2025 Economic Mobility – Capacity Building Grants

This grant round reflects updates we have made to our Racial and Economic Justice grant program in response to feedback about the need for more flexible resources to support nonprofit organizations working in this space. Our 2025 grants will focus on capacity building and operating support as these organizations adjust to changes in the funding and policy landscape.

Eligibility and Priorities for Funding
Funding will be awarded to organizations working to build a more sustainable economic landscape in which communities can thrive and individuals have greater economic mobility.

Eligible applicants include:

• Small- to Medium-Sized Nonprofits with budgets of up to approximately $3 million and a track record of demonstrated success in:
  • • Advancing structural and systems change through civic participation, community organizing, and policy advocacy.
    • Investing in economic systems and practices that support economic mobility, close wealth gaps, and stabilize communities.
• Nonprofit Intermediaries with larger budgets that have experience providing capacity-building services to small- to medium-sized nonprofits that align with the description above.

Priority will be given to organizations based in and serving Minneapolis communities and the inner-ring suburbs of Hennepin County (Brooklyn Center, Edina, Golden Valley, Richfield, Robbinsdale, and St. Louis Park).

Priority will also be given to organizations that foster economic mobility by providing support to small businesses.

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Background
The Minneapolis Foundation’s staff-directed grantmaking focuses on advancing equity in three core areas: Economic mobility, education, and the environment. Our work is guided by our Strategic Framework, which calls on us to support those most affected by issues and to invest in community-led solutions.

This grant round is the latest iteration of our Racial and Economic Justice grant program, which funds grant partners working on issues related to economic mobility. It was influenced by the voices of many key stakeholders as well as investments we have made over the past four years to support economic mobility by strengthening small businesses investing in key commercial corridors. We aim to support those most impacted by economic issues and to invest in community-led solutions.

What We Will Fund
We will fund activities that support scenario and transitional planning that build capacity and strengthen nonprofit organizational structures. These include, but are not limited to:

Financial Assessment and Management to properly assess, manage, and identify private, institutional, state, and federal funding sources.

• Diversifying and rightsizing funding and revenue sources
• Upgrading financial systems to track and report financials to ensure long-term financial health

Staff and Administrative Capacity to manage and improve programs that have experienced increased demands.

• Staffing to meet increased demand
• Evaluation of program efficacy

Technology Resources to help nonprofit organizations update and evolve the systems they use to meet community needs.

• Database system updates to efficiently capture and organize data on service delivery and outcomes
• Cybersecurity updates to accurately track and protect data

Organization Planning to help nonprofit leaders and their boards reflect and seek advice to increase organizational sustainability.

• Strategic planning to guide organizational development and services
• Leadership transition planning, including succession or collaborative leadership modeling
• Exploration of organizational mergers and consolidations
• Scenario planning and evaluation to identify long-term risks and opportunities
• Mission re-alignment to define mission, vision, and goals

Community and Stakeholder Engagement to build stronger connections with the community, supporters, and donors for increased visibility and impact.

• Development of strategic partnerships to amplify impact and responsiveness
• Advocacy and community organizing to foster civic participation
• Increased communications, information sharing, and engagement with community and stakeholders

Legal Resources to ensure nonprofits can operate while minimizing legal risks and maximizing their ability to serve communities.

• Implementation of risk management strategies
• Creation and review of contracts, mergers, acquisitions, and dissolutions
• Work to ensure compliance with changing state and federal regulations

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Funds Available to Grant
We have approximately $3 million available to grant, with awards expected to range between $50,000 and $75,000. Organizations may allocate up to 25% of the total grant amount for overhead costs. These overhead costs are intended to cover indirect expenses that support the overall operation of your organization but are not directly tied to the execution of the capacity building project.

Application Process and Deadline
All applications must be submitted through our online portal. We will begin accepting applications on March 12, 2025. The deadline to submit your application is 1 p.m. on April 15, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. Please do not submit multiple applications; only one application per organization will be reviewed.

Before beginning your application online, we recommend downloading this document to preview the application questions. These include links to budget and workplan templates that you will be required to complete and upload as part of your application.

We encourage you to log in to our application portal well before the deadline to ensure you have access to it and that your organization’s contact information is current. For assistance with our online portal, including help with your username and/or login information, please contact our Grants Administration team at grantsupport@mplsfoundation.org.​ Please include “Advancing Economic Mobility” in the subject line of your message.

Funding Decisions and Terms of Grant
Funding decisions will be made in May 2025.

The grant period for this opportunity will be from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. Grant recipients will be required to submit a final report 60 days after the conclusion of the grant period.

Information Session
We welcome applicants to join us on Zoom for an optional information session about this grant round from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 17. We will also post a recording on this page. Register >>

Questions About Guidelines
Contact Program Officer Josh Johnson at JJohnson2@mplsfoundation.org.