Past Grants

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Foundation—Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs: $5,000 to support the dental programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Wright County: $7,500 for a countywide housing study.

St. Cloud Technical & Community College: $5,000 to support the direct care professional training series.

Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation: $7,500 to support the Nisswa master plan.

City of Sartell—Mill District Access: $5,000 to support a feasibility study.

Wadena Housing Redevelopment Authority: $7,500 to support a housing study.

Cass Lake Rural Fire Association: $5,000 for fire department feasibility and design study.

Northern Pines Mental Health Center: $5,000 to support respite care.

Internal Housing Assistant—Women’s Empowerment, Emotional Intelligence and Workforce Development Cohorts: $4,500 to support women’s empowerment cohorts.

Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Group—Organizational Support: $2,500 to support the mission of the organization.

East Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity: $4,500 for strategic planning.

Walker Area Food Shelf: $3,500 for strategic planning.

Single Parents Resources & Support: $7,500 for strategic planning.

St. Cloud State University Foundation—In Honor of Larry Dietz’s Board Service: $1,000 to support the Husky Community Engagement Fund.

Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network—In Honor of Joe Nayquonabe’s Board Service: $1,000 to support the organization.

Central Minnesota Re-Entry Project—Workforce Development Programming: $45,000 to support workforce development programs for the formerly incarcerated.

St. Cloud Area Schools Education Activities Foundation—District Pantry & Programming: $5,000 to support pantry and other programming needs.

See the full list of organizations that received Rural Voice follow-up grants.

The following received $7,500 grants to develop their Thriving Communities program ideas:

• Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church
• City of Motley
• City of Sebeka
• City of Staples
• City of Taylors Falls

The following cities, counties and townships received grants to support disaster preparedness and recovery:

• City of Foley: $4,314
• City of Crosslake: $4,000
• Isanti County: $1,000
• Sylvan Township: $4,000
• Deerwood Township: $4,000
• City of Motley: $4,000
• County of Morrison: $1,000
• County of Todd: $1,000
• County of Wadena: $1,000
• County of Cass: $1,000
• County of Crow Wing: $1,000
• County of Mille Lacs: $1,000

Flight Expo, Inc.—Mission Ready: $10,000 to support strategic planning.

Community Angels, Inc.—Leaders In Action: $7,500 to support board training and strategic planning.

The Sowing Room—Strategic Plan 2026-2030: $5,000 to support strategic planning.

Well-Read Mom, Inc.—Board Training: $2,000 to support board training.

ConnectAbility of MN—Board Development to Support Organizational Growth: $3,000 to support a board retreat in 2025.

Relationship Safety Alliance—Board Retreat & Strategic Planning Session: $5,000 to support strategic planning.

Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota—Strategic Plan Development: $5,000 to support strategic planning.

Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services—Board Training: $5,000 to support board training.

Cuyuna Range Economic Development, Inc.—Strategic Plan: $5,000 to support strategic planning.

WAVE Saludos Welcome Center: $5,000 to support the belonging work of the organization.

Ultimate Success Insight—Youth Entrepreneurship Support: $25,000 to support youth training.

Bear Paw Cultural Art—Rural Belonging Grant: $5,000 to support the belonging work of the organization.

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project—Restoring Hope and Cultivating Community: $5,000 to support the belonging work of the organization.

Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church—Thriving Communities 2025: $5,000 to support Thriving Communities work.

City of Staples—Thriving Communities 2025: $5,000 to support Thriving Communities work.

City of Sebeka—Thriving Communities 2025: $5,000 to support Thriving Communities work.

City of Motley—Thriving Communities 2025: $5,000 to support Thriving Communities work.

City of Taylors Falls—Thriving Communities 2025: $5,000 to support Thriving Communities work.

Minnesota Humanities Center—Sketches of Minnesota: $15,000 to support the Sketches of Minnesota event in Deerwood.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Main Street Economic Revitalization

HearSwell, LLC—Main Street Economic Revitalization: $7,320
Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church—Main Street Economic Revitalization: $6,210

Cuyuna Range Youth Center—Programs: $7,400 to support youth programming.

Arrows Family Services—Staff Training: $5,000 to support staff trauma training.

Fahan Organization—Breaking Barriers: Creating a Strategic Plan That Helps Disabled Individuals Reach Their Full Potential: $5,600 to support the strategic planning process.

Hooyo Hour Organization—Strategic Planning and Capacity-building: $5,000 to support the strategic planning process.

