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Grant Guidelines

We will continue to offer general operating, program and some capital support in 2022. Transitioning to a new Grant Portal system requires a large testing and data migration effort, which necessitates freezing our current system for a period of time. To ensure that we can still deliver critical funds into the community during this process, we are introducing a one-time transitional grant round in Round 1 of 2022.

The F. R. Bigelow Foundation considers grant applications from nonprofit organizations and public entities fostering a vibrant East Metro region and seeking to achieve racially and economically equitable outcomes in the areas of arts & culture, economic & community development, education & youth development, health, housing and human services.

Geography

Our primary geographic focus is the Greater Saint Paul metropolitan area, which includes Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties, with a particular emphasis on serving people who live or work in the city of Saint Paul.

Primary Areas of Interest

• Arts & Culture - Strengthening the arts & culture sector to serve all individuals and all communities across the East Metro region by supporting capacity building, capital projects and community programs.
• Community & Economic Development - Building a strong and vital East Metro through community building, physical development and strengthening support for low-income individuals, families and underrepresented communities through workforce development and training.
• Education & Youth Development - Supporting under-served children, youth and young adults by investing in access to high-quality education and youth development both in and out of school from cradle to career.
• Health - Increasing health equity through quality, affordable, culturally relevant services, particularly for low-income, uninsured, under-insured and socially marginalized individuals.
• Housing - Improving access for low-income individuals and families to affordable quality housing, preventing and ending homelessness.
• Human Services - Investing in basic needs for individuals and families, helping them be safe, stable and independent.

Types of Grants Available

Our current grant opportunity includes:

• General operating support for organizations in which at least 50% of the organization’s services benefit residents in the East Metro. We are seeking to achieve racially and economically equitable outcomes in our primary areas of interest.
• Capital projects located within the East Metro area. These grants are designed to support your organization’s investment in buildings, facilities and equipment. Foundation investments are typically limited to buildings owned by nonprofits or held by long-term lease agreement. These grants are generally paid over multiple years.
• Program grants. These grants are designed to provide support to a program or project serving residents of the East Metro. The Foundation will consider proposals for established and/or new programs/projects.

Eligibility

Round 1, Transitional Grant Round

The 2022 Round 1 cycle will be a transitional round. It will open in January to selected grant recipients who received grant awards in 2020 or 2021. Only grantees who received a grant in Round 1 of 2020 (May), Round 2 of 2020 (November), or Round 1 of 2021 (May) will be eligible to be selected to apply for a grant in Round 1 of 2022. Not all eligible grantees will be selected to apply. In addition, grantees who were notified of a grant award in Round 2 of 2021 will not be eligible for Round 1 of 2022.

Round 2, Open Grant Round

Round 2 will open in the summer of 2022 and will use our new Grant Portal. This round will be open to all nonprofits that meet our current grant guidelines, with the exception of those who received a grant in Round 1 of 2022.

Grants can be made to 501(c)3 organizations, education or governmental units and religious institutions. Grants can also be made to groups working through an eligible fiscal sponsor.

Current & Past Grant Status

Current grantees are eligible to apply for funding that would begin after the end of their current grant period. Nonprofits that have received three years of consecutive funding are eligible to apply for a grant. Questions? Please email your Grant Team contact.

Grant Requests Not Accepted

• Capital projects located outside Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties
• Programs not primarily serving residents of Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties
• Sectarian religious programs or organizations
• Grants to individuals
• Medical research

Important Dates

We have two grant rounds each year.

Round 1, Transitional Grant Round: Grant applications for the 2022 Transitional Grant Round, Round 1, will open on Jan. 4, 2022, and close at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2022. 
Eligibility: Selected nonprofits will be notified by mid-December 2021 to apply. Grant awards will be disbursed by April 2022.

Round 2, Open Grant Round: Grant applications for the 2022 Open Grant Round, Round 2, will open in the summer of 2022. 
Eligibility: Nonprofits that meet our general grant guidelines will be eligible to apply, with the exception of those who received a grant in Round 1 of 2022. Grant awards will be disbursed by December 2022.

• December 2021: Notification of change to 2022 Grantmaking
• Mid-Dec 2021: Selected nonprofits will be notified to apply for Round 1
• Jan 4, 2022: Round 1 Grant Applications open
• Jan 11, 2022: Round 1 Grant Applications close at 3 p.m.
• April 1, 2022: Round 1 Grants will be awarded
• Summer 2022: Round 2 will open (final dates will be announced in late spring 2022)
• December 2022: Round 2 Grants will be awarded

More information can be found on the Grant Resources page.

Contact Us

Before applying, all interested applicants are encouraged to contact a member of the Grant Team to ensure that your grant fits the requested need.