About the opportunity
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. This includes 501(c)(3) and fiscally sponsored organizations, and/or units of the 11 tribal governments in Minnesota. Unrestricted grants and engagement in the program are essential to building trusting relationships. Propel will provide technical assistance to grantees in financial administration and other nonprofit finance, strategy, and governance areas, and there will be peer-to-peer learning opportunities and optional workshops.
The initial funding round will focus on 501(c)(3) organizations, fiscally sponsored organizations, and/or units of the 11 tribal governments in Minnesota. Additional funding rounds within the next year will include organizations in North and South Dakota. This grant was made possible by the Bush Foundation, Ford Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and McKnight Foundation; it is phase two of America’s Cultural Treasures. The first funds of which were distributed through the Regional Cultural Treasures initiative.
Primary organization eligibility criteria
- Organizations are registered in Minnesota and/or are units of the 11 tribal governments in Minnesota
- Nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) organizations and organizations that have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) organization
- Organization must have an arts and culture focus that is significant to their organizational programs and budget
- Organization’s Executive Director/CEO is BIPOC-identified or at least 50% of board members are BIPOC-identified, AND the organization demonstrates a significant prioritization of arts and culture to serve BIPOC arts community or their specified/defined community of color
- Organizations have been operating for at least two years. (They are not required to have been a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored for at least two years.)
- Organizations with current annual budgets with expenses less than $500,000
Please visit the RFP & Application Information section below to learn more.
Important dates
| RFP announced: | April 8, 2022 |
| Application open: | April 18, 2022 |
| General informational webinars: | Friday, April 22, 1-2pm Thursday, May 12, 1-2pm |
| Technical assistance sessions with applicants: | Tuesday, April 26 9am-5pm Tuesday, May 10 9am-5pm |
| Proposals due: | May 20, 2022 by 5pm |
| Follow-up calls with applicants, if needed: | May 23-27, 2022 |
| Finalists contacted to schedule interview: | June 23, 2022 |
| Interviews held: | June 27-July 8, 2022 |
| Awards announced: | July 21, 2022 |
| Grant agreements signed: | July 31, 2022 |
RFP & Application Information
Request for proposals
- Download a PDF copy by clicking this link: download a pdf of the RFP
Application information
- Access the application form: Seeding Cultural Treasures Application
- The application questions are available for download here by clicking this link: Seeding Cultural Treasures Application Questions
- All applicants must apply through our online form; a Word document of the questions is provided as a resource to applicants.
- The form will close on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 5 pm.
Information Webinars (optional)
A recording of one of the informational webinars is available here: watch the webinar
Technical Assistance Days (optional)
The two optional Technical Assistance Days have passed. If you questions about the application, call or email the grant contacts, Anniessa Antar and Glyn Northington (info below).
Grant Contacts
The two individuals below will be available to answer questions about the grant program.
Anniessa Antar, Seeding Cultural Treasures Program Manager
612-249-6644, SCT@propelnonprofits.org
Glyn Northington, Senior Program Director
612-249-6672, SCT@propelnonprofits.org
Propel homepage image courtesy of Theater Mu.