Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund

Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund is sponsored by Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF). The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund is a one-time, pooled fund dedicated to strengthening long-term civic infrastructure and supporting nonpartisan voter engagement across Minnesota.

Minnesota’s communities and our democracy are strongest when all people can participate fully, safely, and meaningfully in civic life. Yet across the country, communities are facing challenges to civic participation, access to accurate information regarding voting and elections, and a shifting legal landscape.

Despite these challenges, Minnesotans continue to display tremendous civic action and commitment to communities at the polls and in everyday actions. This deserves to be protected and defended. The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund was established to mobilize philanthropic resources in support of democratic participation, civic engagement, and community voice across Minnesota.

#### About the Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund will provide $300,000 in total grant funding to strengthen voter participation and civic confidence in Minnesota communities and will support strategies that: * Build civic capacity and community power, expand nonpartisan voter engagement activities, and increase civic confidence and participation in the 2026 election * Promote high voter turnout through activities aimed at sharing accurate and nonpartisan voter information with voters across the state * Actively support and defend the right to vote through sustained election preparedness and protection.

This includes efforts to protect the rules and infrastructure that make elections work in Minnesota such as programs that provide nonpartisan information and ensuring election officials can administer voting fairly and safely The Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund is a one-time, temporary pooled fund housed at MCF designed to strengthen long-term civic infrastructure in Minnesota.

**MCF anticipates awarding $25,000 grants to 12 selected organizations. ** Funding will go to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to do nonpartisan voter and community education, engagement, and organizing work. Collectives and coalitions are welcome to apply with the expectation that a designated grantee is required to be named for a group application.

All activities must be carried out by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (or fiscally sponsored organizations) and conducted in a nonpartisan manner.

This funding could support nonprofits doing activities such as, but not limited to: * Nonpartisan civic engagement, voter education, and voter protection efforts * Community organizing and leadership development that increases civic participation and confidence * Legal and policy advocacy that defends democratic rights and inclusive participation * Efforts and programs that seek to counter disinformation and strengthen access to trusted, accurate information * Grantees will conduct all activities in a nonpartisan manner.

* Grantees will use funds for the intended purposes and will not engage in illegal activities. Note that it is illegal to provide incentives for people to vote (_more information at__Bolder Advocacy_) * Grantees will participate in a convening in 2027 to share experiences and identify opportunities for improvement. The application process will **open on May 20, 2026**, and will **close on June 22, 2026**.

Funding decisions will be made in early July, with notices and funding delivered in mid July 2026.

The following criteria will be considered when reviewing proposals: * Alignment with focus of the Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund * Potential of strategies and methods to strengthen voter participation and civic confidence * Reach and impact in geographic focus * Reach and impact on historically underrepresented communities The application for this grant has now closed.

For questions about the fund and eligibility, contact May Yang, Director of Democracy Programs, at myang@mcf. org.