Lupa Animal Wellness Fund Grants

Lupa Animal Wellness Fund Grants is sponsored by Boreal Waters Community Foundation (formerly Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation). This fund strengthens animal health, safety, and wellness across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Grants support efforts to increase shelter capacity, expand spay/neuter access, reduce pet overpopulation, and improve veterinary care, particularly in rural and Tribal communities.

Our grants make a difference in our communities and region, as well as in the lives of those touched by the work of our nonprofit partners.

We welcome proposals from: ✔️ Established nonprofits with strong infrastructure ✔️ Grassroots or emerging groups led by and for their communities ✔️ Collaborations or fiscally sponsored efforts We are especially interested in organizations that: Are led by or serve historically marginalized communities Demonstrate local trust and community ownership Show potential for lasting, scalable impact Eligibility Requirements ‍ To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must meet both of the following criteria: The organization must be classified by the IRS as one of the following: • A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization • A Section 170(c)(1) public entity (e.g., governmental agencies, public schools) • A Section 7871 Tribal government • An organization with a fiscal sponsor that is classified under one of the above categories ‍ The organization must serve communities within the Boreal Waters Community Foundation’s service area .

➜ Click here for the 2026–2027 Boreal Waters Grant Cycle Calendar aaron-thomas-gelineau-fund-for-educational-opportunity Aaron Thomas Gelineau Fund for Educational Opportunity animal-assisted-therapy-fund Animal-Assisted Therapy Fund apostle-islands-area-community-fund Apostle Islands Area Community Fund apostle-islands-area-human-rights-fund Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund central-mesabi-fund-for-human-services Central Mesabi Fund for Human Services chequamegon-bay-area-community-fund Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund community-opportunity-fund---belonging Community Opportunity Fund - Belonging community-opportunity-fund---opportunity Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity community-opportunity-fund---resilience Community Opportunity Fund - Resilience community-opportunity-fund---transformation Community Opportunity Fund - Transformation cook-county-community-fund Cook County Community Fund douglas-county-disaster-and-welfare-fund Douglas County Disaster and Welfare Fund duluth-public-schools-fund Duluth Public Schools Fund eveleth-community-foundation-fund Eveleth Community Foundation Fund four-cedars-environmental-fund Four Cedars Environmental Fund grutzner-madeline-island-fund Grutzner Madeline Island Fund john-t-elizabeth-c-adams-arts-fund John T.

& Elizabeth C. Adams Arts Fund lupa-animal-wellness-fund Lupa Animal Wellness Fund mary-h-rice-community-innovation-fund Mary H. Rice Community Innovation Fund michael-madeline-island-fund Michael Madeline Island Fund red-cliff-miskwaabikaang-fund Red Cliff / Miskwaabikaang Fund samuel-f-atkins-and-barbara-h-atkins-memorial-fund Samuel F.

Atkins and Barbara H. Atkins Memorial Fund sandbulte-family-higher-education-endowment-fund Sandbulte Family Higher Education Endowment Fund silver-bay-charitable-fund Silver Bay Charitable Fund Community Opportunity Fund - Transformation Duluth Public Schools Fund Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity, Resilience, Belonging Select Grant Cycle Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Aaron Thomas Gelineau Fund for Educational Opportunity Supports Duluth nonprofits that help underserved youth and families thrive—investing in cradle-to-career success with a focus on education, including high school completion and GED support, and removing barriers through practical, everyday support.

Programs supporting traditionally underserved individuals who may fall within the opportunity gap to finish high school and earn a GED. Nonprofits with a demonstrated track record of directly impacting youth, young adults and families.

• Funding can be used for expenses such as transportation, supplies, computer equipment, internet services, temporary childcare, emergency expenses, etc. Projects assisting with GED completion Programs promoting wellness and school success for youth and families Mentorship programming with focus on education Career preparation/education After school and summer educational programming Provide services to residents of Duluth, MN DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> aaron-thomas-gelineau-fund-for-educational-opportunity Animal-Assisted Therapy Fund The Animal-Assisted Therapy Fund supports programs that use animal-assisted therapy to help people of all ages facing mental, emotional, or psychological challenges.

Established in memory of Cordelia Anne Brinton, the fund emphasizes therapeutic work where animals are active participants in healing, not just companions. It prioritizes initiatives where both humans and animals are thoughtfully cared for and where the interaction fosters meaningful emotional and behavioral growth.

Grants from this fund may support a wide range of programs, such as teaching individuals how to interact with animals to promote emotional development. Expanding understanding of personal challenges through animal connections. Providing mental health services that integrate animal-assisted therapy.

Eligible organizations may also offer structured, goal-oriented sessions in partnership with professionals. Or rescue and rehabilitate animals for therapeutic use.

Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> animal-assisted-therapy-fund Apostle Islands Area Community Fund ‍ ‍ Grant awards support projects that respond to the evolving needs of the La Pointe-Bayfield-Red Cliff region in areas such as the arts, environment, civic engagement, youth and family services, human rights, and adult education.

