Deadline: 6-Dec-21
The Southwest Initiative Foundation is seeking applications for its Grow Our Own Grant Program to support 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations directly serving their southwest Minnesota communities for work.
Focus Areas
- Early Learning and Development
- High Impact Strategies to increase child success, from birth to age 8, through wrap around services, programs and resources to be accessible to children and families in diverse and underserved areas including: Mental health services & supports; Social, emotional & physical health; Supplemental after-school programs
- Professional Development for Practitioners – Training and development programs to more effectively operate and address the needs of young children, birth to age eight
- Stable Families
- Projects that enable more effective parenting to encourage healthier patterns of family formation and stability for children with preference given to projects that focus support for efforts where children and the adults in their lives build the relationships and resources needed to thrive by removing barriers in accessing early childhood development, education pathways, health and wellness, social capital and economic opportunity.
- K-12 Years
- Trauma Informed Responses to Adverse Childhood Experiences with projects that invest in strategies that advance a trauma-informed system of care by
- Increasing awareness of the presence, prevalence, and impact of trauma; Or
- Facilitating the adoption of trauma-informed principles, policies, and practices among organizations across sectors.
- Intergenerational mentoring opportunities through community-building approaches that intentionally build upon the strengths of all generations, identify shared interests, and strive for positive outcomes across generational as well as racial/ethnic differences which have the potential to encourage different generations to invest in each other
- Vibrant and Welcoming Communities
- Projects that build inclusive communities with preference given to proposals that support creative approaches with involvement of marginalized populations in the areas of:
- Support existing integration strategies and encourage additional local organizations to develop and implement projects tailored to their communities’ needs.
- Collaborative projects that bring together people across lines of difference, with partnership among organizations to work together to design, implement and learn from new activities. Potential partners may represent key community organizations, such as SWIF affiliates, local libraries & museums, educational entities, etc.
- Activities or events designed to connect community members of different backgrounds in a spirit of neighbor-helping-neighbor. Applicants must have the ability to bring together the rich diversity of the community by partnering with diverse-based organizations, and by working with the trust of the community of the residents to be mobilized. This includes engaging and connecting immigrants, long-term community members who may have less exposure to diverse residents and others in activity planning and participation. Preference will be given to innovative ideas that expand upon traditional contact strategies.
- Pathways to Meaningful Work
- Projects that promote employment and educational opportunities and reduce barriers for students in non-traditional education settings in order to participate effectively as productive workers, family members and residents. Preference will be given to workforce development opportunities in career laddering that support the progression from entry level positions to higher levels of pay, skill, responsibility, or authority.
Funding Information
- Funding requests of up to $5,000 will be considered; Matching funds are encouraged. Additional funds may be awarded, dependent upon availability.
- Projects must be completed within 12 months of the grant award date.
Eligibility Criteria
- All proposals must demonstrate a benefit within one or more of the following 18 counties in southwest Minnesota: Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift and Yellow Medicine; or the Upper Sioux Community or Lower Sioux Indian Community.
- Proposals must be submitted by an independent 501(c)(3) organization, a unit of government, religious institution, or educational entity.
- Only one grant application may be submitted per organization.
- A final report is due following the grant period.
Ineligible
- Individuals, businesses, or other for-profit organizations
- General operating expenses or specific religious purposes
- Capital funding, campaigns or endowments
- Funds for re-granting
For more information, visit https://swifoundation.org/how-to-apply/grants/