Central Minnesota “Difference Maker” Grants

About This Grant

Foundation: Central Minnesota Community Foundation

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

Application Process

1)

Submit application online using the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

2)

The Grant Advisory Committee will recommend applications for funding to the Board of Directors.

3)

The Board of Directors will make final funding decisions.

All notification about this grant will be through emails.

Payout of Grants: upon recipient of electronically signed Grant Agreement.

Grantee Required Documents: Grant Agreement, Progress Report, Final Report. Required follow up documents will be submitted through the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

For questions about this grant or the online Grant Management System please call (320) 257-9715.