New Community Response Fund Grants

(September 25 – Minneapolis) Today, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) announced $90,000 in Community Response Fund grants to nine organizations.

Through the Community Response Fund, the Women’s Foundation responds quickly to organizations and programs that ensure women and their families are safer and healthier. This year, funding supports operations and capacity for organizations affected by a loss in funding and/or increased demand for services so they can be responsive to community needs.

All Women’s Foundation grants support general operating expenses, which provide greater flexibility, crucial for organizations to build stability around community-sustaining programs. Applications are invitation-only. For more information and eligibility, please contact the team through WFM’s community office hours.

Grantee-Partners:

180 Degrees (St. Paul) | $10,000 – To support staffing at Brittany’s Place, a critical shelter offering safety and healing for girls and young women who have survived sex trafficking and homelessness.

African Women and Youth Resource Center (Brooklyn Center) | $10,000 – To support staffing to better serve African immigrant communities, particularly in providing mental health services aimed at preventing suicide among youth.

American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota Foundation (ACLU-MN) (Minneapolis) | $10,000 – To support continued protection for communities at risk, including legal action against state institutions that violate the rights and liberties of women and LGBTQ+ people.

LatinoLEAD (St. Paul) | $10,000 – To support staff capacity, strategic planning, and trauma-aware practices that prevent burnout and promote long-term organizational health so that LatinoLEAD can continue protecting and mobilizing the Latine community across Minnesota.

Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming (Bemidji) | $10,000 – To increase staff and programmatic capacity to deliver reproductive health, two-spirit advocacy, and traditional healing services.

Phumulani Minnesota African Women against Domestic & Sexual Assault (Brooklyn Park) | $10,000 – To support staff capacity and organizational leadership to meet the needs of African immigrant survivors across Minnesota with healing-centered programming.

Rice County Neighbors United (Northfield) | $10,000 – To support the Mercado Local and entrepreneurship programs, especially for women, and a community plan to map the resources to support the immigrant neighbors in Rice County with Know Your Rights sessions.

Community-University Health Care Center (CUHC Clinic) (Minneapolis) | $10,000 – To support the immediate need to replace lost funding for women’s health and contraceptive services.

WoMen’s Rural Advocacy Programs (WRAP) (Marshall) | $10,000 – To support general operating needs, which include the coordination necessary to run trauma-informed, survivor-centered programming in Southwest Minnesota.