The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation (BLACF) supports specific community initiatives and programs to address changing community needs.
Donor Name: Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation
State: Minnesota
County: Cass County (MN), Crow Wing County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/31/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The BLACF seeks to make meaningful grants that will bring about community-wide, lasting, and positive changes in the Brainerd Lakes area. Projects that are new and show strong community impact, serving many residents are preferred. The BLACF is looking to provide leadership and financial support that goes beyond the grant to advance the project or initiative that needs funding to get started or completed.
Funding Information
- Funding Amount Range: $5,000- $30,000
- Requests for up to $30,000 for Difference Maker Grants may be awarded and organizations may reapply for up to three years of consecutive funding.
Focus Areas
- Bridging the Opportunity Gap
- Grants for projects that support disadvantaged youth and help them participate in events, activities or related programs that build skills and career knowledge that help lead to future success
- Community Enhancement and Economic Development
- Community Economic Vitality and Sustainability
- Welcoming Communities
- Access to music, arts and especially those made available to the disadvantaged or open to all
- Projects that aid in the solution of current community problems or challenges.
Favorable Criteria
- Project is likely to make a clear difference in quality of life or difference for a substantial number of people
- Propose practical approaches to resolve current community problems.
- Address diversity and positive change in a constructive manner. (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy)
- Community support or matching funds, if possible
- Help nonprofit organizations manage themselves and their finances more effectively.
- Focus on prevention.
- Encourage cooperation and eliminate duplication of services.
- Stimulate others to participate In problem-solving.
- Promote leverage for generating additional funds.
- Sustainability – has a plan for future funding.
Criteria
- Eligible organizations: 501(c) 3 nonprofit Organizations, schools or government entities.
- Geographic Area: Serving communities in Crow Wing and southern Cass Counties in Minnesota
The foundation will Fund
- Assistance to establish new or expanding projects or programs that show an ability to make a meaningful impact to the greater Brainerd Lakes Area.
The foundation doesn’t fund
- Individuals
- Religious organizations for religious purposes (Funding for Faith-Based Organizations Policy)
- Political organizations or political campaigns.
- Annual fundraising drives
- Endowments
- Debt retirement or deficit financing
- Projects or portions of projects that have already been completed
- Scholarships or medical research
- Grants for travel or conferences
- Full cost of a project
- Capital improvements generally, but if a new project and can show substantial impact the project may be considered.
For more information, visit BLACF.