Fe y Justicia—Deepening Impact: Building Financial Structures and Capacity: $10,000 to support financial capacity-building by hiring a consultant.

Tusen Tack—Employee Relations Study: $1,500 for an employee relations study.

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation—In honor of Tim Penny: $1,000

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe—Youth Programs Strategic Development: $10,000 to support the strategic planning process.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc.— Strategic Implementation: $15,000 to support the strategic planning process.

Parenting with Grace, Inc.: $6,500 to support the work of the organization.

Mother of Mercy Foundation—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

The Wave Youth Center—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

The Crossing Arts Alliance—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Sexual Assault Services, Inc.—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation—Continuous Improvement Project: $5,000 to support continuous improvement implementation.

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc. —Enhancing Budget Efficiency: $5,000 to develop and implement budget templates for Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services.

OneCommunity Alliance—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud—Strengthening Service: Enhancing Volunteer Engagement at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud: $5,000 to enhance volunteer engagement.

ARC Retreat Community—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

What Would Bri Do—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Fe y Justicia—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

Family Safety Network—2025 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) Nonprofit Fundraising Conference Mini Grants: $500 to attend the 2025 MCN Nonprofit Fundraising Conference.

QUEERSPACE Collective: $5,000 to support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in central Minnesota.

Sherburne County—County Planning & Zoning Ordinance Rewrite: $10,000 to support the County Planning & Zoning Ordinance Rewrite.

Hackensack Game Changers—Lane Changers Highway 371 Infrastructure Improvement: $5,000 to support the community and its economy during road construction.

Center for African Immigrants and Refugees—Iskufilan Village: $5,000 to support the Iskufilan Village program.

Goodwill Industries, Inc.—Explore, Learn, and Earn in Vocational and Academic Training Experiences: $7,500 to support vocational and academic training experiences.

Sourcewell—Healthcare Education Access through Rural Teamwork: $10,000 to support the Healthcare Education Access through Rural Teamwork Initiative.

Cass County Economic Development Corporation—Walker Area Workforce Housing Development: $7,500 to support workforce housing development.

Sherburne County Fair Board—Strategic Planning: $5,000 to support the strategic planning efforts of the Sherburne County Fair Board.

Region Nine Development Commission: $37,500 through the McKnight Clean Energy Rural Collaborative project.

Center for Rural Policy & Development: $5,000 for organizational support.

Community Action Respecting Elders—Succession Plan: $15,000 to support CARE’s succession planning efforts.

Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation: $25,000 for annual organizational support.

Wadena Development Authority: $10,000 to support efforts to promote businesses during a summer 2025 construction project.

City of Milaca: $10,000 to support the Milaca Junction addition.

The United Way of Bemidji Area: $1,000 on behalf of Denae Alamano in recognition of service as an Initiators Fellow mentor.

Southwest Initiative Foundation: $1,000 on behalf of Sarah Johnson in recognition of service as an Initiators Fellow mentor.

Lakes & Pines Community Action Council, Inc.: $15,000 to support the organization in better serving its communities.

Too Much Talent—Royalty Beauty School: $7,500 for strategic planning to explore opening an African American beauty school.

Lakes Center for Youth and Families—Families First Coaching Fund: $5,000 for a pilot of individualized parent coaching.

The Yes Network—Expanding Our Impact in Central Minnesota: $5,000 for an updated 2025-2028 business plan.

Deep Portage Foundation: $1,550 to support organizational development.

Justice North: $5,000 for civil legal aid services outreach events at Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig school.

Compassion Connection—Capacity, Infrastructure & Governance Development: $5,000 for fund development, board development and executive director training.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc.—Workforce Development Board: $7,500 for strategic planning and inclusive growth.

Jugaad Leadership Program—Revisiting Mission and Business Plan: $5,000 to celebrate 10 years with the development of an updated business and strategic plan, including expanding revenue and business partnerships and programming priorities for future leadership programs.

What Would Bri Do—Growing Capacity, Growing Impact—Feasibility Study: $7,500 for a feasibility study for expansion of Bri’s Lodge.

D Blake Center—Pathway to Progress: $5,000 for strategic planning.

Recovery Community Network—Capacity Building for Financial and Grant Support: $5,000 for financial infrastructure capacity building.

Brenda’s Helping Hands NFP—Blueprint for Change: $5,000 for strategic planning and board development.

