This grant opportunity supports community-driven initiatives across several U.S. states and tribal nations in the Upper Midwest. It is geared toward nonprofit organizations, public institutions, culturally-based groups, and fiscally sponsored community initiatives. The program celebrates bold ideas with potential for long-term impact—especially those that promote equity, connection, and systems-level change.
Eligible applicants must operate in one of the program’s designated regions and demonstrate leadership from within affected communities. While proposals may address any issue area, the program is particularly interested in projects that build civic power, expand economic opportunity, increase cultural belonging, or advance environmental resilience.
Funding is flexible and substantial, available to support launches, pilot programming, or scaling existing initiatives. There is no maximum award cap, allowing for investments ranging from several hundred thousand to multiple millions of dollars, according to each project’s scale and ambition. Funds can be used for staffing, programming, evaluation, partnership development, launch costs, minor capital, or outreach activities—provided the purpose aligns with broader impact goals.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applicants begin with a brief letter of intent or concept note. Following initial review, selected teams are invited to discuss their ideas with program staff, potentially leading to full proposal development and confidential feedback. Decisions are made after in-depth conversations.
A limited number of awards are made annually. This ensures that each recipient can access not only funding, but also strategic guidance, coaching, and peer learning opportunities. This structure supports the foundation’s commitment to long-term collaboration and iterative progress toward community-defined goals.
Ideal projects might include culturally grounded education programs, local enterprises with a strong social purpose, community-led environmental strategies, or innovative approaches to civic empowerment. The opportunity is most valuable for groups in search of significant, flexible investment paired with a learning partnership—rather than one-time funding.
Let me know if you’d like help framing a concept or preparing for a conversation with program staff!
