Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the Foundation make grants outside of Minnesota?
  Grants are awarded in the Twin Cities 7-county metropolitan region. Unsolicited grant proposals are not accepted from organizations located outside of Minnesota.  We make a number of grants annually at the direction of the trustees, many who live outside of Minnesota. Unsolicited grant proposals are not accepted for these funds. 
   
• Does the Foundation make grants to organizations in Greater Minnesota?
  We award grants to nonprofits based in Minnesota and for work that benefits constituents or communities located in the Twin Cities 7-county metropolitan region (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties).  We have indefinitely suspended any grantmaking to efforts in Greater Minnesota. 
   
• When are the deadlines?
  Program Grants:  The Foundation has three program grant rounds each year.  Submission deadlines for the current grantmaking year will be posted in early February 2010.
  Capital Grants:  The Foundation will accept requests for capital grants in 2010 through an online Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process. LOI's must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2010. 
   
• Do I have to have a 501(c)(3)? 
  The Foundation awards grants only to organizations which are tax-exempt and publicly supported under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. On occasion, the Foundation makes grants through fiscal agents. However, these requests must be discussed with a Foundation staff person before submission.
   
• Does the Foundation require a letter of inquiry before submitting a full request?
  The Foundation does not require a letter of inquiry for program funding requests. However, the Foundation does require a Letter of Inquiry for capital funding requests. Please see our Capital Guidelines for full details. You are strongly encouraged to call the Foundation to speak with a staff person well in advance of any proposal submission.
   
• Does the Foundation accept the MN Common Grant Reporting form?
  Yes.
   
• Do you accept multi-year requests?
  In general, we make one-year, targeted grants, but are open to considering funding for multiple years. We will consider recurring grants for the same purpose based on demonstrated progress toward expected outcomes.  
   
• If I submit by the deadline, how quickly will I hear?
  Our process takes approximately four months.   
   
• Do I need to submit a final report on my last grant before submitting again?
  No application from an organization previously funded by the Foundation will be considered until a final report on the previous grant has been received. If the report date for the previous grant is not yet due, a progress report must be submitted along with the new funding request.
   
• Does the Foundation make grants to individuals for personal needs?
  The Foundation is unable to provide grants to individuals. Grants are awarded to non-profit public charitable organizations that are not private foundations, and that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
   
• What is the average grant size? How much should I ask for?
  We encourage organizations to ask for what they need, but the request should be reasonable based on our giving trends. Listings of past grants can be accessed on our website. 
   
• If we get a grant, how soon can we get paid?
  If a grant is made to an organization and there are no contingencies attached to the project, payment is usually made within a few weeks of the Board of Trustees’ approval.
   
• Do you conduct site visits for all requests?
  The Foundation will generally only conduct site visits for those requests that are under full consideration by the Board of Trustees. Foundation staff will contact your organization to set up a site visit at your convenience. 
   
• Can I apply more than once per year?
  Organizations are eligible to receive one grant per calendar year. If you are denied, you may reapply that same year. However, it is strongly recommended that you speak with a Foundation staff person before reapplying. 
   
• What do you mean by a "capital" grant---does it include support for technology upgrades?
  The Foundation defines “capital” as real estate, bricks and mortar; permanent fixtures added either to a structure or to real estate; or significant program equipment needs. Our capital grants typically range from $25,000 to $100,000, with occasional exceptions for larger amounts. The Foundation does not make capital grants for vehicle purchases, technology upgrades, or cosmetic improvements. For more information, please refer to the Capital Guidelines section of our website.
   
• Can I submit a request for continued support of a program currently funded by the Foundation?
  Yes. The Foundation will consider recurring grants for the same purpose based on demonstrated progress toward attainment of expected outcomes.
   
• If my proposal is denied or declined in a grant round, do I have wait for a certain time period to apply again?
  If your proposal is denied, you may reapply in the next grant round. However, it is strongly recommended that you speak with a Foundation staff person before reapplying. 
   
• What is your decision-making process?
  Once an application is received, it is reviewed by the staff and Trustees, and final funding recommendations are approved by the Board of Trustees.