OneMPLS Fund to
Support Pandemic Response
Grants will support business and essential program continuity for local nonprofits
The Minneapolis Foundation announced that it will deploy its OneMPLS Fund in support of regional efforts to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning with a minimum of $500,000 in grants to local organizations in the coming weeks.
“The pandemic will have immediate and long-term economic effects on people and organizations all over our community, and local nonprofits are on the front lines of this rapidly evolving situation,” said Chanda Smith Baker, Senior Vice President of Impact at The Minneapolis Foundation. “Weathering this crisis will require sustained compassion from all of us.”
The OneMPLS Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations in our region that are working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic. OneMPLS grants will support business and essential program continuity for local nonprofit organizations that:
- Provide services to address the economic impact on individuals whose employment has been reduced or eliminated as a result of the pandemic, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the workforce (e.g., contract workers, artists, and students).
- Meet basic needs for vulnerable populations, particularly older adults and youth.
Applications for funding from the OneMPLS Fund will be accepted starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020. A preview of the grant application is available on The Minneapolis Foundation’s website. Grant decisions will be made on a rolling basis, starting in the next few weeks. Priority will be given to applicants in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area, with a preference for organizations that serve Minneapolis residents.
Businesses and members of the public are encouraged to contribute to the OneMPLS Fund, a collective impact fund that is designed to be nimble and responsive to emerging community needs. Launched in 2018, the OneMPLS Fund was seeded with funding from The Minneapolis Foundation and public contributions. Contributions are welcome in any amount.
These grants are intended to complement the work of public health officials, government agencies, and other foundations and expand local capacity to address the pandemic as effectively as possible.
