Guided by our five-year strategic plan and focus areas, the Initiative Foundation awards about $1 million annually in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, governments and schools that serve residents within our central Minnesota service area. Regardless of circumstances, we cannot provide grants to individuals or businesses.

We award grants to support strategic efforts in community development and economic development as well as to enhance the effectiveness of our leadership training programs.


Grant Distribution Summary
In our fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the Initiative Foundation awarded grants in the following areas. Percentages are unaudited estimates for illustrative purposes only.

• Children, Youth & Families - 30%
• Economic Opportunity - 19%
• Community Planning - 14%
• Hometown Improvement - 10%
• Community & Donor Funds - 10%
• Natural Resource Preservation - 9%
• Organizational Effectiveness - 8%

Review Process
We typically review grant inquries weekly in a staff team setting. We require that all grant seekers review the information on this website and our grant guidelines, then submit a short, online grant inquiry before preparing a full application.

Grant seekers should apply for grants well in advance of their desired project timeline. Applications may require up to 90 days for a final decision.

We are sensitive to the fact that not everyone is a professional grant writer. In fact, some of our most successful grants are written by community volunteers. If you are visiting our site as a first-time grant seeker, you may wish to visit the Minnesota Council on Foundations for helpful tips on preparing a successful grant application.