Brief Description
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) seeks to make significant grants that will be the “Difference Maker” in bringing about a positive change in community-wide mental health education and accessibility.
What We Fund
Support Strategies:
- Program support and development
- Program implementation
Eligible organizations:
- 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organizations
- Schools
- Government entities
Geographic Area: Grant must serve the residents of Benton, Stearns and/or Sherburne Counties.
Funding Amount Range: $10,000-$30,000
Focus Area: Mental Health
Upstream efforts in Mental Health:
Projects and programs that help build a pipeline of solutions to address key areas of mental health in Central MN. Examples may include:
- Efforts to increase therapists and mental health experts in our region
- Programs to empower the formation of new mental health care options in the region
- Programs that increase accessibility to mental health education and resources
- Preventative mental health programs
- Efforts to foster interest in the mental health profession among K – college students
- Efforts to promote awareness of mental health within underserved communities
- Efforts to educate parents and caretakers in youth mental health
- Efforts to destigmatize mental health
Downstream efforts in Mental Health:
Projects and programs that help address critical and immediate needs in mental health in Central MN. Examples may include:
- Programs to promote awareness of 988 and other mental health crisis resources
- Efforts to increase school-based therapy for students
- Efforts to streamline funnels to urgent and emergency mental healthcare
- Programs that increase access and address immediate and/or long-term mental health crisis needs
Favorable Considerations
- Support programs or projects that address equity and disparities across the community (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy)
- Create innovative solutions to community challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities
- Make a sustainable, visible, and positive impact in the community
- Build social capital across generations, cultures, and other diverse segments of the community
- Offer the potential to inspire additional investments in the community
If you are interested in learning more about this grant, or getting feedback on a proposal idea before submitting, we encourage you to set up a time to connect with a team member at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.
What We Don’t Fund
- Individuals
- Organizations for religious purposes (Funding for Faith-Based Organizations Policy)
- Multi-year requests
- Political organizations or political campaigns
- Annual fundraising drives
- Endowments
- Debt retirement or deficit financing
- Projects that have already been completed
- Scholarships or medical research
- Grants for travel or conferences
- Government funding that has been reduced or eliminated