Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Owatonna, Minnesota · EIN 363454285 · Private foundation
Based in Owatonna, Minnesota, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation has awarded $8.1M across 468 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to University of Notre Dame. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation funds
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, early childhood education, economic development, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, families, low-income communities, rural communities, single parents, veterans.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame I-LAB, GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP, PRESIDENTS CIRCLE | South Bend, MN | $400K | 2023 |
| Leo Augusta Children's Academy PROVIDING RESOURCES TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES/SUPPORT FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION | Blooming Prairie, MN | $357K | 2022 |
| Leo Augusta Children's Academy SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPANSION / GET OUT! OUTDOOR CLASSROOM/EDUCATION-DEED SUB GRANT | Blooming Prairie, MN | $212K | 2023 |
| University of Notre Dame GENERAL SUPPORT | Notre Dame, MN | $150K | 2024 |
| Vanguard Charitable GENERAL SUPPORT | Southeastern, PA | $145K | 2024 |
| City of Fairmont FAIRMONT ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND FUND | Fairmont, MN | $124K | 2020 |
| City of Wabasha WABASHA ATHLETIC FIELD / POOL PASS PROGRAM | Wabasha, MN | $96K | 2024 |
| Lead for America PROGRAMMING SUPPORT | Dodge City, MN | $75K | 2023 |
| Lead for American (minnesota) SUPPORT FOR MN COMMUNITIES TO BRING MORE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY DIVERSE PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITES | Dodge City, KS | $75K | 2022 |
| City of Byron COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT FOR VETERANS PARK | Byron, MN | $74K | 2022 |
| Maple River School District EXPANDING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND READING / BURNS CLUB DISBURSEMENT TO MAPLE RIVER SCHOOLS | Mapleton, MN | $71K | 2023 |
| City of Fairmont - Fairmont Economic Development Authority COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CENTER/FAIRMONT BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING PROJECT | Fairmont, MN | $64K | 2022 |
| Wykoff Veterans Memorial Park Fund Inc COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY VETERANS MEMORIAL | Wykoff, MN | $53K | 2018 |
| Forecast Public Artworks PLANNING HEALTHY CITIES THROUGH CERTIFIED PLACEMAKING AND PUBLIC ART | St Paul, MN | $50K | 2018 |
| Blue Earth Area Schools BLUE EARTH AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE BELONG PROJECT / EXPANDING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND READING | Blue Earth, MN | $50K | 2023 |
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at smifoundation.org.
Is Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
- Does Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation accept grant applications?
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation fund?
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include University of Notre Dame, Leo Augusta Children's Academy, Leo Augusta Children's Academy. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation give in grants?
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation reported $2.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $8.1M over 468 grants.
- Where is Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation located?
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is based in Owatonna, Minnesota. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 363454285.
- How can I find foundations similar to Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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