Foundations that fund environmental groups in Minnesota
These 25 foundations made grants to environmental groups in Minnesota in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Mcknight Foundation
- $1,215,000 to Fresh Energy, St Paul: to move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon...
- $550,000 to St Paul Transportation Management Organization, St Paul: for general operating support
- $350,000 to Clean Grid Alliance, St Paul: for general operating support
How to apply: Please see the end of the return for the additional attachments containing the information for Lines 2b - 2d.
Mortenson Family Foundation
- $55,000 to Mississippi Park Connection, Saint Paul: Unrestricted
- $45,000 to Land Stewardship Project, Minneapolis: Unrestricted
- $40,000 to Center for Earth Energy and Democracy, Minneapolis: Unrestricted
How to apply: Online application forms may be found at www.mortensonfamily.org
Deadlines: Submission deadlines vary
Restrictions: Guidelines may be found at www.mortensonfamily.org
Fr Bigelow Foundation
- $75,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River, Saint Paul: Our river campaign
- $30,000 to Environmental Initiative, Minneapolis: General operating support
- $30,000 to Great River Passage Conservancy, Saint Paul: Building the great river passage: saint paul's connection to the mississippi river
How to apply: Before applying, all interested applicants are encouraged to email a member of our grants team to ensure that the grant program fits your needs.
Deadlines: We have two grant rounds each year. Key application dates can be found on our website.
Restrictions: Our primary geographic focus is the greater saint paul metropolitan area, which includes dakota, ramsey and washington counties, with a particular emphasis on serving people who live or work in the city of saint paul. F.r. Bigelow...
The Joyce Foundation
- $200,000 to Fresh Energy, St Paul: Journalism
- $150,000 to Minnesota Environmental Partnership, St Paul: Environment
- $100,000 to Fresh Energy, St Paul: Environment
How to apply: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
Quetico Superior Foundation
- $30,000 to Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, Ely: Sulfide mining contested case efforts
- $30,000 to Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St Paul: Polymet lawsuit efforts
- $20,000 to Waterlegacy, St Paul: Sulfate reduction/impaired waters program
How to apply: Detailed proposals of projects or studies
Restrictions: Quetico-superior region, bwca and appurtenances
Lenfestey Family Foundation Inc C/O Private Philanthropy Services
- $5,000 to Minneapolis Climate Action, Minneapolis: General operations
- $2,500 to Fresh Energy, St Paul: General operations
- $1,500 to Health Professionals for A Healthy Climate, Hinckley: General operations
How to apply: No standard form or application process is required by the foundation.
Cargill Foundation
- $75,000 to Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, Chaska: Growing good urban outreach program
- $75,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River, Saint Paul: Stem river stewards (srs)
- $65,000 to Minnesota State Horticultural Society, Roseville: Garden-in-a-box
How to apply: Https://www.cargill.com/about/community/cargill-foundation-headquarters
The Mcneely Foundation
- $50,000 to Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Conservancy, Saint Paul: General operating support
- $25,000 to Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Conservancy, Saint Paul: Engineering and geotechnical studies for swede hollow park trail access
- $2,000 to White Bear Lake Restoration Association, White Bear Lake: General operating support
How to apply: Letter form, include copy of exemption letter, describe intended use of funds
Deadlines: Submission deadlines are december 1st, march 1st, and june 1st.
Restrictions: Awards are primarily to minnesota charities; no awards are paid to individuals.
Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation
- $35,000 to Wilderness Inquiry Inc, St Paul: General operating
- $20,000 to Sustainable Stillwater Mn, Stillwater: General operating
- $10,000 to Friends of Lake Elmo's Sunfish Lake Park, Lake Elmo: General operating
How to apply: The foundation mission, funding priorities, and application can be found at fkandersen.org
Deadlines: March 30, june 30, and october 30
Restrictions: Organizations seeking funding must be 501(c)(3) public nonprofit organizations. Endowment funding does not fall within the guidelines of the foundation. The foundation also does not provide funding to individuals, political campaigns,...
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $300,000 to Land Stewardship Project, Minneapolis: Working towards a resilient and equitable food system
- $175,000 to Clean Up the River Environment, Montevideo: Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Hugh J Andersen Foundation
- $35,000 to Wilderness Inquiry Inc, Bloomington: Canoemobile & general operating
- $22,000 to Pollinator Friendly Alliance Inc, Stillwater: Pinepoint park community biodiv proj
How to apply: The annual report, application form and guidelines furnished upon request and available at www.srinc.biz/foundations/hugh-j-andersen-foundation/publi cations/
Deadlines: March 15, june 15, august 15, and november 15
Restrictions: The primary geographic focus is the st. Croix valley. This area includes washington county in minnesota and pierce, polk, and st. Croix counties in wisconsin. The secondary geographic focus is the st. Paul, minnesota metropolitan area.
