The Northwest Minnesota Foundation recently approved a new grant initiative, titled the Community Connections Program, to help nonprofits and public agencies find ways to continue to provide critical services as they work to increase effectiveness and seek to diversify funding sources.

The purpose of the Community Connections Program is to help organizations develop new networks, foster coalition building and promote collaborations between human service providers, other organizations, or public agencies. Applicants must be qualified nonprofit organizations or public agencies located within NMF’s 12-county service area. 

NMF will consider projects that address one or more of the following:

• Joint ventures leading to increased effectiveness and efficiency among organizations or public agencies

• Cooperative planning and implementation, including shared resources, staffing, programs or possible mergers between organizations and/or public agencies

NMF will consider requests for grants up to $25,000; applicants will be required to provide matching funds in the form of cash and in-kind support.  Projects should result in long-term, formal, systemic changes in organizational structures or service delivery systems.