The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is accepting applications from qualifying nonprofit organizations for its 2023 Building Community Capacity Grant.
Donor Name: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
State: Minnesota
Counties: Dakota County (MN), Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/09/2023
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $75,000
Details:
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation believes that the community should not only benefit from work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. Its work also rooted in a commitment to racial equity.
Areas of Community Vitality
Community Connectedness
Creating opportunities for equity in arts, civic dialogue, community problem solving as well as supporting natural and built spaces where people live, work and play
- While community connectedness can be fostered in many ways, the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation is prioritizing three broad strategies: arts and culture, civic engagement and environmental justice.
- The Foundation shares Grantmakers in the Arts’ view that all peoples, their cultures, and their art contribute to the meaning and understanding of their humanity and should be honored and celebrated.”
- Priority will be given to arts and culture organizations that seek to amplify narratives and voices across BIPOC communities and other communities experiencing marginalization (e.g., people with disabilities, low-income communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, formerly incarcerated people, etc.). Please note that the Foundation has not historically supported specific productions, performances, exhibits, artist fees, etc. through this application-based process.
- Civic engagement priorities include work designed to build the capacity and power of marginalized community members through organizing and training. The goals for this work should be focused on advancing equity.
- The Foundation’s environmental justice priorities include work that contributes to an intergenerational, multi-racial movement that promotes a safe, clean community and workplace environment. The Foundation also seeks to aid East Metro communities to build and strengthen enduring community connections between people, to heal and revitalize the community while restoring natural spaces, and to encourage stewardship of natural resources through education programs.
Economic Opportunity and Security
Strengthening support for low-income individuals and families through community development, workforce education and training and creating sustainable employment pathways
- The Foundation seeks to invest and partner in solutions informed and formed by the people facing the highest barriers to wealth creation, economic security and family-sustaining career pathways. In the East Metro, this includes BIPOC, women, veterans, young people, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people and LGBTQ+ people.
- Specific priorities for wealth creation include strengthening the entrepreneur ecosystem, increasing local ownership of businesses and homes, and expanding access to culturally appropriate services. Regarding economic security, the Foundation recognizes the importance of anchor institutions embedded at the neighborhood level. For workforce development, they will prioritize employment pathways that meet the needs of individuals and employers alike.
Education
Exploring high-quality educational opportunities for everyone, from cradle to career, and more equitable access for racial and cultural communities
- The Foundation recognizes how important it is for students and young people to feel cared for, protected, valued and seen after a difficult period in their learning and growth. This is complex and urgent work, and the Foundation will prioritize organizations that blend academic, social and emotional supports for young people most impacted by educational inequity.
- The Foundation will also support the policy change and other systems change efforts of organizations working toward ensuring a robust early childhood system that gives children and families access to high-quality early care and education programs.
Health
Increasing health equity through quality, affordable health services, particularly for low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals
- The Foundation continues to prioritize health organizations that focus on health equity and increasing access to affordable, culturally relevant health services. The Foundation hopes to better align its health grants to be inclusive of programs and organizations that serve low-income families and provide free or affordable, culturally relevant services and holistic care.
- Given the increase in severity, cost of and demand for mental health services, urgent care and/or crisis prevention, access to reproductive health care, trauma-informed health care, and free or reduced services for uninsured or underinsured communities, the Foundation will prioritize these programs and organizations to continue to serve their most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Housing and Transportation
Strengthening their region through affordable, quality housing, addressing homelessness and investing in equitable transportation options and benefits
- The Foundation embraces the vision for housing justice articulated by the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness.
- The Foundation will prioritize work that ensures the most marginalized people experiencing housing instability and homelessness are able to access housing that is “safe, decent, affordable,” and “free of prejudice” while also receiving the additional supports and services they need.
- Work within the transportation sector that explicitly addresses intersections of racial justice, climate justice, economic opportunity and health equity will also be prioritized.
Human Services and Family Support
Meeting basic needs for individuals and families, helping them be safe, stable and independent
- The Foundation will prioritize grants that assist residents in navigating life transitions, find safety and stability, and promote independence.
- In addition to supporting work that centers the voices of the people most impacted by an organization’s work, special priority will be given to disability support services, child welfare support services, family and parent support services, food relief and assistance, older adult services, immigration and legal services, and re-entry supports for formerly incarcerated people.
Funding Information
Grants ranged in size from $10,000 to $75,000 per year, with the largest grants going to capital requests. The average (mean) grant approved was $27,798, and the median was $30,000.
Types of Grants
- General operating support
- These grants provide flexible funding for the overall operations of nonprofits in which at least 50% of the organization’s service benefits residents in the East Metro.
- To be eligible for general operating support, organizations must serve at least 50% or more East Metro (Dakota, Washington and Ramsey County) residents.
- Program support
- These grants are designed to provide support for a specific program or project serving 50% or more East Metro residents. The Foundation will consider proposals for established and/or new programs/projects. For projects or programs serving 50% or more East Metro residents.
- Any organization is eligible for this type of grant, regardless of overall geographic focus (e.g., an organization can do 75% of its work in Hennepin County or elsewhere but would be eligible to apply for a project serving mostly Dakota, Washington or Ramsey County residents).
- Capital support
- These grants are designed to support your organization’s investment in buildings, facilities and equipment. Foundation investments are typically limited to buildings owned by nonprofits or held by long-term lease agreement. These grants are generally paid over multiple years.
- Capital projects must be located in the East Metro with 50% or more of services from that facility benefiting East Metro residents. They will consider capital grants for projects located in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties for:
- Renovations/repairs
- Land acquisition
- Construction costs
- Technology hardware and software
- Equipment
- Furniture
- Appliances
Geography
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is proud to serve and fund Saint Paul’s East Metro region, which is defined as Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties. It will consider grants from organizations based outside the East Metro that serve a significant number of individuals in these three counties, and will direct resources only to the East Metro aspects of the work. Capital grants are limited to projects located in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties.
Eligibility Criteria
Grants can be made to 501(c)3 organizations, education or governmental units and religious institutions. Grants can also be made to groups working through an eligible fiscal sponsor. While an organization may be eligible to apply, attention and preference will be given to organizations:
- prioritizing those experiencing the most marginalization, especially due to race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, ability, immigration status, etc.
- establishing a clear connection to the Informs, Forms, Benefits framework, which states that those experiencing barriers should not only benefit from the work support but inform, form and lead it as well.
- seeking multi-year grants, which will prioritize sustaining the work supported by the Foundation.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will not consider grant requests for support of:
- Sectarian religious programs or organizations
- Work by an individual
- Capital projects located outside Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties
- Programs not primarily serving residents of Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties
For more information, visit SPMCF.
