The Marshall Community Foundation (MCF) is pleased to announce that their fall grant cycle has begun.  They are accepting applications from Marshall non-profits to support the great work they do in our community.

Click here for guidelines pdf!

As a reminder the application process has now changed, and the entire application must be completed/submitted here:  https://swifoundation.tfaforms.net/446901?FundID=a0y36000001tY7kAAE

Supporting documents for the organization or grant application can be uploaded via the “Supporting Information” section, by clicking “Choose File” to upload all supporting documents.

The deadline for completion is end of day Monday, October 19.  Please email give@marshall-cf.org if you have any questions with the new application.

Grant requests may be submitted for up to $5,000 and must align with the foundation’s priorities of:
• Community Improvement
• Diversity
• Wellness
• Youth Development

MCF prefers to fund new/enhanced programs and partnerships or one-time projects.

The Marshall Community Foundation is one of over 20 community foundations established via partnership with the Southwest Initiative Foundation.  A local advisory board identifies needs in the community, grants dollars to local non-profits, and raises funds to grow the endowment.  Earnings from the foundation’s endowment are used to fund grants offered twice per year.  MCF has granted over $140,000 since its founding.

All recipients of a MCF grant are required to complete a report for accountability purposes. This will be mailed out after the grants are awarded.

New opportunity for artists across Minnesota:

Artists Respond: Combating Social Isolation

This is a state-wide call for artists to help people in their communities connect with one another while staying safe and healthy. This is an open call with a rolling deadline for artists with creative ideas, with $500 in project support available. This opportunity is supported by the Kresge Foundation and the Blandin Foundation. 

See more and the application: https://springboardforthearts.org/artists-respond/

The COVID crisis has resulted in increased levels of social isolation in our communities, particularly for higher-risk groups like the elderly or people with disabilities. This isolation can have devastating effects on individual health and well-being.

With this project, artists in Minnesota of all disciplines and career levels are invited to create moments of joy, solace, solidarity, sharing, and a sense of connection for those who are feeling most isolated in these pandemic times. Whether a virtual guided walk, a postcard swap, charades with folks inside nursing homes, poetry broadcast from a porch, or texted meditations in the morning, artists can play an important role right now to lift spirits, combat isolation and create camaraderie through shared experiences.

Projects with a focus on higher-risk groups, including but not limited to those in care facilities, elders living at home, new immigrant communities, families lacking access to broadband, and essential workers who may be self-isolating, will be prioritized for funding. Artists should already have a connection with or into the group – through themself, someone in their family or close network, or other existing relationship.

There will be 60+ projects funded. These project funds are open to any artist in Minnesota and Springboard will prioritize artists and culture workers from communities that are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic crisis. Access to technology, the internet, and other systemic barriers may make it difficult for some artists to respond quickly to this call so we will start reviewing applications after at least 10 applications are submitted from priority groups. At least 70% of the project funds will go to artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color and/or Native; artists from outside the seven county metro area; artists from the disability community, including people with compromised immune systems; or LGBTQIA+ artists.

There is more information and the application here: https://springboardforthearts.org/artists-respond/