St. Cloud, Minnesota — The Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the Initiative Foundation announced today that applications are now open for the 2026 Rural Needs Grant Round.
Through their partnership, the two foundations have made $20,000 available to support nonprofits, schools, and government agencies working to develop solutions and implement programs that address poverty in rural communities. Applications must be submitted online by midnight on June 30, 2026.
This grant round supports organizations serving rural populations across 14 central Minnesota counties, including Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and Wright, as well as the sovereign Native nations of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Funding may support general operations, new or expanding programs, or specific projects that directly address the impacts of poverty. Grants may also be used to establish or supplement emergency or transitional services, assess community needs and assets, develop action plans, or implement community-based solutions. Organizations are encouraged to apply for grants in the $1,000–$5,000 range. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, and local units of government. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Brainerd Lakes, Paynesville and Willmar Area Community Foundations are partner Foundations, and the grant round is open to those served by those Foundations.
Grant guidelines and information on the online application process are available through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation’s website at: communitygiving.org/cmcfgrants. For more information, contact Tailor Doeden at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation at [email protected] or Nicole Clements at the Initiative Foundation at [email protected].
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to $177.7 million in assets and awarded $178.6 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 1,300 funds totaling over $283 million in assets. Learn more at communitygiving.org/cmcf.