The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation today announced that they have awarded more than $8.2 million to nonprofits in Minnesota. Grants were made to community-informed and -led projects and programs that support and enrich the lives of youth.

“The community is our compass,” said Ann Mulhollan­d, executive vice president of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. “If we, as grant makers, are to make smart investments in our state, we need to listen to the wisdom and experience of those leading the work. By investing in community-informed and -led solutions, we are better able to identify, fund and advocate for ideas that build our community’s capacity to magnify impact.”

Of the $3.2 million in grants made by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, $30,000 was awarded to Saint Paul Urban Tennis for the expansion of its Employment PLUS program, which provides Saint Paul’s East Side youth with employment opportunities in office administration, customer service, fundraising and program design.

F. R. Bigelow Foundation’s 81 grants included a $30,000 grant to Saint Paul-based Face to Face, a nonprofit providing medical, mental health and other support services to youth and young adults, ages 11 to 24. Funding also supports the work of its Youth Advisory Council, which is composed of youth recipients of the organization’s services.

Of the 53 grants made by Mardag Foundation, $45,000 went to Red Wing-based Every Hand Joined, a program of The Jones Family Foundation. The organization works to ensure the success of every child from cradle to career. It is led by an advisory board comprising local representation from business and community, including nonprofits, city and county government, the school district and parents.

The three foundations each made grants totaling $55,000 to VocalEssence, an organization that aims to enrich Minnesotans of all ages and cultures through the power of singing. Funding will support the VESOTA student choir, a program that connects students with diverse musicians. Students meet for weekly rehearsals, share pre-rehearsal meals, and receive uniforms and transportation at no cost.