Social Change Grants will support organizations working with historically marginalized communities to advance equity and systems change.
Donor Name: West Central Initiative
State: Minnesota
County: Becker County (MN), Clay County (MN), Douglas County (MN), Grant County (MN), Otter Tail County (MN), Pope County (MN), Stevens County (MN), Traverse County (MN), Wilkin County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/26/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The organization or project is working towards making our region more equitable by supporting historically marginalized populations with the goal of making social and systemic changes.
Historically marginalized communities are groups who have been overlooked, misunderstood, misrepresented, and/or excluded from places where decisions are being made. Many groups were (and some continue to be) denied full participation in mainstream cultural, social, political, and economic activities.
Marginalized communities can include people of color, women, LGBTQ+, individuals who have been incarcerated and families that have been disrupted by crime, people with disabilities, older adults, people experiencing poverty, and many more.
Social Change Grants Allowable Uses and Expenses
Listed below are some examples of things that grant dollars might be used for:
- Expenses associated with work that mobilizes and empowers community members to take action that will lead to a more equitable community.
- Equipment, supplies, training, communication, and/or staffing needed to take action that encourages civic engagement or to deliver services that promote inclusion and justice.
Funding Information
Grants will range from $3,000 to $25,000. However, most grants will range from $3,000 to $10,000.
Grant Period
May 2026–April 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for West Central Initiative Grants, your organization must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, public or nonprofit school, or unit of government (including Tribal government or division) or must be fiscally sponsored by another organization with this status.
- Serve people in West Central Initiative’s geography, which includes nine counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin and White Earth Nation.
- Funds managed by West Central Initiative are not eligible at this time.
Evaluation Criteria
They will use the criteria listed below to review proposals. The desire to spread awards across the region may result in a proposal being considered for funding even if it does not fully meet all the criteria.
- Sound Planning: The goals of the project and the steps to be taken to achieve them are clearly stated. The budget is realistic in relation to the applicant’s goals and activities.
- Organizational Capacity: The applicant’s proposal demonstrates that they have the capacity, leadership, and resources needed to complete the work to be funded.
- Inclusive Community Engagement: The proposed project engages diverse populations and advances new community collaborations. The funded work will strengthen community partnerships and mobilize community members, particularly historically excluded groups.
- Impact: The results of the proposed work are clearly stated. The applicant has defined the quantitative (countable) and/or qualitative (describable) measures they will use to gauge the success of their efforts.
For more information, visit West Central Initiative.
