mission - Pohlad Family Foundation

MISSION
The Pohlad Family Foundation has a broad mission to improve the quality of life in the MinneapolisSt. Paul region. This mission is best understood by reviewing general grant guidelines, details on programs
and initiatives, and a recent 20 year report; all available on our website:
www.pohladfoundation.org.
Founded by Carl and Eloise Pohlad in 1993, the Foundation today is led by their three sons, Jim, Bob and
Bill Pohlad. As a family foundation, our grantmaking is motivated by needs in the community that intersect
with the philanthropic interests of the Pohlad family. The following program descriptions detail the
opportunities currently offered to nonprofit organizations.
Cover photo: Frogtown, Saint Paul, Minnesota by Wing Young Huie
YOUTH PROGRAMS
As the next generation of Minnesotans grows and
develops, the Pohlad Family Foundation supports
efforts to assist young people in their successful
transition to adulthood. The following programs
were developed to encourage healthy development,
educational attainment, and provide extra support to
those in need. Refer to our website for details.
Pohlad Scholars:
Education is a powerful force in breaking the cycle of
poverty. This scholarship program provides annually
renewable $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors
living in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area who
will be enrolling in college each fall. Scholarships are
awarded on the basis of a student’s financial need,
academic achievement, perseverance, and
determination. Preference is given to first generation
college students.
Timeframe: Applications due early March.
Availability: High school seniors planning to enroll as
full-time students for the upcoming academic year are
eligible. **Please note these scholarships are
administered on behalf of the Foundation by
Scholarship America. Foundation staff do not evaluate
individual applications or select grant recipients.
Details: Scholarshipamerica.org/contact.php
Grant amounts: $2,000 (renewable).
Youth Advancement:
The Youth Advancement Program was launched in 2015 to
address the situation of disconnected youth in the Twin Cities
area. For the purposes of this program, disconnected youth are
defined as young people ages 16-24 who are not employed or
enrolled in any type of education. Improvement in education
and employment outcomes of these at-risk youth is crucial for
their future economic stability and general success as they
transition into adulthood.
Timeframe: Application opens in spring.
Availability: By invitation only.
Grant amounts: $25,000-$150,000.
Summer Camp Scholarships:
Summer camps provide children opportunities for healthy
social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development.
Unfortunately, attending summer camp is an opportunity that
children living in poverty rarely experience. The program’s
purpose is to enable young people to attend overnight camps to
support healthy growth. Grant recipients are educational and
human service organizations that work with economically
disadvantaged children throughout the state of Minnesota.
Families select an approved camp based on the interests and
needs of the child.
Timeframe: Applications due January. Grants awarded in April.
Availability: Open to all eligible organizations.
Grant amounts: $5,000-$18,000.
COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS
A thriving community of nonprofit organizations adds to the
quality of life in the Twin Cities. We aim to improve the stability
of these important organizations by helping them increase
contributions from individual donors and further develop
infrastructure. These grants are awarded as one-time
investments to better our community by increasing capacity.
Refer to our website for details.
Challenge Grants:
As politics change and need increases, government grants and
long-term support from foundations is becoming less certain for
the nonprofit community. Diversifying income sources is one
strategy a nonprofit can pursue to ensure its long-term stability
and sustainability. This fundraising incentive program seeks to
strengthen nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities by
expanding their individual donor base. Funds are available to
match up to $500 in contributions from each new donor.
Timeframe: Applications due February. Organization
fundraising plans approved in March. Grants paid following a
report on dollars raised during the specified fundraising period.
Availability: Open to all eligible organizations.
Grant amounts: Up to $10,000. The final grant amount matches
the total of eligible individual donations received during the
specified fundraising period.
Small Capital Grants:
The goal of these grants is to assist smaller infrastructure
projects to help organizations serve more people and/or be more
effective and efficient in addressing their mission. Examples of
approved projects include installation of an elevator for greater
accessibility and a vehicle purchase to transport more people.
Timeframe: Application opens in spring.
Availability: Open to all eligible organizations.
Grant amounts: $3,500-$50,000.
Large Capital Grants:
The Foundation carefully considers a limited number of large
capital grant requests each year. Generally these grants are
for significant investments in major building renovation or
expansion. Most large capital applications are for projects
that are in the final phase of fundraising and are nearly
construction-ready.
Timeframe: Application opens in spring.
Availability: Open to all eligible organizations.
Grant amounts: $100,000-$1,000,000.
FOUNDATION
INITIATIVES
North Minneapolis:
In 2008, the Foundation board approved an
initiative to support north Minneapolis because
the area is home to a large number of youth and
families living in poverty. Improving housing,
revitalizing commercial corridors, employing
youth, and providing children with healthy recreational experiences are the primary goals of these
grants.
Timeframe: Year round.
Availability: By invitation only.
Grant amounts: Varies.
SHARED
CHARACTERISTICS
OF POHLAD
GRANTEES
•
Organization is located in the nine-county Twin Cities
metro area, except where otherwise stated.
•
Demonstrated financial transparency, stability,
and sustainability.
•
Strong leadership from staff and the organization’s board.
•
All application materials are completed by
stated deadlines.
•
Grant reports are submitted by stated deadlines
and provide discernable outcomes.
The Foundation seeks applicants for a variety of annual grant programs at different times throughout
the year. Some program applications are open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofits that meet eligibility criteria.
Others are by invitation only following a call for Letters of Interest.
Please visit the Foundation’s calendar for the most current information.
Guidelines for the most recent round of each grant program are also available on our website.
For general questions or to request guidelines directly please contact:
Misha Dashevsky, Grants Manager
(612) 661-3859
mdashevsky@pohladfoundation.org