Small Communities & Rural Placemaking Grants

From Blandin Foundation

The Blandin Foundation envisions rural Minnesota as a place that welcomes diversity, addresses injustice, and embraces change to foster a sustainable and equitable future. Its mission is to connect, fund, and advocate for ideas and people that inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.

Type of Support

Overview

The Small Communities & Rural Placemaking Grants aim to support projects focused on capital needs and planning for community, organizational, and program development that engage a broad section of the community, including underrepresented individuals. This grant program seeks to bring about positive, visible changes in small communities and improve placemaking efforts by increasing community engagement, enhancing community aesthetics and amenities, and preparing for future development. It focuses on projects that can increase the visibility of culture and arts, enhance civic engagement, and improve the quality of civic discourse. Eligible projects include community and public space improvement initiatives, arts and culture projects, and community planning initiatives, with a preference for those including arts and culture components. Typical grant awards range from $25,000 to $150,000 with a duration of up to 2 years.

Eligibility

Organization's Location

USA

Program Location

Organization Type

Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Fiscally sponsored by an eligible organization

Tribal government entity

Public agency

Unit of government

Other

Must adhere to Blandin Foundation’s Anti-Discrimination Policy
Located in rural Minnesota with populations under 5,000, including Native Nations, cities, towns, and townships
Organizations in rural hubs over 5,000 population eligible if benefits are for communities under 5,000
Funding should address known community needs or issues
Encourage engagement across diverse beliefs, races, ages, genders, socioeconomic statuses, educational backgrounds, and physical and cognitive abilities
Aim to overcome systemic barriers through partnerships and sustainable, innovative, scalable, or replicable projects
Demonstrate community support through volunteers, professional services, donated space, or donated equipment

Ineligibility

Metro-based organizations

Organizations supporting cities/towns with populations over 5,000

Organizations outside of Minnesota

General operating support

Individuals

Efforts to influence legislation, candidates, or lobbying

Campaigns for elective public office or political parties

Projects that supplant public funding for infrastructure

Religious organizations for religious purposes

Private benefit, including for-profit businesses or commercial ventures

25k – 150k

Application deadline

Submission

Schedule

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry

Application deadline

Mar 29, 2025

Step 2: Full proposal (check website)

Review Criteria

The Blandin Foundation will favorably view proposals that meet the following criteria, although they are not mandatory:

Projects that serve predominantly rural communities, specifically those with a population of 1,000 or fewer.
Initiatives targeting remote communities located roughly 25 miles or more from towns or cities with populations exceeding 5,000.
Programs that provide substantial benefits to marginalized groups, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic Latino, People of Color, LGBTQIA, Non-English Speaking, Disabled individuals, and others facing systemic barriers.
Efforts that significantly aid individuals living in conditions of poverty.
Proposals that present feasible and realistic activities designed to address inequities related to geographical location, racial identity, and socioeconomic class.
Solutions that tackle a specific opportunity, challenge, issue, or need within the community.
Projects that actively engage a wide spectrum of the community, especially including those who are typically underrepresented.
Proposals that demonstrate effective collaboration with other organizations, coalitions, or networks within the relevant field or geographic area.
Initiatives with the capability to be self-sustaining post the Blandin Foundation's funding period.

The Blandin Foundation specifically seeks to allocate its resources to the smallest, most economically disadvantaged, and diverse communities, with a focus on those situated in remote locations.