The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) is now accepting applications for the Racial Equity Accountability Grants (REAP), which are focused on enhancing support systems for individuals experiencing or emerging from homelessness. These grants are part of a broader Northwest Continuum of Care (NWCoC) initiative aimed at improving the coordinated entry system, the principal mechanism through which individuals in need can access supportive housing services in the region.

The REAP grant opportunity provides financial support for efforts that increase cultural competency, foster stronger relationships between those experiencing homelessness and housing support staff, and promote stabilization through employment opportunities. Specific activities that may be funded include organizing culturally relevant events (such as sweat lodges, talking circles, traditional ceremonies, and community meals), offering professional development and training for service providers, and delivering job training programs for individuals transitioning from homelessness.

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, or public agencies located within the NWCoC’s 15-region service area. This includes the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, and the following counties in Minnesota: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake Falls, and Roseau.

Grant awards range from $2,000 to a maximum of $7,500. Applications will be accepted through June 4, 2025. Submissions are evaluated based on their alignment with program goals, such as improving access to culturally competent services, fostering community engagement and healing, and supporting long-term stabilization for homeless populations.

Interested applicants can access further details and apply via the Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s grants portal at https://nwmf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/. Questions about the REAP program can be directed to Barbara Johnson, Program Officer, at barbaraj@nwmf.org. NMF is an equal opportunity provider and employer.