CASA Cares Grant Program is sponsored by CASA Minnesota. Provides children in foster and kinship care with opportunities for enrichment, such as activities and experiences that foster confidence and character.

CASA Cares is our flagship, statewide grant program that provides children in foster and kinship care with opportunities for enrichment that are too often missing from the lives of kids who are in the child welfare system. Creating the magical moments of childhood is what CASA Cares is about.

For as much joy as a new bike or music lessons or soccer camp may bring – these moments also help children build confidence, character and foster lifelong respect for themselves and others. We believe that every child deserves to do the things they love and simply enjoy being a kid! Apply for a CASA Cares grant here.

CASA Cares grants help children MOVE, CONNECT, and LEARN by providing opportunities that spark their imaginations, unleash their talents and bring them joy. The CASA Cares grant-making program is made possible by a generous, committed, and diverse community of individuals and partner organizations. To learn more about how you can support CASA Cares, click here .

To apply for a CASA Cares grant for the child in your life, please click here. Learn more about our application and funding process in the FAQ below. A bike for exercise and having fun with friends Summer camp for new experiences and relationships Swim lessons to learn new skills and confidence CASA Cares is the grant program of CASA Minnesota, a public nonprofit.

CASA Cares is committed to supporting children across Minnesota with enrichment opportunities that help them MOVE, CONNECT, and LEARN. Who may apply for a grant on behalf of a child? Anyone can apply for a CASA Cares grant.

Applications are frequently received from the child’s Guardian ad Litem (GAL), social worker, foster parent, kinship caregiver, or even the child on their own behalf. Grants are available for children with an active child protection case who are currently living in foster or kinship care. What kind of goods or services will you fund?

CASA Cares provides children in foster and kinship care with enrichment grants that support movement, connection, and learning that are not otherwise available through public funds. The focus of CASA Cares grants is camps, classes, and bicycles. Examples of grants in each category include but are not limited to: ● Just for Kix dance class How much may I ask for in my application?

CASA MN responds to each unique grant application. However, the general guidance for funding limits is listed here, other limits may be communicated as part of an award: May I request funds to purchase birthday or holiday gifts? No. CASA Cares limits grants to enrichment items or activities that help children move, connect and learn.

Can you give me grant money directly and upfront to spend on behalf of a foster child? No. CASA Cares makes payments for items or activities requested only to the providing vendor directly. CASA MN does not may direct payments or provide reimbursement to individuals.

Does a child who has been reunited with his/her family with continued court supervision qualify for a grant? Possibly. Grants are made only to children who have an active child protection case.

CASA Cares cannot fund requests for children where cases are closed. Can I get a grant immediately if there is a deadline? In exceptional circumstances, CASA Cares will review emergency applications.

Please highlight the immediate need and deadline clearly on the application. How do I know if public funding is available for an item? Children in foster care are supported through a combination of federal, state, and county funds.

Any item or experience that is otherwise available through public funding, court-ordered resources, or a government program is ineligible for a CASA Cares grant. Please check with the child’s social worker to determine public funding. Can I switch an approved grant to another child?

No. Grants awarded are unique to the child who received them and cannot be reallocated to another child. I have multiple children who may be eligible for a grant. Do I need to submit unique applications for each one?

Yes. If you have multiple children you would like to apply on behalf of, you must submit one application per child. What happens if a grant was approved but now the child can’t attend/participate in the granted activity?

If the initial recipient is no longer able to participate or attend their granted activity, we will work with you on an alternative solution for that child. Must I provide a follow-up after I receive the grant? No, CASA Cares does not require any follow-ups or reporting for individual CASA Cares grants.

However, we are always grateful to hear stories of how the grant has impacted the child and may follow-up with individual grantees to ask about your and the child’s experience with the grant item or activity. How do I include an interactive hyperlink of the requested items on the grant application?

Without a unique, interactive hyperlink to click on and access, the administrator must carefully retype the entire URL circled below, ensuring no typos or omissions. URLs are often quite long, complex, and not intuitively reproducible by hand. 1.

Find item (preferably via Target. com or Amazon. com) or lesson, class, activity, camp website.

2. Locate the URL at the top of the screen – in this example, it is: a. Highlight and copy the entire URL.

b. Click your cursor into the application’s hyperlink box; right click on the mouse and select Paste from the drop-down menu that appears. The result will display similarly to the URL in step 5 below.

c. Syncfun Toddler Balance Bike (black), Easy Assemble, Adjustable Seat And Anti-skid Tires, Toddler Bike For 2, 3, 4, 5 Year Old Boys & Girls : Target 3. You can test the URL for accuracy by clicking on it within the hyperlink box on the application (or above in this example).

Confirm the copied URL takes you to the specific item/website intended. a. NOTE: Your pasted hyperlink may not be identical to the URL displayed at top of screen.

This is OK. 4. Repeat steps for any accompanying item(s) (in this case, a helmet).

I still have more questions. How do I contact you? Please send us an email at CCGrants@CASAMN.

org The mission of CASA Minnesota is to support and promote court-appointed volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children so that they can be safe, establish permanency, and have the opportunity to thrive. Or send us an email at: Info@CASAMN. org S t a y C o n n e c t e d