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Depending upon the area of interest, we either extend a broad community invitation to submit a letter of inquiry or invite prospective partners to submit information. For 2022, the Foundation will be using the processes detailed in areas of interest below. We have one grantmaking cycle each year for all three grantmaking areas.
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In 2020, the Foundation committed to engaging community members on each of its three grant committees as part of its equity commitment.
Before we begin a committee selection process, we will engage a wide array of community voices in a structured feedback process on our Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families guidelines.
In 2022 the Foundation committed to centering community voice in defining the Foundation’s guidelines. For this reason, we are not opening a letter of inquiry process in 2022 to new applicants.
If you are interested in being notified about our 2023 grant opportunities, please sign up to receive notifications. Prior to applying to the Foundation, we host learning sessions to answer questions from prospective partners. To see typical application questions, click here.
For Renewing Partners, the report will be submitted in lieu of an application for 2022. Renewing Partners may submit their materials within the Foundation’s online system here.
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Mortenson Family Foundation’s Sustaining Environmental Systems 2022 grant application is now open. The deadline for proposal submission is 4:00 pm CDT on September 30, 2022. Organizations are invited to apply for grants of up to $100,000. Updated guidelines for the Sustaining Environmental Systems program can be found on our website here and the application can be accessed through the Foundation’s online system here.
You may also access a Word document with the proposal questions here and the rubric our committee will use to review and evaluate proposals here.
We will be hosting virtual information sessions to share about the grant program and to answer questions about the guidelines, application process, and the Foundation September 1-9, 2022. Sign up for information sessions can be found at this link.
Final grant decisions will be determined in November 2022.
FAQs for this grant round process can be accessed here.
Questions? Contact:
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The Foundation extends invitations to prospective partners to submit a proposal.
Questions? Contact:
The Foundation considers Impact Investments in its areas of interest throughout the year. To see a list of questions we ask about investments, click here.
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For interests that are outside of its three priority areas, the Foundation invites selected nonprofit organizations to participate in a separate funding process, typically twice a year. Invited organizations will receive information on the grant process directly from the Foundation.
Grant Application Process
The Mortenson Family Foundation uses Foundant, an online grant management system, to manage our grant and investment process. Foundant is optimized for the following browsers: Internet Explorer 9+, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari 5.1+. Learn how to register by viewing a Foundant tutorial.
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Grant Report Process
Mortenson Family Foundation requests that grant partners submit a report on progress toward achieving the goals, objectives, and outcomes identified in the funded proposal. Specific due dates are outlined in the grant award letter or specific reporting communication. Reports should be accurate, complete, and submitted on time.
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Because we believe in accountability to community and grant partners, we annually measure grant process satisfaction, value of Foundation relationship, and community outcomes. For 2021, the Foundation found:
As a member of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, we embrace the grantmaking principles for Minnesota grantmakers.
If you’d like to receive emails about future funding opportunities, please complete the request form below.
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