Women’s Foundation Awards $60,000 to Support Policy Partners

Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) announced $60,000 in grants to support community partners leading advocacy to address economic justice, safety, and health. The six organizations will also engage with WFM’s Governor-appointed Young Women’s Cabinet to strengthen their leadership development and training as they build their 2026 policy agenda.

WFM’s participatory grantmaking committee selected grantee-partners that demonstrate an intersectional lens centering Black women, Indigenous women, and women of color, rural, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities who experience the greatest barriers as a result of policies, institutions, and systems.

“At a time when many community-based organizations are facing federal funding cuts and increased threats to the communities they serve, these grants provide critical, dedicated support for advocacy. By investing directly in their capacity to lead policy conversations, we help ensure that the voices of impacted communities remain at the forefront of decision-making,” said Sara Gangelhoff, Director of Advocacy and Innovation.

Grantee-Partners:

African American Leadership Forum (Minneapolis) | $10,000 – To help scale advocacy efforts, including the Digital Action Center, a virtual platform Black Minnesotans can use to learn more about election, voting, and opportunities for advocacy.

Exodus Lending (Minneapolis) | $10,000 – To support efforts in greater Minnesota through issue education, outreach, listening sessions with impacted community members, advocacy and organizing workshops.

Gender Justice (Saint Paul) | $10,000 – To support a campaign director position for the Minnesotans for Equal Rights coalition, and to help educate Minnesotans about the need for an inclusive, explicit state ERA that moves us toward a more just and inclusive state.

NAMI Minnesota (Saint Paul) | $10,000 – To support advocacy skills training with the Young Women’s Cabinet and their YWI Day at the Capitol. Training includes the history of mental health advocacy in the U.S., the legislative process, how to be a good advocate, and how to tell your personal story for legislative advocacy.

OutFront Minnesota (Saint Paul) | $10,000 – To support LGBTQ+-focused public policy activities in the 2026 legislative session, including organizing within LGBTQ+ communities to address local challenges, educating the public about LGBTQ+ issues, engaging voters during key elections, and working with legislators and others to pass policies that protect LGBTQ+ rights.

Violence Free Minnesota (Saint Paul) | $10,000 – To support the policy intern position, engagement with member programs in their home communities, accessing academic research on domestic violence prevention and response, and engaging with system and community stakeholders on domestic violence issues.