Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation supports capacity building, emergency assistance, diversity, and community needs in the Saint Paul area and elsewhere in Minnesota.
FUNDING AREAS: Racial equity, capacity building, emergency assistance, diversity, community needs
IP TAKE: This is a huge community funder to know for nonprofit capacity-building support needs, not just in Saint Paul but in other parts of Minnesota too.
PROFILE: Established in 1940, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (SPMF) is the largest community foundation in Minnesota and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It supports more than 2,000 charitable organizations and manages the assets of the F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation. SPMF aims to “inspire generosity to make Minnesota better for all who call it home.” It funds local efforts for capacity building, emergency assistance, diversity, and other community needs.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is committed to racial equity and pursues grantmaking driven by justice and equity. SPMF also works through 17 large and small affiliates that provide regional grantmaking opportunities. The community foundation provides community capacity grants to priorities identified by East Metro communities in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties. It provides emergency assistance in these same regions as well. Diversity grants fund racial and cultural groups throughout the state. SPMF also funds efforts that strengthen the operations of organizations in the Twin Cities East Metro region. Overall interests include economic opportunity, education, health, housing, transportation, human services, and family support.
Grants range between about $10,000 and $50,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the foundation’s what we fund page on its website. Grantmaking largely focuses on Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties in Minnesota; however, SPMF supports nonprofits in other parts of the state as well. Past local grantees include All Parks Alliance for Change, Ain Dah Yung Our Home Center, and Above the EDGE.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for some grant opportunities. There are generally two open application periods each year, and the application deadlines vary from one program to the next. Direct general questions to the staff at info@spmcf.org or 651-224-5463.
PEOPLE:
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