How This Minnesota Funder Supports Rural Communities and Local Agriculture

Although many people know Minnesota for its big cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, approximately 39% of the state is rural. Life outside of the state’s major metropolitan areas reflects vastly different opinions and social service needs. The CHS Foundation, based in Inver Grove Heights, is one funder that prioritizes the needs of Minnesota’s rural communities.

Here are a few things to know about the CHS Foundation and how it gives locally.

A strong agricultural focus

CHS is an agribusiness company involved with grains, foods, energy and agronomy. It is owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives, and has a history that dates back to 1929. The foundation is mostly interested in innovation in agriculture education and regularly awards grants for agriculture teacher preparation, agriculture student scholarships and preparing students for agriculture careers. Rural youth leadership is another major interest of the CHS Foundation at both the state and national levels. In addition to grants, CHS also offers college scholarships related to agriculture education.

CHS gives frequently throughout Minnesota

CHS employs about 11,000 people around the globe, and its headquarters is in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, a community of around 33,000 people located southwest of Minneapolis.

Grantseekers should know that the CHS Foundation considers awarding grants in all of the following states: Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. However, it has a very strong presence in Minnesota and focuses much of its grantmaking there. Several local grantees include the Farmers Union Foundation, North Dakota Agri-Women and the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

CHS operates a Backyard Giving Grants program supporting Twin Cities organizations that educate the next generation about agriculture, provide basic needs and bring the local community together. These are very local grants for up to $5,000 each.

Unsolicited grant applications are welcome

Rural community groups and organizations with agricultural programs will find that the CHS Foundation is an accessible funder with a straightforward grant application process. The company’s community giving program, which is separate from the foundation, is also quite accessible.

Application timelines vary based on the grant being sought. For example, the CHS Foundation accepts agriculture safety grant applications on a rolling basis, while Twin Cities Backyard Giving Grants have an open application period from May 15 to July 15 and again from November 1 to January 1. The foundation uses an online application system and makes its staff available for grantseeker questions as well.

Learn more about this funder in IP’s full profile of the CHS Foundation, as well as other Minnesota-based funders in our Upper Midwest & Plains funding guide.

Featured