Grant Making
The mission of the Blue Earth Community Foundation (BECF) is to serve the Blue Earth, MN, area, as defined by the BEA School District #2860, by supporting programs and projects that improve the quality of life and build stronger communities. The BECF provides grants which fulfill that mission. The Foundation is primarily interested in funding new and innovative projects or programs that build on existing strengths of an organization or the community as a whole.
Criteria for Grant Requests
Grants, up to $5,000, are awarded quarterly as funding permits. The BECF Board of Directors uses the following criteria for review and evaluation of requests:
● Focus Area: The population directly benefiting from the project is in the greater Blue Earth area.
● Need or Impact: There is a demonstrated need in the community for the project or service, and the funding would have a significant impact on the community, either directly or indirectly.
● Collaboration: There is an overall effort to collaborate and pool resources with other area organizations to make the project a reality.
● Sustainability: There is a reasonable potential of the organization to be able to maintain such a program or project, if applicable, into the future.
● Measurability: The project has clear goals and outcomes that are measurable.
● Accountability: Grant recipients will submit a brief report about the project within three months of the completion date.
Quarterly Due Dates
Grant applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis by a committee of the BECF, which then makes its recommendation to the Board for approval or not. Grant applications are due by the first Wednesdays of January, April, July and October. Applicants will be notified after the Board meetings for those months.
You can find the Grant Application in the footer below.
Requirements
Proposals must be submitted by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a unit of government, such as a municipality, township or school district. Applicants may include a copy of the IRS Determination letter. Applicants which are not tax-exempt must apply through a suitable fiscal agent willing to accept responsibility for the project, such as a municipality or school district.
In addition to the stated criteria, preference is given to the following:
● Projects that have the greatest potential for long-term community benefits.
● Projects that meet community needs not currently being met.
● Projects that promote volunteer participation and citizen involvement in meeting community needs.
● Projects with a high potential for success, as demonstrated by the organization’s degree of commitment and the ability to obtain needed resources to plan, organize, implement and complete the project with integrity.
Generally, the BECF does not make grants to:
● Political campaigns
● