Blandin Foundation Local Grant Programs is sponsored by Blandin Foundation. Offers grants to strengthen community wealth building, small communities, and rural placemaking in Itasca County and surrounding areas in Minnesota.

Grant Eligibility & Applications › Blandin Foundation Image: 20240926_184428-crop Grant Eligibility & Applications 2026 Rural Minnesota Grants Eligibility and Proposal Considerations Part 1 of the application period is now closed. Part 2 of the application period will open April 27. For an overview of the grant round, review this video .

Please contact us with any questions. Grantee organizations and projects must align with Blandin Foundation’s mission and meet the following requirements: Authorized by the Internal Revenue Service as having Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or be fiscally sponsored by an eligible organization for charitable purposes or categorized as a Tribal government entity , public agency, or a unit of government with a charitable purpose.

Must adhere to Blandin Foundation’s Anti-Discrimination Policy . Geography & Population Requirements Applicants under this RFP will be required to meet the following target geography and/or population requirements: Be Native Nations, cities, towns, and townships in Rural Minnesota . Find the size of your community using the U.S. Census.

Metro-based organizations are ineligible to apply for funding under this RFP. For applicants utilizing a Fiscal Sponsor, please contact our grants team prior to submitting an LOI. Funding should address one or more of the following.

A known community need and/or issue facing its residents. Show engagement across different beliefs, races, ages, genders, socioeconomic status, educational, physical and cognitive abilities, and differing experiences present in the community.

Systemic barriers through new or continued partnerships; implementing projects that are sustainable, innovative, scalable and/or replicable; increasing the capacity of the community to engage in, plan or facilitate activities. Demonstrate ideas that move small communities forward. Show evidence of community support.

Examples of community support (monetary and nonmonetary): Professional services (electrical, plumbing, etc.) Donated equipment uses and labor When reviewing an applicant’s proposal, the Blandin Foundation will consider the following criteria favorably: Primarily benefits a small community with a population of 1,000 and below. Significantly benefits residents living in poverty.

Intentionally engages a broad section of the community including people who often are underrepresented or not present in planning and implementing projects. Demonstrates collaboration with other organizations, coalitions, or networks in the field or geographic area.

Proposes an innovative solution to longstanding community challenges or opportunities Builds community or organizational capacity that will benefit residents beyond the grant project period Significantly benefits BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Non-English Speaking, Disabled, and other marginalized residents. Has the potential to sustain itself without Blandin Foundation funding.

Please note: We anticipate a high number of inquiries; Blandin Foundation funding will be directed toward the smallest, lowest income, most diverse, and remote communities.

We will not fund the following: Grants to organizations outside of the state of Minnesota Grants intended to influence specific legislation, specific candidates, or lobbying Intervene in any campaign for elective public office, or support or oppose any political party, by expenditure of any resource, including volunteered labor, or in any other way Supplant public funding for development of infrastructure ordinarily provided by government entities such as water, sewer, roads, streets, and public safety Religious organizations seeking funding for religious purposes Grants for private benefit, including for-profit businesses or commercial ventures Please request an amount that speaks to what you need to complete your proposal.

Typical grant awards will be between $25,000 and $150,000. Funded projects can have a timeframe of up to 3 years. Requests over $250,000 may follow a different timeline for review and approval.

Application Review Period Organizations Notified of Grant Award These dates may change depending on the volume of applications received. Applicants who have reviewed the eligibility criteria and see alignment are welcome to apply utilizing a two-part application process. Part 1 (closed April 17, 2026) Part 1 of the grant round is now closed.

See our frequently asked questions about part 1 below. Full proposals will be invited from selected organizations on April 27. Part 2 (opens April 27, 2026) If selected, Blandin Foundation grants staff will send applicants steps to complete the full Proposal Form.

Applications received without prior invitation will not be considered for funding. Applicants recommended to the proposal phase will be invited to participate in a phone call or site visit pending the timely completion of your application. See our frequently asked questions about part 2 below.

Grant awards will be made on or about June 19, as noted in the timeline above. Members of our grant-making team and staff across the foundation will review applications. Decisions will be made after review of the eligibility and proposal, follow-up with applicants, and discussion with Blandin Grants team and key Blandin leadership.

Award notifications will be made on or about the date range noted in the timeline above. Frequently Asked Questions – Part 1 Questions and answers for the Eligibility Screening and Letter of Inquiry portion of the application process. When is the Eligibility Screen and Letter of Inquiry due?

The Eligibility Screen and Letter of Inquiry is due by 5:00 p. m. on Friday, April 17, 2026.

How much funding should my organization ask for? Please request an amount that speaks to what you need to complete your project. What will the grant duration be?

Grant duration can be up to 3 years. Is matching funding a requirement? There is not a matching requirement, but organizations are encouraged to leverage other resources.

Can I save a copy of my Letter of Inquiry and return to it later? Yes, you can save your progress and resume later. What information is helpful to provide in my summary of the project?

Please include information necessary for us to understand the connection between the project and outcomes identified within Blandin Foundation’s grantmaking focus areas. Additionally, we recommend referencing where the work will take place, and information about the people who will benefit from the project. If my Letter of Inquiry is selected to submit a full grant proposal, when will I be notified?

Notifications will be made on or around April 27, 2026. If my organization has an active grant with the foundation, am I eligible to apply for a grant during this RFP round? Highest priority will be given to proposals from organizations without an active grant.

We will consider strategically aligned proposals from organizations that already have an active grant. Can I speak with a Program Officer before I submit my Letter of Inquiry? If you have any questions, please email grants@blandinfoundation.

org and your question will be directed to a member of the Grants Team. Frequently Asked Questions – Part 2 Questions and answers for the Proposal portion of the application process. When is the grant proposal due?

The grant proposal is due by 5:00 p. m. on Friday, May 15, 2026.

Does the online grant application contain word or character limits for each answer? There are character limits that will appear underneath the text boxes once you start answering questions. Can I save a copy of my grant application and return to it later?

Yes, you have the option to save your progress and resume at a later time. What attachments are needed for my grant application? You will be prompted to provide three attachments: Your organization’s most current IRS Form 990.

If your organization is not required to complete a 990, e.g. municipalities, you can upload your most recent audited financial statement. For municipalities, or if your organization’s operating budget does not require submitting a 990, please upload your annual budget. If your project is fiscally sponsored, submit a copy of your fiscal sponsorship agreement that covers the activities and duration of the grant for which you are applying.

List of your organization’s Board of Directors and Key Staff Leadership. No additional attachments are required for the application of this grant but if you feel there are important supporting materials beyond what is outlined in the prompts, they can be emailed to grants@blandinfoundation. org .

When will a decision about funding be made? We expect funding decisions to be made around June 19, 2026; however, depending on the volume of proposals received, the timeline may shift. If my organization applies for this grant, can we apply for other Blandin Foundation grants?

Decisions will be made about this on a case-by-case basis. Can I speak with a Program Officer before I submit my grant application? If you have any questions, please email grants@blandinfoundation.

org and your question will be directed to a member of the Grants Team. We encourage you to reach out to our Grants team members at any time with questions. Grants Program Officer – Small Communities Grants Program Officer - Rural Placemaking Grants Management Associate LuAnn Robinson - Nawagiizhigookwe