August 24, 2020

Communities within the state of Minnesota have been dramatically impacted by both the coronavirus pandemic and the recent civil uprising from the murder of George Floyd in South Minneapolis. The Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus focused its more recent grantmaking effort on supporting those communities most directly impacted by these dual crises.

The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (the Foundation) and a cross-sector advisory committee have selected the expected fifth and final round of grantees, awarding $2.3 million in funds from the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus.

Twenty-six organizations were awarded a total of $2.3 million to support general nonprofit recovery as organizations work to re-build communities across the state.

These organizations included:

• Asian American Organizing Project ($150,000)
• Asian Media Access ($100,000)
• Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project dba Standpoint ($150,000)
• Chisholm Community Foundation ($20,000)
• Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation ($20,000)
• Greater Twin Cities United Way ($100,000)
• Hibbing Foundation ($20,000)
• Initiative Foundation ($50,000)
• Lake Street Council ($150,000)
• Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota ($150,000)
• Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities ($150,000)
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe ($150,000)
• Minnesota Homeownership Center ($150,000)
• Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation ($100,000)
• Minnesota State Bar Foundation ($100,000)
• Northland Foundation ($200,000)
• Northwest Minnesota Foundation ($68,980)
• Propel Nonprofits ($250,000)
• Rice County Area United Way ($20,000)
• Southwest Initiative Foundation ($100,000)
• United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties ($20,000)
• United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, Inc. ($20,000)
• United Way of Steele County ($20,000)
• United Way of the Brown County Area, Inc. ($20,000)
• Waseca Area Foundation ($20,000)
• United Way of Cass-Clay ($40,000)

The Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus has supported 93 organizations and awarded over $11.4 million to support community intermediaries who have been dedicated throughout the coronavirus pandemic and community impacts of the murder of George Floyd to sustain Minnesota’s residents, businesses and nonprofits.

The Minnesota Council on Foundations and the Foundation would like to thank the donors who generously contributed toward this effort to support relief, recovery, and resilience in Minnesota communities. Together, we will continue to work in collaboration to build a strong and healthy sector for a prosperous and equitable Minnesota.