Fourth Generation Awards $80,000 in Grants 

Fourth Generation, a program of the Minneapolis Foundation, capped off its 13th grantmaking cycle by awarding $80,000 in grants to eight local organizations that are working to advance education equity.

Members of Fourth Generation center equity in the conversation as they learn about grantmaking and pool their resources to make a much bigger difference in the community than they could alone. Every year, they vote to choose an issue, learn from community members who are engaged with it, fundraise, review proposals, and award grants to local nonprofits.

“This year, our members spent months exploring education in traditional and alternative organizations. As a group, we decided early on to focus on the K-12 school system and support organizations that work with justice-impacted people, single mothers, and teachers,” said Laura Pancoast, Grantmaking Chair of Fourth Generation. “I was continually in awe of our members’ dedication and thoughtfulness as they encouraged the group to grow and shaped new processes for future grant cycles.”

One of this year’s grants will support Relentless Academy, an organization based in Brooklyn Center that helps kids succeed by providing affordable and accessible academic programming in the areas of science, math, art, reading, coding/robotics, music, and financial literacy. “This grant will help us with our mission to prepare the next generation of leaders for S.M.A.R.T. proficiency to close the academic achievement and wealth gap among families in underserved communities,” said Nicoshia Wynn, Executive Director of Relentless Academy.

Photos courtesy of Way to Grow and Black Men Teach Twin Cities

• All Square, which received a grant of $9,800, is a nonprofit social enterprise that invests in innovative programs and ideas to heal the harms created by the criminal legal system. Its initiative The Legal Revolution aims to structurally transform the legal discipline through projects that center racial equity, wellness, and the expertise of those most impacted by the law—including programs that support them in studying and practicing law.
• Black Men Teach Twin Cities, which received $13,800, is the “quarterback” of a team of community-based organizations, teacher training programs, K-5 schools, and scholarship programs. The organization integrates the work of its partners to ensure that Black men who are interested in becoming teachers have viable, affordable pathways to the classroom.
• Jeremiah Program, which was awarded $9,000, disrupts generational poverty by providing wraparound services to majority-BIPOC single mothers who are pursuing a college education.
• Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, which received an $8,600 grant, develops and advances networks, practices, research, and policies to dismantle racism in education and build a more just, equitable Minnesota in which all students realize their full potential.
• New Vision Foundation, which received $7,800, empowers young Minnesotans from historically underestimated communities to pursue careers in information technology, spurring wealth creation and diversifying the tech workforce.
• Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, which received $6,600, creates social change by inspiring the next generation of leaders through education, training, and community outreach. The organization’s programs include efforts to increase literacy and diversity in children’s books.
• Relentless Academy, which received a $15,800 grant, provides affordable and accessible S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math, Art, Reading, Technology) programming, including music and financial literacy instruction for underserved youth. The organization works to prepare the next generation of leaders, and to close gaps in wealth and academic opportunities for families in underserved communities.
• Way to Grow, which received $8,600, provides free, year-round family support and educational programming for families in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. Through virtual and in-person home visits, its Family Educators build trusted relationships with parents and children to create customized learning plans that celebrate the entire family.

Fourth Generation is a hands-on experience in philanthropy for rising leaders who care about local issues and want to make a bigger impact. In the past decade, some 400 members have granted more than $700,000 to nonprofit organizations working to address community issues such as affordable housing, criminal justice reform, food justice, and small business development.

Fourth Generation welcomes new members every fall. Learn more about becoming a member.