About Grants

Eligibility

Eligible organizations and activities are:

Minnesota organizations serving, and preferably located in, rural communities of 35,000 residents or less
Project has a clearly defined charitable purpose recognized by the IRS
Align with Blandin Foundation’s focus areas

Ineligible organizations and activities are:

Projects benefiting metropolitan areas of the state (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Duluth, Moorhead, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato)
Projects outside the state of Minnesota
Religious activities
Medical research
Travel grants for individuals or groups
Camping and athletic programs
Ordinary government services
Grants solely intended to influence specific legislation or a specific candidate

Areas of Focus

Blandin Foundation is both a responsive and strategic grantmaker. We welcome applications from current and potential grantees working to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, and concentrate our investments in three primary strategic areas of focus.

Blandin Foundation’s most substantial and broadest form of grantmaking occurs in North-Central Minnesota (Itasca County and the neighboring communities of Blackduck, Northome, Hill City and Remer). We support work that helps meet the economic, social, physical, cultural and spiritual/wellness needs of Itasca-area residents.

Blandin Foundation welcomes inquires from organizations that:

Prioritize collaboration: diverse people and organizations work together to achieve a common goal. Examples: Invest Early and Beacon Hill Supportive Housing
Engage those needed to create the intended change: leaders seek and include a variety of perspectives, especially those directly affected by the problem. Examples: KOOTASCA’s Circles of Support and Kiesler Wellness Center
Resourcefully build on existing community assets: community context is taken into consideration, has several sources of funding, and demonstrates community support. Examples: Itasca County YMCA’s Active Living Center and the Deer River Full Service Community School project

In addition to community leadership training programs, Blandin Foundation offers grants to support community leaders as they think holistically and act collaboratively on systems-level (embedded policies or practices that perpetuate community inequities) issues they have identified as critical to the health and resiliency of their community.

Blandin Foundation welcomes inquires from organizations that:

Inform and connect community leaders to issues relevant among rural Minnesotans: leaders stay current on topics, trends and issues that impact their communities. Examples: What’s Left (an exhibit on mental illness and suicide) and MinnPost’s Immigrant Communities Reporting Project
Support and sustain networks of rural leaders: leaders are equipped with skills and abilities to strengthen their communities and/or lead on diversity, equity and inclusion. Examples: Minnesota Network of Community Developers, Better OUTcomes for LGBTQI, and the American Indian Oyate Network
Equip Blandin Leadership Program alumni to move forward a cohort-identified idea: leaders take courageous action to address barriers in their community, especially socio-economic, racial and cultural barriers. Each community cohort is eligible for three $5,000 grants and are encouraged to use the program-specific guidelines and applications. Examples: Chisholm Kids Plus and MNyou Youth Garden

Grants support projects that improve and align education, entrepreneurship, quality employment and innovations to expand opportunity for every community member.

Blandin Foundation welcomes inquiries from organizations leading projects that:

Engage broader sections of the current or potential workforce: create or expand educational and employment opportunities, especially for youth and people who have been persistently excluded. Examples: Women’s Foundation girlsBEST program and Northern Opportunity Works
Use existing assets in creative ways: incorporate a community’s economic strengths in new ways to innovate based on existing enterprises and cultural, creative, or natural assets. Examples: Rural Entrepreneurial Venture Program and Greater Bemidji’s LaunchPad.
Forge stronger relationships between education and employment systems: two or more entities work together to improve educational and employment outcomes for people living in rural Minnesota. Examples: Minnesota innovation Institute and AEOA Adult Scholarship Program

Steps to Apply

Step 1: Check for fit

Review the eligibility and areas of focus sections above. Please note that Blandin Foundation grants only to organizations in the state of Minnesota serving communities of 35,000 people or less. Examples can be viewed in our Partner Directory.

Step 2: Best to inquire

Prior to completing a full grant proposal, please submit a letter of inquiry, providing a short description of your project. Inquiries are reviewed weekly.

Step 3: Anticipate deadlines

Deadlines are noted in each grant type description on the Apply page.

Step 4: Prepare your proposal

If you have been invited to submit a grant proposal, use the appropriate online or downloadable application that falls within the range of your request. If you use a downloaded application, electronic submissions are preferred and can be sent to grants@blandinfoundation.org.

Step 5: Notification

For grants $50,000 and above, Blandin Foundation program staff review all grant requests and present recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which makes the final funding decision at their meetings in March, June, September, and December. Applicants receive notification of the results within days of decision and award paid out within six weeks.

Applications for grants $50,000 and less are reviewed as they are received. You will generally receive an acknowledgment within a week and a decision within 30-45 days.

Step 6: Feedback

Blandin Foundation program staff are always trying to improve their grantmaking. Constructive feedback, both positive and negative, are welcome by calling 21-327-8724, emailing grants@blandinfoundation.org or leaving a review on GrantAdvisor.

Contact Us

Your feedback strengthens our grantmaking. Contact us to share your thoughts. You may also subscribe to our mailing list, or contact the following Grants team members.