[Bush Foundation](https://www.bushfoundation.org)

January 28, 2026 (Interest form, by 1 p.m.) | April 30, 2026 (Full application, by 1 p.m.)

$125,000 per award; nine grants annually; unrestricted funding; one-year award

Supports innovative, community-led projects that drive meaningful, equitable, and transformational change across Minnesota and its Native Nations.

--- ## Description The Minnesota Community IDEAS Grant Program, managed by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with the Bush Foundation, aims to inspire and equip organizations to design, test, and spread ideas that improve communities throughout Minnesota and the 11 Native Nations within the state. The program emphasizes innovation, equity, agency, and solutions addressing root causes of community challenges. Funding decisions are guided by Community Selection Committees to ensure grants reflect the voices and needs of the communities served. Grants are unrestricted, with a simplified application process and a focus on building supportive, learning-centered relationships with grantees. --- ## Due Dates - **Interest Form Submission Deadline:** January 28, 2026 (by 1 p.m.) - **Full Application Submission Deadline:** April 30, 2026 (by 1 p.m.) Applicants must first submit an interest form to be considered for the full application stage. --- ## Funding Amount - **Total Award:** $125,000 per organization - **Number of Grants:** 9 awarded annually (three per target community: Greater Minnesota, Twin Cities Metro Area, Native-led/serving organizations) - **Funding Type:** Unrestricted; can be used for operating costs, program expenses, capital expenditures, or other charitable purposes aligned with the program’s vision - **Compensation for Application:** Organizations invited to submit a full application receive a $750 grant for their time, regardless of selection outcome --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants must meet all the following criteria: - Be a nonprofit organization located in Minnesota, or one of the 11 Native Nations within the state. - Must be a 501(c)(3) public charity, government entity (including schools and tribal governments), or have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) public charity or government entity. - Groups or coalitions may apply, but only one organization may serve as the lead applicant and receive the grant. - Organizations may only apply within one target community (Greater Minnesota, Twin Cities Metro, or Native-led/serving). - For Native-led/serving, at least 51% of board and senior leadership must identify as Native. - Organizations that have previously received a Minnesota Community IDEAS award are not eligible to apply. - All grant funds must be used for charitable purposes benefiting communities in Minnesota. --- ## Application Process The application process is structured in two steps: ### Step 1: Interest Form - Submit a brief online interest form between January 5 and January 28, 2026 (by 1 p.m.). - All eligible organizations are entered into a random selection process. - 20 organizations per target community are randomly selected to proceed. ### Step 2: Full Application - Selected organizations are invited to submit a full application via the online portal. - Applicants receive active support from program staff and a $750 grant for their time. - Applications are reviewed by a Community Selection Committee for each target community. - Nine organizations (three per target community) are selected to receive $125,000 each. **No formal reporting is required.** Instead, annual meetings with grantees focus on reflection and learning. --- ## Additional Information - Funding is **unrestricted** and may be used for any charitable purpose benefiting Minnesota communities. - The program is designed to reduce barriers, simplify the application process, and encourage participation from organizations of all sizes and capacities. - The selection process aims to mitigate merit-based bias and promote equity. - Receiving this grant does **not** affect eligibility for other Bush Foundation or Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funding opportunities. --- ## External Links - [Program Overview & Application Portal](https://spmcf.org/nonprofits/grants-for-nonprofits/minnesota-community-ideas-program) - [Grant Guidelines (PDF)](https://de4vzavwp1bb7.cloudfront.net/general/Nonprofits/Files/Minnesota-Community-IDEAS-Grant-Guidelines.pdf) - [Application Information (PDF)](https://de4vzavwp1bb7.cloudfront.net/general/Nonprofits/Files/Minnesota-Community-IDEAS-Application-Information.pdf) - [Information Session Video](https://vimeo.com/1145758964?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) - [Bush Foundation Funding Overview](https://www.bushfoundation.org/funding-for-your-organization/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------| | MN Community IDEAS Program Team | MNCommunityIDEAS@spmcf.org | 651-325-4202 | | Bush Foundation (general inquiries) | staff@bushfoundation.org | 651-379-2249 |

Minnesota Community IDEAS Grant Program

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