Grant Guidelines

Informs, Forms, Benefits

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation believes that our community should not only benefit from our work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. Our work is also rooted in a commitment to racial equity.

Funding Criteria

Organizations and groups applying for a Management Improvement Fund grant are reviewed with the following criteria in mind:

• Organizational annual operating budgets of $5 million or less
• Organizations must primarily serve low-income persons
• Time and staff capabilities to commit to the consultation and to implement changes
• Organizations seeking to benefit the Asian American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, Latinx and Black communities will be prioritized
• New/emerging BIPOC-led organizations will be prioritized
• Organizations that are not likely to undertake the effort without financial assistance from the Fund

Geography

This grant program is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor across Minnesota. Organizations based in the West Metro (Anoka, Hennepin, Carver and Scott counties) and Greater Minnesota should contact the MIF team prior to applying.

Eligible Expenses

The primary use of a Management Improvement Fund grant is to pay for consultation fees or training expenses. A limited percentage of funds may be allocated to expenses related to the successful completion of the proposed work, including interpreters, stipends, childcare, transportation and staff time.

Applicants select the consultant and are encouraged to thoroughly assess their needs. Please note that Management Improvement Fund applicants must include the written proposal / bid from the prospective consultant(s).

The Foundation does not require that you select a consultant of our choosing. If you have not yet identified a consultant that you’d like to work with, we encourage you to tap into the networks of your board and leadership for recommendations. You can also visit Nexus Community Partners or Minnesota Council of Nonprofits to search for consultants in your area.

Grant Amounts

The Management Improvement Fund will consider grants up to $10,000.

Grant Requests Not Accepted

The Management Improvement Fund of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation will not consider grant requests for support of:

• Sectarian religious programs or organizations
• Direct work of individuals
• Organizations that are not classified as a 501(c)3 nonprofits or do not have a fiscal sponsor
• Organizations exclusively serving the West Metro (Anoka, Hennepin, Carver and Scott counties)

If your organization does not fit the funding criteria for the Management Improvement Fund, we encourage you to explore our Resources Beyond the Grant page to see if your request and organization may be a fit for our other nonprofit resources.

Important Dates

The Management Improvement Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis.

The Management Improvement Fund has awarded all available grants for 2024. We appreciate your continued dedication and encourage you to explore new opportunities with us when applications reopen in 2025.