The Minnesota Community IDEAS Program, launched by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with the Bush Foundation, provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations in Minnesota and the 11 Native Nations sharing its geography. The program aims to foster community-led, transformational change by funding ideas that enhance equity, agency, and solutions within communities. The initiative will award $1.6 million annually from 2025 to 2027, with 15 grants of $160,000 each distributed over three years ($100,000 in the first year, $40,000 in the second, and $20,000 in the third).

The program focuses on three target communities: Greater Minnesota, the Twin Cities 7-County Metro Area, and Native-led organizations serving Native communities. Each community will receive five grants annually. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, and fiscally sponsored groups. Organizations must be based in Minnesota and use the funds for charitable purposes within the state.

The application process involves two steps. First, organizations submit a brief interest form between January 6, 2025, and January 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., providing details about their work and proposed ideas. From these submissions, 30 organizations from each target community will be randomly selected to advance to the second phase. Selected organizations receive a $1,000 stipend to develop a full application with support from Foundation advisors. Full applications are due by March 13, 2025, and grants are awarded in April 2025.

Grant funds are unrestricted and can be used for operating costs, program expenses, capital expenditures, or other needs aligned with the program’s goals. There are no formal reporting requirements; instead, the Foundation conducts annual check-ins to build partnerships and support learning.

Applications are evaluated on five criteria: Impact (long-term community change), Development (testing and spreading innovative ideas), Equity (serving historically underserved populations), Agency (empowering communities to lead change), and Solutions (clear, actionable outcomes). A Community Selection Committee for each target area reviews applications and makes final decisions.

For more information or assistance, organizations can contact the program team at MNCommunityIDEAS@spmcf.org or 651-325-4202. Additional resources, including FAQs, are available on the Foundation’s website.