Priority is given to initiatives that strengthen community connections, encourage organizational collaboration, and address root causes of local issues. Projects that require modest funding but offer significant impact, as well as new efforts needing start-up support, are also favored. ‍ While the fund may provide more than one year of support for new or stabilizing programs, it does not offer permanent or long-term funding.

Requests for capital expenses, equipment purchases, or ongoing program support are generally low priority and unlikely to receive funding from unrestricted grant sources. Additionally, the fund does not support activities typically handled by government agencies, debt payments, endowments, fundraising efforts, or grants for individuals.

Other ineligible areas include organizations focused on lobbying, political campaigns, direct religious activities, or medical research. Provide services to residents within the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund’s service area, defined as: the Town of La Pointe, Red Cliff/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang Reservation, the Town of Russell, the City of Bayfield and the Town of Bayfield.

DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> apostle-islands-area-community-fund Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund The Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund supports efforts to promote tolerance, understanding and respect for all and to combat bigotry and discrimination by engaging people in dialogue, discussion, relationship-building, cross-cultural awareness and interaction. The advisory board recommends grants from the Human Rights Fund.

Applications are invited for projects that impact human rights in the Bayfield-Madeline Island-Red Cliff/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang region and fall within one or more of the following categories: Education, Mediation and conflict resolution, and Celebrations. The fund will consider applications for community intervention or emergency-response grants to address specific incidents.

The fund prioritizes projects that clearly identify their purpose—such as education, mediation, celebration, or conflict resolution—and address a specific issue. Successful proposals will demonstrate how the project promotes tolerance, combats discrimination, raises awareness, fosters understanding, or helps heal harm caused by bias.

Projects should also show that the organization has the capacity to deliver the work effectively and present a realistic budget with a clear funding plan. Provide services to residents within the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund’s service area, defined as: the Town of La Pointe, Red Cliff/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang Reservation, the Town of Russell, the City of Bayfield and the Town of Bayfield.

DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> apostle-islands-area-human-rights-fund 2026 Biodiversity Fund Grant Guidelines and Application Process click here for details Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area $50,000 per year, for up to three years. Funding beyond year one is contingent on ongoing progress and mutual agreement on next steps.

Central Mesabi Fund for Human Services To support agencies that directly assist low-income individuals and families in meeting basic needs and addressing everyday challenges.

Strong programmatic impact or merit Special projects and general operating support may be funded Requests for equipment purchases or capital improvements are typically not funded Provide services to the residents of the communities bounded on the west by Coleraine and on the east by Mountain Iron.

DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> central-mesabi-fund-for-human-services Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund The Chequamegon Bay Area Community Funds support projects that address the evolving needs of Washburn, Ashland, and Bad River in the areas of arts, community and economic development, education, environment, and human services. The South Shore Community Fund Advisory Board may shift focus among these areas based on emerging needs.

Priority is given to projects that foster collaboration, address root causes of community challenges, support civic or policy research, require start-up funding, or enhance organizational capacity—all while delivering meaningful impact with moderate funding.

Grants from these unrestricted funds are not intended for permanent or long-term support, though multi-year funding may be considered to help stabilize new or particularly impactful programs. Capital and equipment purchases, as well as ongoing program support, are generally low priority and unlikely to be funded. The fund does not support endowments, religious activities, medical research, fundraising efforts, or debt payments.

Grants are also not awarded to individuals, political campaigns, lobbying organizations, or projects that fall under typical government responsibilities. Provide services to the residents of the Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund, which includes: the boundaries of the Washburn School District and the Ashland School District, including Odanah, the central community of the Bad River Reservation/ Mashkiiziibii.

DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> chequamegon-bay-area-community-fund Community Opportunity Fund - Belonging 2026 Community Opportunity Fund: Details and How to Apply ‍ Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity, Resilience, Belonging community-opportunity-fund---belonging Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity 2026 Community Opportunity Fund: Details and How to Apply ‍ Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity, Resilience, Belonging community-opportunity-fund---opportunity Community Opportunity Fund - Resilience 2026 Community Opportunity Fund: Details and How to Apply ‍ Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area Community Opportunity Fund - Opportunity, Resilience, Belonging community-opportunity-fund---resilience Community Opportunity Fund - Transformation 2026 Transformation Grant Guidelines and Application Process Provide service to residents within Boreal Waters Community Foundation Service Area $100,000 per year, for up to three years Funding beyond year one is contingent on ongoing progress and mutual agreement on next steps.

Community Opportunity Fund - Transformation community-opportunity-fund---transformation Cook County Community Fund The Cook County Community Fund supports initiatives that strengthen community connections and respond to local needs across six key areas: arts, education, community development, the environment, human services, and youth.

We prioritize projects that build collaboration, address the root causes of challenges, and bring people together across Cook County. Grants often support new or emerging ideas, especially those that can make a meaningful difference with modest funding. Applicants are encouraged to seek matching funds, and proposals that leverage additional support are given strong consideration.

While the Fund does not typically support capital projects or ongoing program costs, we may offer short-term or multi-year funding to help launch promising new efforts—so long as there’s a plan for sustaining the work after our grant ends.

Provide services to communities within the Cook County Community Fund service area of Cook County, including the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gichi Onigaming DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY >> cook-county-community-fund