Hardenbergh Foundation
- $25,000 to Great River Passage Conservancy, Saint Paul: General operating
- $10,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River, Saint Paul: General operating
How to apply: Grant requests must include a succinct 3-5 page letter providing information about the organization, financial statement (or form 990) and copy of irs determination letter
Deadlines: October 15th
Restrictions: See footnotes
Steven C Leuthold Family Foundation
- $20,000 to Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St Paul: Operations
- $5,000 to Fresh Energy, St Paul: Operations
How to apply: Letter stating purpose for which funds are requested and relevant information on activities of organization.
The Walser Foundation
- $15,000 to Voyageur Outward Bound School, St Paul: Grant - community partner program
- $8,620 to Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, St Paul: Grant - no boundaries to the boundary waters
How to apply: Letter of inquiry to nancy warner, foundation director - grant report form. Event sponsorship application - online form.
Deadlines: May 15th & october 15th
Restrictions: Organizations are limited to one application per year.
Weyerhaeuser Family Foundationinc
- $10,000 to Mississippi Park Connection, Saint Paul: Wff 2024 all-star award
- $10,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, Saint Paul: Wff 2024 all-star award
How to apply: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Deadlines: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Restrictions: See wfamilyfoundation.org for details
Hawley Family Foundation
- $10,000 to Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Saint Paul: General Purpose
- $6,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, St Paul: To benefit the Rainy Lake Fund
How to apply: Jim hecker none
Deadlines: Jim hecker none
Restrictions: Jim hecker none
Athwin Foundation C/O Ctr for Organizational Development
- $5,000 to Minnesota Land Trust, St Paul Mn: General operating
- $5,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River, St Paul Mn: General operating
How to apply: The foundation requires that applicants prove their 501(c)(3) status. Applicants are expected to submit a written outline of the project for which they want a grant. The outline should be supported by financial and timing details where possible. At times, those materials are...
Deadlines: Letters of inquiry are due march 1st and october 1st.
Restrictions: There are no established restrictions or limitations on awards, although since the passage of the revenue act of 1969, the foundation has not made any grants to individuals because of the follow-up requirements in that law and within the...
Connexus Energy Foundation
- $2,500 to Utility Arborist Association, Forest Lake: Donation
- $2,500 to Friends of the Mississippi River, St Paul: Donation
How to apply: The application form is available on the website of connexus energy at: https://www.connexusenergy.com/about-us/our-community/donation-requests
Deadlines: None - accepting applications year round
Restrictions: Contributions will not be made to the following: religious, political, veteran, and fraternal organizations, except for programs such organizations sponsor for direct benefit to the community and not for themselves; individual sports and...
The Bush Foundation
- $2,625,000 to Owamniyomni Okhodayapi, Minneapolis: To develop a new model of land reclamation with multi-tribal nation control
How to apply: Varies by program, please see our website
Deadlines: Varies by program, please see our website.
Restrictions: Varies by program, please see our website.
The Kresge Foundation
- $200,000 to Center for Earth Energy and Democracy, Minneapolis: Project support to build the capacity of the environmental justice movement to advance...
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
International Paper Company Foundation
- $50,000 to Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, Chaska: Minnesota landscape arboretum's school services programs: field trips and plantmobile
How to apply: Instructions available in an online grant application system (cybergrants) at www.ipgiving.com. Most requests go through local review.
Deadlines: Date determined by local facility.
Restrictions: Major emphasis on communities where international paper company employees live and work.
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
- $40,000 to Voyageur Outward Bound School, St Paul: Education
How to apply: See grant application guidelines at www.schulzefamilyfoundation.org
Deadlines: See grant application guidelines at www.schulzefamilyfoundation.org
Restrictions: See grant application guidelines at www.schulzefamilyfoundation.org
Wells Fargo Foundation
- $40,000 to Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, Minneapolis: Grid catalyst - cleantech innovation pathways
How to apply: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Deadlines: Applications are accepted from february 1 through october 1.
Restrictions: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Deluxe Corporation Foundation
- $37,500 to Neighborhood Forest Inc, Minneapolis: General operating support
How to apply: Complete the grant application located on the deluxe corporation foundation website.
Deadlines: Grant applications are accepted from may 1 - august 31 each calendar year.
Restrictions: Qualifying nonprofit organizations must meet grant focus areas and be located in deluxe communities.
Lloyd K Johnson Foundation
- $31,900 to Minnesota Land Trust, St Paul: North shore land conservation and gr
How to apply: Email or call foundation staff to discuss proposed application. If request fits guidelines organizations submit application for consideration. Additional information may be requested by foundation.
Deadlines: January 15, april 15, july 15, and october 15 of each grant year.
Restrictions: The foundation accepts applications from organizations located or providing services within lake, cook, and southern st. Louis counties in minnesota. The foundation's areas of interest include arts and culture, community and economic...
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