Carlson Family Foundation is a proud contributing member to the MN Forward Pooled Fund
As a participating funder, we are excited to share the following press release announcing $1.35 million in statewide grants through the MN Forward Pooled Fund. This collaborative effort supports organizations and coalitions that are building toward a more equitable and community-led future across Minnesota.
The official press release follows below.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (the Foundation) and the MN Forward Pooled Fund partners are pleased to announce a total of $1.35 million in grants given to groups across the state of Minnesota.
Twenty-seven groups each received a $50,000 grant. The MN Forward Pooled Fund is a new grant program for organizations and coalitions with annual or program budgets of $3 million or less and serve one of the three target communities: Twin Cities Metro, Greater Minnesota, or Native-led, Native-serving entities.
The MN Forward Pooled Fund was started by a collaborative of funders to address communities that were impacted by short- and long-term effects brought on by recent federal shifts. Grant funding supported projects falling under two categories: Fortify Grants and Futuring Grants. Fortify Grants support strategic planning and response efforts of organizations and collaboratives in the current moment. Futuring Grants support organizations and collaboratives building for futures where impacted communities are leading and thriving.
“These grant recipients are fortifying our nonprofit sector and also creating bold visions to where this sector could lead us,” said Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Senior Vice President of Community Impact Alfonso Wenker. “Through the MN Forward Pooled Fund, we are proud to invest in solutions that are rooted in collaboration and a shared goal of strengthening a sector that provides critical services to Minnesotans.”
The MN Forward Pooled Fund grant recipients are:
Native-led, Native-serving Grantees
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
- Dream of Wild Health
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Environmental Program
- Little Earth Residents Association
- Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming
- New Native Theatre
- Pocket Knife Press LLC
- Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians – Economic Development and Planning Department
Greater Minnesota Grantees
- Family Safety Network
- Jugaad Leadership Program
- Lead for Inclusion
- Men As Peacemakers
- Minnesota Seeds of Justice
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Southeast Minnesota
- Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community
Twin Cities Metro Area Grantees
- Asian American Organizing Project
- ConnectUP! Institute
- Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justica – United Renters for Justice
- Mamá Papaya
- Minnesota Deaf Queers
- The New Justice Project Minnesota
- Partnership in Property Commercial Land Trust (PIPCLT)
- Research In Action
- Resilient Cities and Communities
- Restaurant Opportunities Center of MN (ROC-MN)
- Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment
- Voices for Racial Justice
About MN Forward Pooled Fund
The MN Forward Pooled Fund is a collaborative fund with contributions from several contributing members focused on supporting near-term & long-term responses led by impacted communities. To view program eligibility, visit our website.
Contributing members: Bush Foundation, Carlson Family Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Mardag Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Mortenson Family Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Several Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation fundholders