Explore the Portal

Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grants

Improved Technology to Empower Central Minnesotans

Initiative Foundation grants empower people across Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a lasting culture of generosity. Foundation grants support capacity-building projects for nonprofits, local units of government, schools, and economic and workforce development initiatives across the 14 counties and two Native nations of Central Minnesota.

Transition Timeline

Beginning on Feb. 18, the Initiative Foundation will use a new portal for nonprofit capacity-building grant seekers.

Those who seek grants from Initiative Foundation Partner Funds will continue to use Foundant, our legacy grantmaking platform, through the remainder of February. We will then begin a March 1-31 blackout period as we wind down our legacy platform and transition to the portal. The portal will open to all grant-seekers, including those seeking economic development grants and grants from our family of Partner Funds, on April 1.

To make the transition, new grant-seekers and those who have applied for and received past grants will need to create a new account. The “Portal Login” will be located at the top of the Initiative Foundation’s website next to the search bar.

Portal Login link in ifound.org navigation

Get Ready for the Transition

Take This Simple Step ...

As we make the transition, we ask that you take this simple step:

 Automated emails from the new grants management platform, the portal, will come from grants@ifound.org. These include notifications during account creation, when you submit applications, and when follow-up forms are due or submitted. Please add this email address to your safe senders list or work with your IT manager so messages from this address do not get flagged as spam or phishing.

  • Gmail: Scroll to “Prevent Valid Emails From Going to Spam”
  • Outlook: Add Recipients to Safe Senders List
  • Yahoo!: Manage Spam and Mailing Lists

Benefits of the Portal ...

  • Dashboard view: Track applications, award status, and review grant history.
  • One-stop landing page: See all grant opportunities currently available on a single page.
  • One and done: Create one user account to have all grant opportunities, applications, and history at your fingertips—no matter how many organizations you support as a grant writer.
  • Save your work: You won’t lose your hard work if you get distracted or walk away. A “Save” button lets you pick up where you left off.
  • You’re in control: Manage your profile and your password without having to reach out for a reset.
  • User-friendly: The portal system is simple, intuitive, and easy to follow.
Tutorials and More to Guide and Explore

Grant-Seekers: Learn About the Portal

Watch the videos to learn how to register your account and apply for a grant.

Register in the Portal

Watch the video to learn how to set up an account in the portal.

Apply for a Grant

Watch the video to learn how to apply for a grant in the portal.

Luke Becker, Braham, wind tunnel
GROWING WITH GRANTS: A grant from the Braham Area Education Foundation, an Initiative Foundation Partner Fund, helped Becker purchase a special wind tunnel sensor to test student projects for efficiency, aerodynamics and stability.

We're Here to Help!

For questions about the Portal, contact Program Specialist Jessy Beto for nonprofit and economic development grants; Kerie Thoma, community philanthropy specialist, for Partner Fund grants and grant-reviewer questions; or Amy Gray, community philanthropy manager, for navigating Partner Fund financials.