MicroGrants Program (Minnesota)

MicroGrants Program (Minnesota) is sponsored by MicroGrants (Minnesota nonprofit). MicroGrants offers $1,000 grants to low-income individuals in Minnesota for business development.

MicroGrants – MicroGrants is a Minnesota nonprofit that gives $1,000 grants to low-income people for the purposes of education, business development, or transportation. MicroGrants Founder Joe Selvaggio 1937-2024 We are saddened to share that our founder, Joe Selvaggio, passed away peacefully at the age of 87.

Partnering with People of Potential We distribute grants, up to $2,500, to enhance the lives of low-income people of potential in the Twin Cities. The grants are designed to help people increase their income either through small business development or getting and retaining stable employment. learn more about our grantmaking Important: MicroGrants does not award grants directly to individuals.

MicroGrants only accepts applications from approved Partner Agencies. View our current Partner Agencies here . Connect with an active Partner Agency Follow Partner Agency’s organization process.

They will help you navigate our grantmaking process, coach and mentor you to achieve your goals and provide support for grant reporting requirements See Current Years Selected Partners feel positive about their future feel their quality of life improved In 2023, 87% of our grantmaking served the BIPOC community Read about the impact of our grantmaking in our annual report Adam came to MicroGrants through Summit Academy.

He had just finished a community health vocational program at Summit Academy and was starting a new job when his car broke down. Summit helped him apply for a transportation grant and he was able to get his car fixed. “It was very instrumental because, had I not received the grant, I wouldn’t have been able to get to my job every day.

Then, I wouldn’t have been able to keep the job and I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at right now. ” Adam now works as a community health worker at a health center during the day and goes to school at night to pursue his goal of becoming a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

“When something goes right, is right on time, and is super crucial to get you to the next step to where you are trying to get…that’s how I would describe the micro grant. The timing of it couldn’t have been any more perfect and it just allowed me to purse the goals that I had. ” Renita came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.

She owns Slayed Beauty, a salon that caters to Black women and strives to ensure that customers leave happier than when they came in. Due to the pandemic and shutdown in Minnesota, Renita had to closer her salon for three months in 2020. Receiving a grant was crucial in helping her rebuild her business.

She used her grant to order more inventory of her product line, which she hopes will add to her sales goals and get her closer to scaling her business. “ I would like to thank MicroGrants for helping my small business reach new height in this industry, which can be very hard to do alone. Thank you for seeing my business, in which I take so much pride in, as worthy of your support.

From me to you, ‘Let The Slayage Begin! ’” Jelisa came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. She owns a salon that specializes in helping plus-size women with nails, makeup, and clothing with the overall goal of helping her customers build self-esteem.

Due to the pandemic and shutdown in Minnesota, Jelisa had to closer her salon for three months in 2020, which was very hard on her financially. To make matters worse, she also had supplies stolen during the uprisings following the death of George Floyd. She used the grant to help her rebuild her inventory, and she now is getting back on her feet and things are looking up.

“Thank you for everything you have done for me – I am so appreciative. Receiving a grant helped me replace supplies that were stolen, which helped me maintain my customers and keep my business going. ” Shontay came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.

She owns a plant nursery that grows, raises, and sells plants and flowers. She had just started her business when COVID hit, which was devastating to such a new and small business. Receiving a grant has given Shontay a chance to be successful going forward.

“The grant helped me to stay in business. I wouldn’t be open and thriving right now if I hadn’t gotten the grant then. I am so grateful.

” “After 17 years of working for a company, new owners came to me as I was finishing my shift and said they’d be using their own people now and asked me to hand over the keys. Being the sole income provider since my husband’s death, this sudden loss of income started a financial downfall for me. Daily Work connected me to a program that helps people who are 55+ get the skills they need to start a new career in their later years.

Daily Work applied for the $1000 grant so I could complete 45 hours of training in Word and Excel. Shortly after that, I heard that a receptionist/payroll assistant job had become available where I was volunteering. With my new computer skills, I had the confidence to apply for the the position.

And they hired me! My employers and I are very happy together. Microgrants made it possible for me obtain permanent employment with benefits!

Thank you so much! ” “MicroGrants . .

. has helped me with grants to receive money to where I can buy supplies, because I didn’t have any supplies . .

. MicroGrants has helped me to get this far to where I am right now. ” “What MicroGrants did for me is they helped me upgrade the equipment that I desperately needed for the business .

. . I’ve been able to get more clientele and I’ve been extremely satisfied.

