Across the region, 42 organizations received funding from Headwaters Foundation for Justice (MN), The Consensus Council (ND), and the South Dakota Community Foundation. They recently awarded more than $400,000 in Community Innovation grants as part of their partnership with the Bush Foundation.
The Bush Foundation launched its Community Innovation grant program in 2013 with grants ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. The following year, the Foundation chose three regional intermediary partners—Headwaters, The Consensus Council, and the South Dakota Community Foundation—to award similar grants ranging from $500 to $10,000. To date, the partners have awarded 193 Community Innovation grants, with a total of $1.8 million in funding.
“The intermediaries provide greater regional access to resources that support creative problem solving,” said Bush Foundation program director Molly Matheson Gruen. “We’re grateful for the work they’re doing to make our region better for everyone.”
Community Innovation grant programs are offered through the intermediaries three times per year, and support organizations that develop and test breakthrough solutions to community challenges. Headwaters awarded a total of $139,950 to 14 Minnesota-based organizations. The Consensus Council awarded $135,482 to 15 organizations in North Dakota. The South Dakota Community Foundation awarded $128,263 to 13 organizations.
“South Dakota’s nonprofits are addressing complex community challenges. The funding from these Community Innovation grants will help spark new solutions to benefit our state,” said South Dakota Community Foundation program officer Ginger Niemann.
“The projects the Consensus Council is funding reflect a diversity of sectors including health, housing, human services, education, faith-based initiatives and the arts. We’re thrilled to see the breadth of issue areas being addressed,” said executive director Rose Stoller.
In 2016, each intermediary partner will have a total of $400,000 to award in Community Innovation grants. All three intermediaries are currently accepting applications for their first round of the year. The deadline to apply through Headwaters or the Consensus Council is early February; the South Dakota Community Foundation’s deadline is mid-February. The next opportunity to apply through the Bush Foundation will be in fall 2016.
“Community Innovation grants are open to projects that address all sorts of community needs,” said Maria De La Cruz, Headwaters associate executive director. “We’re looking forward to another year of supporting the collaborative environments that lead to change.”
Learn more about the grantees from the Consensus Council, Headwater Foundation for Justice and the South Dakota Community Foundation.