Trinity Children’s Center—In Honor of Kim Ellingson: $1,000 to support the organization in honor of Kim Ellingson’s time on the Initiative Foundation board of trustees.

Franciscan Legacy Community Services—In Honor of Julie Nelson: $500 to support the organization in honor of Julie Nelson’s service on the Initiative Foundation board of trustees.

SPARKS Mentoring of Staples-Motley—In Honor of Julie Nelson: $500 to support the organization in honor of Julie Nelson’s service on the Initiative Foundation board of trustees.

Gateway Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance—In Honor of David Monroy: $1,000 to support the organization in honor of David Monroy’s service on the Initiative Foundation board of trustees.

Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation—Project Optimist Dialogues: $5,000 for guided conversations and food to build social bonds and community connections among St. Cloud-area college students.

Islamic Center of St. Cloud—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Leech Lake Financial Services, Inc.—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Anishinabe Legal Services, Inc.—Operating Support: $1,200 to support the organization.

Regional Native Public Defense Corporation—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Boys & Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Leech Lake Tribal College—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures—Operating Support: $1,300 to support the organization.

Leech Lake Tribal College—Operating Support: $50,000 to support climate resiliency through indigenous knowledge and food systems.

Benton Economic Partnership, Inc.—Mobilizing Climate-aligned and Community-led Capital Conference: $800 to build capacity to access funds associated with the Inflation Reduction Act and other clean energy-related grants.

Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, Inc.—Strategic Plan: $5,000 for strategic planning.

Tusen Tack—Braham Area Housing Analysis: $7,500 for a Braham-area housing analysis.

Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc.—Focus Groups: $6,000 to support focus group feedback to aid program planning.

Camphill Village—Succession Planning Project: $7,500 for organizational succession planning.

National Inspection Academy—Strategic Planning: $3,000 for strategic planning.

Community Grassroots Solutions—Capacity Building Support: $7,500 for support of new digital engagement tools to increase fund development and improve outreach to community.

Pine County—Strategic Plan Implementation: $15,000 to support strategic planning.

Leech Lake Tribal College—Wild Rice Production Support: $25,000 to support production and distribution of quality food for those in need.

Hilltop Regional Kitchen—Organizational Support: $10,000 to support distribution of quality food to populations in need.

Sustainable Farming Association—Organizational Support: $25,000 to support production and distribution of quality food to populations in need.

Sprout—Organizational Support: $25,000 to support production and distribution of food for populations in need.

Boys & Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area—Local Food Support: $15,000 to support distribution of healthy foods to those in need.

Region Five Development Commission—Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: $20,000 to support the public installation of high-speed electric vehicle charging stations in Wadena and Cass Lake.

United Way of Central Minnesota—Healthy Neighborhood Partnership Program: $15,000 to support the Healthy Neighborhood Partnership Program.

Cass County Economic Development Corporation—Capacity-building to Support Affordable Housing Initiatives: $7,500 to build staff capacity to assist communities and to develop expanded workforce housing strategies.

City of Mora—Housing Market Analysis: $7,500 for a housing market analysis to identify opportunities within commuting distance of Mora.

See the full list of Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund grants.

Central Minnesota Reentry Project: $15,000 to provide social supports for the formerly incarcerated.

Faith in Action for Cass County—Technology Revitalized: $15,000 to support technology updates.

Emily Emergency Food Shelf—Training: $7,050 for board training and executive development.

Family Safety Network—Trauma-informed Practitioner Certification Training: $7,500 for two advocates to attend the Trauma Training Institute. Certification will allow these advocates to train additional Cass County professionals on trauma-informed care best practices.

Lakes & Pines Community Action Council, Inc.—Compensation Analysis: $5,000 to support a regional analysis of compensation scales of peer organizations to assure the organization is offering appropriate wages to employees.

Parenting with Grace, Inc.—Board of Directors Development and Coaching: $7,500 to fund board training and coaching to provide governance, strategic leadership and fiscal oversight.

Rivers of Hope—Elementary School Healthy Relationship Education: $7,500 for expanded programming to support the organization’s mission to end family violence through advocacy, education and interagency collaboration.

Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc.— Staff Training: $5,000 for strategic planning.

St. Cloud Area Family YMCA—Parent Enrichment and Supervised Visitation Programs: $5,000 for expansion of the parent enrichment and supervised visitation program.

Tiny News Collective, Inc.—Project Optimist: $1,000 to provide unrestricted support for Project Optimist, in honor of Robbyn Wacker, former Intiative Foundation board member.

