Apply for grants
Overview
The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation offers over $2 million in annual competitive grant funding. Grants are divided into the following categories:
- Community Opportunity Fund Grants are designed to support transformative, collaborative projects leveraging resources for upstream successes, building strong communities, and ensuring everyone thrives. Grants focus on Opportunity, Resilience, Belonging and Transformation. The Opportunity, Resilience and Belonging applications will be offered in the fall grant cycle. We are currently working on the fall 2025 grant cycle schedule. Stay tuned for more information on Transformation grants in future grant cycles. Updates will be provided on this page when available.
- Area of Interest Grants allow organizations to make a significant impact in specific fields, such as nurturing creativity through the arts, enhancing quality of life through human services, or promoting animal wellness. These grants are designed to empower projects that drive meaningful change within specified focus areas.
- Regional Grants are through our affiliates which are made up of their own advisory committees of local community members, ensuring decisions are made by those who understand the unique needs of their area.
Application Timeline
Spring 2025 Grant Cycle:
- Open: January 3, 2025
- Close: March 3, 2025 at 5PM
- Project Start Date: June 1, 2025, or later
- Project End Date: No more than 12 months from the project start date
- Notifications: By May 21, 2025
- Funding Awarded: May 30, 2025
Available Grants
Applications are accepted for the Spring 2025 Grant Cycle from January 3 to March 3, 2025 at 5pm.
Regional Grant Funds
Click on a specific grant to view details and guidelines.
Grants made through our affiliates which are made up of their own advisory committees of local community members, ensuring decisions are made by those who understand the unique needs of their area.
Apostle Islands – Chequamegon Bay
- Apostle Islands Area Community Fund
- Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund
- Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund
- Grutzner Madeline Island Fund
- Mary H. Rice Community Innovation Fund
- Michael Madeline Island Fund
- Red Cliff/Miskwaabikaang Fund
- West Wind Fund
Cook County
Eveleth
Two Harbors
Area of Interest Grants
Click on a specific grant to view details and guidelines.
Grants designed to empower projects that drive meaningful change within specific focus areas. The grant focus areas and funding amounts depending on the specific grant opportunity.
Community Opportunity Fund Grants
Click on a specific grant to view details and guidelines.
Grants designed to support transformative, collaborative projects that leverage resources for upstream successes, build strong communities, and ensure everyone thrives. These grants, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, focus on the following key areas:
Grants Funded on a Rolling Basis
Click on a specific grant to view details and guidelines.
These grants accept applications and award funds throughout the year. The grant focus areas and funding amounts vary depending on the specific grant opportunity.
Area of Interest Grants
Click on a specific grant to view details and guidelines.
Grants designed to empower projects that drive meaningful change within specific focus areas. The grant focus areas and funding amounts vary depending on the specific grant opportunity.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, an organization must be
Classified under one of the following categories:
- Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., traditional nonprofit)
- Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., governmental entities and schools)
- Section 7871 Tribal government
- Church
- Organization with a fiscal agent that is classified under one of the above categories
Located in, or provide services to, residents within our service area, which includes:
- Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland Counties in northwestern Wisconsin,
- Seven counties in northeast Minnesota (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis), and/or
- The following tribal nations:
- Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Mashkiiziibii
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa/Atisokanigamig
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Nah-Gah-Chi-Wa-Nong
- Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gichi Onigaming
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Gaa-Miskwaabikaang
Steps to Apply
Access the Grant Portal:
- Click here to access our grant portal. We recommend bookmarking this site for easy access throughout the application process.
- Login or Create an Account
Eligibility Quiz:
- On the applicant dashboard, click “APPLY” at the top of the page, then complete the eligibility quiz.
Prepare Required Documents:
- Project budget (click here to download a template if you do not have your own) (optional if you have your own)
- Most current organizational budget
- Most current filed IRS Form 990 or audited financial statement
- A Word template with grant application narrative questions can be accessed here.
Submit Application by the due date and time for this cycle.
Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions: A short list of common questions related to applying for a grant.
- Grant Applicant Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on how to apply for a grant.
- Collaborator Tutorial: Instructions for multiple people involved in completing the application.
- Grant Application Narrative Questions: A list of questions to guide your application narrative.
- List of Grants and Descriptions: A comprehensive list of available grant opportunities with detailed descriptions and their grant cycle.
Additional Information
To view the full list of 2024 Fall Grant Award recipients, click here.
To view the full list of 2024 Spring Grant Award recipients, click here.
To view a full list of Spring 2024 Community Opportunity Fund Grant recipients, click here.
Grant Application Support
Before reaching out to our team, please be sure to read through our Grant FAQs and examples of previous grant projects.
For technical assistance or general inquiries related to grants our Community Impact Team is here to support you. Please contact Kursula Harris, Senior Community Impact Associate at [email protected].
