Capacity Building Initiatives

Seeding Cultural Treasures is an initiative to nourish and cultivate the landscape of emerging arts and culture organizations run by and for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). This initiative is designed to provide between 20-35 unrestricted general operating grants between $40,000 and $100,000 and technical assistance support over the next three-and-a-half years (2022-2025) for emerging BIPOC arts and culture organizations.

Propel Nonprofits, with support from Otto Bremer Trust, is pleased to announce a new social enterprise accelerator program beginning in the summer of 2022 for Minnesota nonprofits that are developing an earned revenue stream to support the mission of their nonprofits. Propel is accepting applications from Minnesota nonprofits that have recently launched, or are on the brink of launching, a new social enterprise initiative and want to network with peers and coaches in a cohort setting to refine the business plan and implementation of their project. Applications for the accelerator cohort are due by 5 p.m. Central time on Thursday, June 16, 2022.

Financial Leadership Cohorts are offered one to two times a year.  The goal of the Financial Leadership Cohort is to develop the financial leadership capacity needed for nonprofits to be sustainable and financially healthy.

The Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program (NIGP) is aimed at supporting the missions of small, culturally led organizations by strengthening their infrastructure. Increasing the capacity of small organizations that work with historically underserved cultural communities helps position these organizations for greater impact in their community. The NIGP provides grants, as well as ongoing support to grow the organizational capacity of small Minnesota nonprofits.

Propel Nonprofits helps nonprofits in Itasca County strengthen their financial management, develop strong boards of directors, and learn to forge collaborations with other organizations to serve the community more effectively. This initiative provides nonprofits several opportunities to identify and act on their highest priorities for capacity building.

The 2-year Capacity Building Initiative (CBI) for Family Engagement cohort will engage 12 nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations in a participant-driven capacity building model to empower families in K-12 educational systems. The intent of CBI is to help participants deepen their efforts to engage families, and ultimately, create more culturally responsive, welcoming, and hospitable schools for BIPOC families by strengthening their internal capacity.

The intent of CBI-GM is to help expand the capacity of organizations to advance their mission and goals.