Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation seeks applications which foster a growing number of communities to build inclusive, welcoming environments and advance equitable opportunities in the lives of all people.
Donor Name: Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
State: Minnesota
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/24/2022
Size of the Grant: Up to $20,000
Grant Duration: 18 months
Details:
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 SMIF’s 20- county region.
- Identify ways to strategically work together to intentionally build inclusion for all people across southern Minnesota.
- Activate community engagement and leadership with more BIPOC and/or immigrant or refugee individuals growing their skills to contribute their talents in creating businesses.
Examples of initiatives may include the creation of an entrepreneurial education program for communities of diverse backgrounds, organized community dialogue to build inclusivity, expanded access to business resources and the development of systems to advance equity in a community and reduce the racial wealth gap.
Applications should affectively illustrate the following:
- Creates economic opportunity and advance economic prosperity for diverse populations.
- Focuses on the well-being of individuals who have experienced inequities. Applications which focus on projects serving BIPOC individuals and/or immigrant or refugee communities will be prioritized. However, applications that focus on creating inclusive and welcoming environments for other marginalized individuals will also be considered.
- Removes barriers or increase access to skills, knowledge, or talents for these individuals.
- Initiatives can be sustained or grow beyond the initial funding
Funding Information
Up to $20,000 is available to qualified and approved applicants and recipients will have up to 18 months to implement their work.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals must be submitted by an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organization, a unit/agency of government or a public institution
- 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 $20,000 will be considered
- Only one application per organization will be considered
- No cash match is required
- All recipients will be required to attend three convenings through the 18-month grant implementation. These convening will be held in the Winter of 2022, the Spring of 2023, and the Winter of 2023. These convenings will be designed for grantees to share their learnings, celebrate milestones and to assist each other with resource opportunities.
- A final written report will be required by all grant recipients
Exclusions
Ineligible organizations or activities include:
- Individuals, businesses, or other for-profit organizations
- Expenses not directly related to the project/program
- Capital funding, real estate investments, fixed assets, equipment, capital campaigns or endowments
- Project expenses incurred prior to application
- Projects/programs in progress prior to application or completed
- Funds for re-granting or to establish loan pools
- Research projects or school-related internships
- Strategic plans or feasibility studies
For more information, visit Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.