that provide solutions to address the skills gap, including education opportunities and mentorships;Programs that provide access and learning opportunities for:Critical thinkingComplex problem solvingSocial perceptivenessFinancial literacyInformation communication/technology/digital literacyTeamwork and collaborationCommunicationCreativity and innovationAdaptabilityPersistence/grit
Arts and culture
The Foundation’s emphasis is on two areas:

• RBC Emerging Artists program
• Programs providing arts access for diverse populations

The Emerging Artists program supports initiatives that help artists in their early years of development and that bridge the gap between their academic experiences to professional careers in the arts. Grants are intended to support programs and initiatives that:

• Support artists who are at an early stage in their careers, have completed their basic training and have created a modest independent body of work
• Are on-going and sustainable (i.e. not one-time events)
• Educate and raise awareness about the importance of the arts

Provide emerging artists with the opportunity to demonstrate their talent publicly (performance or exhibition), and/or to provide a connection to professional contacts (agents, publishers, etc.)
Provide a structured curriculum of mentorship and training, typically for a period of three to six months, although shorter more intensive programming may be considered
Provide an opportunity for interaction between the professional staff, visiting artists and emerging artists; serving as a bridge between senior academic programs and the professional world
Engage the broader community in the art form, through free performances or programming to underserviced or rural communities
Health
Health grants are exclusively directed to the RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project, focusing on programs that are helping youth and families access the right care at the right time. We will consider requests for funding that support:

• Navigation programs

Navigation programs help solve the issue of navigating an often complex and segregated array of mental well-being services. These programs help solve these issues by directly connecting youth and families with the services they need as efficiently as possible.
These programs are offered through a number of different access points, such as hospitals, community centers, schools and universities. The services may be delivered face-to-face and/or through technology solutions.
Technology-based solutions
In some parts of the country there are not enough mental well-being service providers to meet the demand in local communities. Technology is increasingly becoming the solution to these issues by increasing remote access to care. We are supporting programs that use technologies like email, apps, web-posting, and phone or live/video conferencing to help bridge the gap between supply and demand of mental well-being services. These programs can offer assessments, diagnosis and care that would otherwise be delayed or not available at all.
Other programs
We will also consider supporting other programs that increases access to mental well-being care if they are collaborative, have proven results and can demonstrate successful outcomes.
Human services
To foster economic independence and promote self-sufficiency, the Foundation focuses on:

• Organizations providing emergency food, shelter and basic needs
• Adult literacy and employment training programs

Eligibility

Organizations must have the followingTheir 501(c)3 registered non-profit status for a minimum of three years;A minimum annual operating budget of $100,000; andAn established relationship with an RBC Wealth Management employee, who is personally and actively involved with the organization

Ineligibility

Generally, we do not support:Capital and endowment campaigns;Multi-year commitments; orStart-up organizationsThe Foundation Grant Program does not fund:Individuals
Private (fee based) elementary or secondary schools
Trade associations, advocacy organizations, chambers of commerce and professional organizations
Theoretical Research
Organizations with values, purposes, policies or practices in conflict with RBC values