The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is seeking applications for its Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grants.
Donor Name: Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
State: Minnesota
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/20/2023
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
For the last two decades an increasing number of refugees, immigrants and people who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) have made southern Minnesota their home and workplace. Within the next decade a growing percentage of BIPOC individuals will make up many of southern Minnesota’s communities, neighborhoods, school enrollment, company startups and businesses.
This grant support the creation of vibrant, innovative and successful communities focusing on catalyzing initiatives which grow racial diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities in the area of entrepreneurship for southern Minnesota. SMIF seeks applications which will foster communities to build inclusive, welcoming entrepreneurial environments and advance equitable entrepreneurship opportunities in the lives of all people.
SMIF seeks applications which can produce and demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Build relationships among organizations and groups that are led by and/or serve BIPOC individuals and/or immigrant or refugee communities in the area of entrepreneurship in SMIF’s 20-county region.
- Identify ways to strategically collaborate with partners to intentionally build racial inclusion for people who want to start or strengthen their own business.
- Activate community engagement and leadership with more BIPOC and/or immigrant or refugee individuals growing their skills to contribute their talents in creating or strengthening their own businesses.
Examples of initiatives may include the creation of an entrepreneurial education program for communities of diverse racial backgrounds, organized community dialogue to build racial inclusivity in the area of entrepreneurship, expanded access to business resources and the development of systems to advance racial equity in the entrepreneurial community and reduce the racial wealth gap among entrepreneurs.
Applications should effectively illustrate the following:
- Creates economic opportunity and advances economic prosperity for racially diverse populations of potential/existing entrepreneurs.
- Focuses on the well-being of potential/existing BIPOC entrepreneurs who have experienced inequities.
- Removes community or systemic barriers to increase access to skills, knowledge, or talents for potential/existing BIPOC entrepreneurs.
- Demonstrates that initiatives can be sustained or grow beyond the initial funding.
Funding Information
Up to $10,000 is available to qualified and approved applicants, and recipients will have 12 months to implement their work.
Grant Guidelines
- Proposals must be submitted by an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organization, a unit/agency of government or a public institution
- Informal and grassroots organizations are eligible to apply but will be required to have an eligible fiscal host
- Proposals must demonstrate a direct benefit to SMIF’s 20-county region
- Funding requests up to $10,000 will be considered
- Only one application per organization will be awarded
- 10% cash match is required
- An interim progress report and final written report will be required by all grant recipients
Exclusion
Ineligible organizations or activities include:
- Individuals, businesses, or other for-profit organizations
- General operating expenses (including staff funding) and expenses not directly related to the project/program
- Capital funding, real estate investments, fixed assets, equipment, capital campaigns or endowments
- Project/program expenses incurred prior to application
- Projects/programs in progress prior to application or completed (excludes planning phase)
- Funds for re-granting or to establish loan pools
- Research projects or school-related internships
- Strategic plans, feasibility studies or project planning without implementation and completion within the 12-month timeframe
- Participant stipends (scholarships for participant fees may be considered)
- Organizations that have an open Inclusive & Equitable Communities Grant (cannot close grant prior to project end date listed in contract).
For more information, visit SMIF.
