St. Cloud, Minn. – Just over $183,000 has been granted out through three competitive grant rounds offered through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF). The Central Minnesota Difference Maker, Central Minnesota Arts and Thomas Ritsche Youth Grant Rounds have awarded a total of 22 grants to local organizations.
Tailor Doeden is the Director of Community Engagement for the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. She says, “We are grateful to our fundholders, donors and community at large for supporting these impactful grant rounds.” Doeden adds, “Thank you to all who support the Foundation in engaging people, connecting resources, and building community. Together, we are making a difference in our community right now and well into the future.”
For the organizations that received a Central Minnesota Difference Maker Grant, their programs encourage positive change in Central Minnesota. This year’s Difference Maker focus was homelessness supports and prevention. Grant recipients are as follows:
- Atonement Lutheran Church received $20,000 for programming that supports those who are unsheltered in the St. Cloud Area.
- Avivo received $20,000 to support the Avivo Village in St. Cloud.
- CAER Food Shelf received $10,000 to support its Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud received $20,000 for its Domus Transitional Housing Program.
- District 742 LEAF received $10,000 to support students and families in District 742.
- Place of Hope Ministries received $15,000 to support its Family Center Shelter.
- Rise Inc received $5,000 to support its Housing Gaps for People with Disabilities Program.
The Central Minnesota Arts grant round focuses on supporting small to medium sizes arts organizations in Central Minnesota and arts activities conducted by other organizations. The goal is to make the arts more accessible to area residents. Grant recipients are as follows:
- Great Northern Theatre Company received $5,500 for its 2025 Season Productions and Summer Camps.
- GREAT Theatre received $7,500 for its 2025/26 Musical-in-a-Week Residencies.
- Melrose Area Arts Council received $3,100 for its Melrose Night to Unite event.
- Paramount Center for the Arts received $5,000 for its Art Club and Empowered Stars projects with ARC MN and WACOSA.
- River City Rhythm received $5,900 for its instrument and equipment campaign.
- Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota received $3,000 for its Summer Music Camps program.
The Thomas Ritsche Youth Grant round focuses solely on youth-related projects and programs and awarded grants within our Central Minnesota communities. Grant recipients are as follows:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN received $5,000 for its Bigs on Campus – Mentoring for Safe, Empowered Futures program.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central MN received $5,000 for its SMART MOVES prevention programs.
- Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity received $5,000 for its Expanding Access to Construction Trades program.
- Girls Scouts of MN and WI Lakes and Pines received $10,000 its St. Cloud Area Girl Scouts in Action program
- GREAT Theatre received $5,000 for its School of Rock program.
- Paramount Center for the Arts received $5,000 for its Your Life in Color art program.
- St. Cloud Area YMCA received $3,500 for its 2025 Adventure Camp program.
- The Yes Network received $5,000 for its Ready 2 Play program.
- United Way of Central MN received $10,000 for its Community Mentorship program.
If you would like to learn more about the Central Minesota Community Foundation’s annual grant rounds visit: communitygiving.org/cmcfgrants.
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to $143.5 million in assets and awarded $155.3 million in grants to non-profits. The CMCF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a network of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,100 funds totaling over $225 million in assets. Learn more at communitygiving.org/cmcf