” “I started this non-profit probably a year and a half ago, so I am brand new. Being able to take this course has afforded me the knowledge and some of the academic skills that I did not have in the beginning. ” “The U wasn’t going to release my transcript until that loan was paid off, and MicroGrants helped me pay that loan off, so now I can finish my degree studying music composition, which is my dream.

I’ve been a starving artist for years, so I’m looking forward to finishing my degree and maybe making some more money. ” “I literally bring [my laptop] with me every single day and utilize it every day, so it’s a constant reminder to MicroGrants that it has helped me be successful in my college career. ” Robert, who came to MicroGrants through EMERGE, got a business grant to start a fitness enterprise.

He says, “Before I was able to get the grant, I was trying to start [a] bootcamp, start kickboxing classes, start fitness classes, but I didn’t really have the tools. . .

. Once I was able to get the grant, I was able to get punching bags, I was able to get square boxes . .

. It was something that helped me be able to get the equipment that I needed to start my business. I’d like to say thank you to whoever it was that helped me, whoever it was, that was a speck of light in this world for me and allowed me to create my business.

” Father Ronald received a grant shortly after MicroGrants was founded. He says, “I am a recipient of a thousand-dollar micro grant for a laptop computer because my computer died on me when I was about midway through my time at United Seminary of the Twin Cities . .

. Since that time, I was ordained a priest in the Old Catholic Church, and then have been serving both in activities and in spiritual care in several adult care facilities for seniors, both residential care facilities and assisted living places. It’s been wonderful to be a recipient of the grant because it’s enabled me to do the work that I currently am doing.

” Lisa came to MicroGrants through Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. She is the executive director of Adults and Children’s Alliance, a nonprofit that works with in-home daycare providers. Lisa says, “I used the grant for additional leadership classes as well as a business professional coach.

. . .

After the grant, I was very excited because having a coach opened up some other things for me, and other networks and connections, and that will help further me in my consulting business moving down the road. . .

. I want to say this is an awesome program. Thank you so much.

I, as a person that works with other business owners and entrepreneurs, know that it is important that we all have resources. ” Mat came to MicroGrants through the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC). He co-owns Caydence Records & Coffee.

He says the grant “helped us in the background here create a beautiful new updated handmade bakery case, which has helped our sales in general of pastry items. . .

. Furthermore, we’ve been able to help design and then produce some really nice Caydence Records and Coffee merchandise. We did stickers, and T-shirts, and in-house coffee mugs branded for our business to help push and grow our business.

Thank you for contributing to our small business to help grow a really fun Eastside community coffee and music hub. ” Danielle came to MicroGrants through Midtown Global Market. She says, “I used the grant to help rebrand and market my business to help raise sales at a time when it was very slow.

I really want to say thank you to all the donors to the MicroGrants program because it helps small businesses so much. Any amount that we are granted, it helps to stay afloat in really tough times, and we appreciate it. Thank you.

” With the help of MicroGrants, Antonio was able to get his car repaired. He said, “When I went [to Bobby and Steve’s], they gave me a checkup to see what needed to be done and they told me that there was a lot of stuff that had to be fixed, and, if those things couldn’t get fixed, my car would have [broken] down immediately . .

. When MicroGrants was able to help out, the grant that they gave me to get my car repaired—I was actually really thankful for that because I wouldn’t be able to go to work, I wouldn’t be able to go to school without my car. ” Brittany came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.

She received a micro grant to help her purchase an ice cream truck that she now owns and operates with her family. According to Brittany, “The grant was pivotal to our success. ” She says, “I want to send a special thank you to [MicroGrants].

As a new mom, it was super helpful and motivating for me to receive the money for starting my business, and it put me in a very successful space. ” Aisha came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. She is a massage therapist who is passionate about healing people, especially those living on the north side of Minneapolis.

She came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance and used her grant to purchase equipment that she needed in order to take her business to the next level. “The grant was the biggest, greatest help that I could have ever gotten… It helped me to up the ante on my services and service my clients properly, and it made me feel very whole as a company… I am so appreciative of the micro grant,” says Aisha.

Meriem came to MicroGrants through the Wilder Foundation. An asylum-seeker from Tunisia, she came to Minnesota several years ago. She currently attends a local community college and will be receiving her associates degree in May.

Meriem came to MicroGrants through the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation and used her grant to pay for professional training to become a medical interpreter, a job where she can earn $25/hour. She now works part-time as an interpreter and is able to save money to go toward fulfilling her dream of receiving a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and working for the United Nations.

