St. Cloud, Minn. – The Central Minnesota Community Foundation has opened the annual Thomas A. Ritsche Youth Fund grant round, offering funding to support programs and projects that positively impact young people in Central Minnesota.
The grant program is designed to support initiatives that strengthen opportunities for youth and help reduce crime both against youth and by youth. Organizations interested in applying can learn more and submit applications at www.communitygiving.org/cmcfgrants. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2026.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Youth-related programs and projects
- Programs that reduce crimes against youth and by youth
The fund honors the legacy of Thomas A. Ritsche, a key community leader who helped establish the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota. Ritsche believed programs like the Boys & Girls Club could have made a meaningful difference during his own childhood growing up on the East Side of St. Cloud.
Motivated by his deep commitment to supporting local youth, Ritsche created the Thomas A. Ritsche Fund for Youth after selling his company, Woodcraft Industries.
Established in 1996, the Thomas A. Ritsche Youth Fund has supported numerous organizations dedicated to improving the lives of young people. In addition to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota, past grant recipients include GREAT Theatre, Paramount Center for the Arts, YES Network, and other community-based organizations serving youth.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities. Programs must serve youth in Stearns, Benton, and/or Sherburne counties. Grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $10,000.
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.