Walker Area Community Center—Financial Analysis and Consultation: $5,000 to hire a consultant to review the Walker Area Community Center’s financial systems to optimize operational efficiency.

Wright County Community Action, Inc.: $3,900 for organization support.

Lighthouse Beginnings—Open Arms: $2,000 to support the Open Arms Community Center.

Conservation Minnesota—Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund Reauthorization: $5,000 to support improved access to conservation funds.

City of Sandstone—Historic Sandstone School Workforce Housing: $5,000 to support the development of additional housing in Sandstone.

North Branch Area Public Schools—Viking Innovation Teacher Apprenticeship Model: $7,500 to support an apprentice teach pilot program.

Northland Foundation—A Stronger Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: $10,000 to support economic development.

Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association—Three Byways 2024 Fall Daytrips Event: $7,000 to support coordinated promotion of three scenic byways that begin in Central Minnesota. The promtions would encourage visitors to extend their visit to the region.

Region Five Development Commission—Workforce Development Career Pathway Mapping: $5,000 to map career pathways to support residents of Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.

St. Cloud State University—Center for Policy Research and Community Engagement: $10,000 to help establish a new center to provide regionally focused policy research.

Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity—Habitat Community Connectedness 2024: $5,000 to engage black, indigenous and people of color and income-eligible students in developing construction skills by working on homes in the Greater St. Cloud area.

Lighthouse Beginnings—Open Arms Community Resource Center: $6,000 to support the Open Arms project which provides a supportive, sober and safe environment that will help provide individuals with skills needed to break through roadblocks in their recovery.

Sourcewell—2024 Students of Character Sponsorship: $1,000 to support the 2024 Sourcewell Students of Character event.

United Way of Douglas and Pope County—Backpack Attack Program: $7,500 for a pilot Backpack Attack program for food-insecure families in the Long Prairie area.

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation—Minnesota Compass: $5,000 to support the Minnesota Compass program.

Anishinabe Legal Services, Inc.—Strategic Planning Project 2024: $7,500 for strategic planning.

180 Degrees—Building Organizational Capacity: $5,000 for piloting a parent liaison program to help families of youth experiencing homelessness.

Relationship Safety Alliance—Preserving History While Raising Funding and Awareness: $5,000 for developing materials to maximize fundraising efforts.

ConnectAbility of MN—2024 Volunteer Pilot Programs: $6,000 for a pilot program to increase volunteer engagement.

Someplace Safe: $5,000 to support strategic planning.

Faith in Action in Sherburne County—Capacity Building for Services: $5,000 for increasing capacity of volunteers.

Walker Area Food Shelf—Marketing and Growth Strategy: $5,000 for new fundraising support utilizing new branding.

Main Street Family Services—Capacity Building Training: $5,000 for staff training to increase capacity to meet needs of at-risk individuals, children and families in their region.

Mille Lacs County—Childcare Coalition: $10,000 to improve access to quality child care.

Central MN Re-Entry Project—Vibrant and Equitable Communities Cohort: $5,000 to develop programming to support formerly incarcerated persons in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties.

Youth Following Our Lead—Capacity Building: $2,000 to provide professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers.

Bear Paws Cultural Art—Cultural Classes: $10,000 to support the organization’s mission of holding cultural classes for the community in East Central Minnesota and the indigenous lands surrounding the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Lighthouse Beginnings—Vibrant and Equitable Communities Cohort: $5,000 to improve communication strategy, improve volunteer recruitment and update technology.

Meeting Points—Capacity Building: $5,000 for board development and staff capacity building.

Minnesota Humanities Center—Sketches of Minnesota: $15,000 to support the Sketches of Minnesota project in Central Minnesota.

Anderson Center—2024 Scholarships: $10,000 to provide cost-share scholarships to private and nonprofit sector managers to provide access to the high-quality management and leadership training opportunities available through the Anderson Center.

Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation—2024 Annual Investment: $25,000 to provide annual support to the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, the largest economic development entity in Central Minnesota.

Three Rivers Community Foundation—Sherburne County 2024-2025 Housing Study: $10,000 to support a housing study to be completed by Maxfield Research and Consulting.

Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation (BLAEDC) —Supporting Economic Growth: $10,000 to support BLAEDC in its work with businesses and organizations needing analytics and data for their business decisions.

Crosby-Ironton Public Schools Foundation—Strategic Planning for Next 5 Years: $5,000 to support strategic planning for the organization.