She hopes to be able to impact the world and help others that have gone through similar hardships as herself. “Receiving a micro grant has helped me increase my income, make a difference in people’s lives, and has given me hope that things will always keep getting better,” says Meriem. Keiona came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.

Keiona is passionate about bringing people together and inspiring future generations. She owns a couture clothing line and a non-profit that teaches sewing to local youth. Keiona used her grant to pay for marketing that has helped her promote and expand both of her endeavors.

“The micro grant… helped me branch out and reach a larger audience… and that really made a huge impact on the amount of people, the amount of children, I’ve been able to impact over the last year,” said Keiona. Watch this video to learn more about Keiona and her grant: https://vimeo. com/480358557 Amira came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance.

She has her own photography business called Double Focused Productions and is also working toward getting in the music production industry. With her grant, she was able to get a car, which has allowed her to get around to photo shoots and easily carry around her equipment. Now, she has been able to book so many photo shoots that she is even getting backed up.

She said, when she received the grant, “I was so excited. I was ready to hug everybody. ” Amira says, “I want to say thank you to BWWA and MicroGrants… if it wasn’t for [the grant], I don’t know how else I would have been able to get a car so I’m really grateful and thankful for that.

” Crown came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. She is a children’s book author that strives to write books that have positive representation for Black children — she aims to inspire kids of color to follow their dreams. Crown received a grant to help her publish and promote her books.

Simpson came to MicroGrants through Hired. Due to a physical health ailment, he found himself without a job, but he was determined to move forward with his life and became set on pursuing the necessary education to become a police officer. Giving back to his community and setting an example for his children has always been a priority.

He is now registered at Metropolitan State University to purse a 4-year degree in Law Enforcement and is also finishing up his 2-year degree in Criminal Justice at Century College. Receiving an education grant has allowed him to pursue his dream by helping with remaining tuition costs. “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone that took part in giving me a grant.

If it wasn’t for the grant, I may not have been able to continue my education. All of the resources I have are because of HIRED and MicroGrants. ” Sylvia came to MicroGrants through WomenVenture.

She is President of Safesha, a personal care products company. She says, Jaton came to MicroGrants through Project Diva. She works for a local nonprofit and her job requires her to move around a lot.

When her car broke down and she couldn’t afford to have it fixed, she was struggling with meeting commitments and, according to Jaton, “I might have lost my job. ” She was able to get a used car with her grant and says that the car has “literally saved my life. ” “My family and I basically were rescued by MicroGrants.

By being awarded the grant…I was able to be free of the stress of figuring it out day-to-day on how to get where I needed to be… The micro grant has enabled my family to continue to be on a track for success. ” Nakara came to MicroGrants through Project Diva. She created a program called Deep End Challenge.

The self-discovery program is meant to cultivate wholeness in Black women and girls in North Minneapolis by equipping them with the tools to swim mentally, emotionally, and physically. She used her grant to purchase promotional items, towels, swimsuits, and swim caps for the program participants.

“I’m super grateful to everyone who donated to MicroGrants and made these resources possible for people like me who are getting small businesses and opportunities for the community off the ground,” says Nakara. Reeka came to MicroGrants through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. She learned how to sew and used her grant to purchase a sewing machine.

She now makes and sells bonnets that Black women use to protect their hair at night. This business allows her to make extra income for her and her son. Reeka said , “This micro grant really allowed me to soar… I bought my first sewing machine and then things just took off from there.

” Joanna came to MicroGrants through Grace Place, one of our Florida Partner Agencies. She received an education grant to help her pay tuition. Joanna is majoring in Hospitality and Tourism and she dreams of becoming a chef and owning a restaurant someday.

“I would like to thank you for choosing me to receive a micro grant. I plan to use this grant to help pay off my tuition and cover some school expenses like textbooks, school supplies, and fees at Florida State University. I appreciate your investment in giving other students and myself a better chance of developing our future profession.

” Shaneka came to MicroGrants through Hired. While participating in Hired’s Medical Call Center Career Pathways Training program, Shaneka began having car issues and was worried that a lack of dependable transportation would affect her ability to find a good job. With funding from MicroGrants and guidance from Hired, Shaneka was able to complete a car purchase trade to buy a new car.

Since that time, she successfully completed Hired’s training program and started an Instacart position delivering groceries. Shaneka is thankful to have a reliable car as she continues to interview for call center positions towards her ultimate career goal of working in the medical field. Sharon came to MicroGrants through NEON (the Northside Economic Opportunity Network).

