Seeding Cultural Treasures

In this grant round, Propel was thrilled to receive 105 applications from arts and culture organizations across the state, and we extend our gratitude to all who applied for the time, labor, and talent they invested in the application process. We are excited to announce these 32 organizations as those who were selected to be part of the Seeding Cultural Treasures cohort:

African American Registry

APIA MN Film Collective

Arcata Press | Saint Paul Almanac

Body Prayers

Bois Forte Food Sovereignty Group

Catalyst Arts

Chinese Community Center

ComMUSICation

Dakhóta Iápi Okhódakičhiye

Emerging Curators Institute

Exposed Brick Theatre

Funny Asian Women Kollective

Grace MN dba Don’t You Feel It Too?

Green Card Voices

In Black Ink

Indian Music Society of Minnesota

Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue

Katha Dance Theatre

Lightning Rod

Listen Up! Youth Radio

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

MOVO Space

(Neo)Muralismos de México

New Native Theatre

Public Functionary

Rosy Simas Danse

Serpentina Arts

Soomaal House of Art

Tru Ruts

Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective

YO MAMA’S House

Propel is grateful for the guidance and recommendations of the 34 arts and cultures leaders for serving on the Design Team and/or Selection Committee for Seeding Cultural Treasures.

These two groups provided input that led to the inclusion of elements we hoped represented the needs and wants of the groups we were aiming to work with through this cohort opportunity. Those included, but were not limited to:

• A long application period with flexible deadlines, and multiple touchpoints for conversation with grant staff including technical assistance days and informational webinars.
• The creation of an inclusive and accessible Request for Proposals. Read the RFP here to learn more.
• Inclusion of the opportunity for interviews if needed to clarify information in the application. (The Selection Committee ultimately decided interviews were not necessary to clarify the applications for those they selected to participate in the cohort.)
• Provide enough funding to truly make a difference in moving organizations from surviving to thriving. We committed to making grants starting at $40,000.
• Focus on developing all the other elements of the cohort that can nurture the organizations (networking, convenings, learning labs, technical assistance) and not only the funding.
• Offer optional, ongoing nonfunding opportunities (learning labs, technical assistance, networking) to all applicants and not only organizations selected for the cohort.
• Provide scoring and comments by the Selection Committee for each application, if requested.
• Share learnings with funders to impact the philanthropic systems.

All applications were reviewed by 3 members of the Selection Committee. The Committee was provided training on how to avoid unintended bias in their application review, and reviewed each application based on its own merits.

The Minnesota-based organizations will convene for their first cohort meeting this fall.

Plans are underway for funding opportunities to be announced in North and South Dakota. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter for upcoming opportunities.