Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
Forecasted
Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program supports community-based groups with assessment, planning, and local solutions to advance environmental justice and public health in underserved communities.
Funder: Minneapolis Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Final deadline) | January 2027 (First round review)
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000–$350,000 for 1–2 years by tier; noncompetitive Tier 1 awards up to $75,000; $48 million total
Summary: Supports community-led assessment, planning, and implementation addressing environmental justice and public health in underserved Great Lakes communities.
Key Information: Projects must focus their budget, efforts, and benefits in disadvantaged communities within EPA Region 5.
Description
The Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program is administered by the Minneapolis Foundation in partnership with the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It aims to lift up community-led innovation, strengthen community-based groups, and reduce barriers to federal funding for environmental and public health work in underserved communities.
The program supports research, monitoring, and community mapping; communications, outreach, training, and community planning; and piloting or implementing local solutions. Supported issues include environmental health, air, soil, and water quality, healthy homes, access to healthy food, stormwater and green infrastructure, emergency preparedness, disaster resilience, and environmental job training. Implementation examples include community gardens, resilience hubs, and stronger cumulative-impact, public-health, or environmental-justice protections.