She is the founder and owner of Peace of Hope, an organization connecting people in prison with their loved ones on the outside. She used her grant for repairs on Peace of Hope’s vehicle so that Peace of Hope could continue connecting people. She says, “I most definitely want to appeal to anyone who’s considering becoming a donor at MicroGrants to do so.

Your dollar is much more than a physical dollar; it may add to a much bigger solution. ” Raelene is a co-owner of the Art Shoppe, a store showcasing the art of nearly 100 Minnesota artists at the Midtown Global Market, which served as Raelene’s Partner Agency. She and the other owners of the Art Shoppe used the grant to buy new counters to display jewelry and also upgrade the shop laptop.

Jassmin came to MicroGrants through HIRED. She is working toward an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from North Hennepin Community College. She says, “I used the grant to pay off my school tuition for a past-due balance that I owed to North Hennepin Community College.

I just want to say thank you to the donors. This has really helped me make a change in my life. After a few years, I’m now able to go back to school!

Thank you so much! ” Eleisha came to MicroGrants through HIRED. She is a single mother whose son is on the autism spectrum, and she used her grant to pay a past-due balance in order to return to school to study social work.

She says, “It’s hard to work because of all of [my son’s] therapies. Returning to school will help me get a degree in social work and I can work as a case manager and go out to people’s homes. It’s a little more flexible .

. . I just want to thank the donors because this is helping me get back on track and in the right direction for me and my kids, so thank you.

” Crystal owns CriStyles Closet, an upscale clothing boutique in North Minneapolis. She came to MicroGrants through NEON and used her grant to purchase plus-sized inventory for the store. She says,“I used [the grant] to buy nice, classy clothes for my women in the community .

. I want to thank all the donors that believed in me and gave me the grant to live out my dream. ” Rosalind came to MicroGrants through NEON (the Northside Economic Opportunity Network).

She is the owner and founder of Fam Bam Toys. She says, “I want to thank the sponsors, the donors, because, being a woman and a person of color, entrepreneur, you start off on the ground, like with your face to the concrete. And this micro grant, what it did was, it lifted me up on my feet.

It gave me hope. It helped me. And I really appreciate it.

” D’Narius came to MicroGrants through NEON (the Northside Economic Opportunity Network). He says, “I used the grant money through MicroGrants for the production of my book, The Essence of Inspiration. Life before this process was, I was going from organization to organization, looking for assistance.

I was living paycheck-to-paycheck . . .

When I was introduced to MicroGrants through NEON, it helped me build the confidence to actually put the process out. Now that the process is . .

. a reality, I’ve had more opportunities . .

. to scale the production of the book. ” Belen combines her Argentinian heritage with her food service background in her pop-up shop, Quebracho Charcuterie and Pies.

She came to MicroGrants through NEON, the Northside Economic Opportunity Network. She says,“I was awarded a $1,000 grant, which I used to buy a prep sandwich unit. It was an amazing gift.

Thanks to that, we were able to grow our business during the first two months. ” Brian got a car through a transportation grant from MicroGrants. This car enabled him to take a construction job.

He says, “My experience getting a car through MicroGrants was pretty simple .. . It actually exceeded my expectations.

” At age 13, DJ is CEO of AfroBot Boyz, a robotics club for African-American youth. MicroGrants helped fund the inaugural AfroBot Boyz summer camp. Barbara came to MicroGrants via the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers.

She says, “I used the grant money for paying for the intensive course that I needed to be eligible to take my national board certification exam, and then I also used it to pay for that exam . . .

I am working toward opening my business and launching it . . .

and getting off Social Security Disability [Insurance], housing support, food support, all of that . . .

It may not seem like a huge thing to take this six-week course and get this test taken, but, for me, it meant whether or not I had my career. ” Dofa Mohamed, a single mother, used her business grant to buy supplies and register her cleaning business. She came to MicroGrants through Open for Business—Scott County.

She says, “It really helped me to own my own business and be my own boss, to have my schedule around my kids. . .

. Also, I’ve become [a] role model to other single moms who thought they can’t own their own business . .

. they [are] now working on starting their own business too. ” Mary came to MicroGrants through The Amherst H.

Wilder Foundation. She says, “I applied for a [grant for a] photography business surrounding mental health . .

. Once I received the grant, I was able to get an entrepreneurship class at St. Thomas, which I am currently attending to try and make sure that I run the business accordingly .

. . I want to thank you, the donors, for being able to help me with the funding to begin my business.

” Denita came to MicroGrants through Project Diva. She says, “The grant was used to pursue a higher education. I’m now enrolled in my nursing program.

I was able to pay all my tuition and get books. Secondly, I added on homemaking services to my PCA company, and now my workers are able to provide extra services to elders and children and persons with physical disabilities who live independently in their own homes. ” Tiara Keezer was homeless and living with her sister and her sister’s four children in a two bedroom apartment.

In an effort to get back and forth to work and maintain a stable lifestyle for herself and her daughter, she needed reliable transportation. Summit Academy OIC nominated Keezer for a Microgrant to help secure a vehicle. Since then, Tiara has purchased a car, gotten a job and lives in her own place.

Having graduated #1 in her class, she is currently working on the Viking Stadium and happy to be able to provide for her daughter. Keezer has plans to return to Summit Academy regularly to speak to students encouraging them to know it is possible to transform your life with hard work and help from people who care. Danielle Goodrum, opened her restaurant, Fresco Pasta and Bar in Midtown Global Market in 2012.

Like any new business owner she encountered special challenges along the way. Without a hood in her kitchen space, she had to use a commercial kitchen in support of her restaurant and catering business. With only two employees there was insufficient time and staff to maintain the business, including updating the catering menu of which was critical to sustaining the business during slow times of the year.

When she had a baby, she hired additional help which increased her costs. Thanks to Microgrants, Goodrum was able to recover from surgery, pay her additional staff, update her catering menu and add a hood to her kitchen. As her business continues to grow, she credits Microgrants with providing vital support at a critical time.

When De’Angelo first came to the Father Project (an arm of Goodwill Easter Seals), he felt that this program was his last chance to turn his life around. He began the construction training program with Summit Academy OIC but didn’t have a driver’s license which he needed to complete his training.

De’Angelo was nominated and used his Microgrant to obtain his driver’s license, buy auto insurance and has since graduated from Summit Academy’s training program. De’Angelo is now a certified carpenter and proud to say that, for the first time he is providing for his family in the way he had always dreamed. Last month he became a first time home owner!!

He now understands that no matter what your life circumstances, life can change for the better as long as you are willing to work hard, believe in yourself and never give up. Kirk Traxler is a caterer and the grant allowed him to expand his business this past summer. “Because you assisted me in getting tools I needed to get to work, you have changed the course of my life and the life of my family.

Thank you for believing in me! ” Kirk is up and running and has a very positive attitude! Rouny Phoupthaphaphone dreamed of beginning a career in business in order to provide for her family and give her children a “well-deserved” education.

During the summer of 2013, she had to drop out of school due to an unsafe home environment. In the past year, Rouny has obtained restraining orders, relocated and now is in a safe living space with her children. In an effort to help finance her education, Goodwill Easter Seals nominated her for a Microgrant.

She enrolled at Century College full-time toward a degree in Business Administration. Thanks to Microgrants, she is back on track towards a better future for herself and her family. After years of applying, the MN State Fair finally approved Jamal’s application to serve up Safari Express’ signature item, “Camel on a Stick”.

Jamal had a short time to put together a kitchen for his booth and get all the supplies he needed, but he just didn’t have the extra funds to invest. Through his long-time working relationship with the African Development Center, Jamal was chosen to receive a MicroGrant. Jamal got the funds just in time and took the state fair by storm, serving 5,000 items just on the first day alone.

He was even featured by the state fair as a ‘Highlighted Product’. “That small grant really took me far in getting the needed equipment, signs and helped stock the kitchen … I couldn’t have done it without you, MicroGrants. ” With the MicroGrant, I was able to register Antonelli & Associates LLC, create business cards, brochures, postcards and presentation documents.

I also was able to fix my laptop’s screen and have made presentations to potential clients. The MicroGrant allowed my company to get up and running in a professional manner. I just signed my first big consulting contract!

I completed a mini MBA at St Thomas University. This education has helped me to learn to control costs and improve my bottom line. MicroGrants has allowed me to pursue the American Dream and it’s working.

It’s three years since I received the MicroGrants gift and this year, I am planning to expand to St Paul! “I enrolled in school at Summit Academy for Carpentry. I graduated with a 3.

6 GPA, was awarded a grant to obtain reliable transportation so I could get to the jobs I trained for. None of my success would have been possible without my teachers and the generosity of MicroGrants which has made a dramatic impact in the success and future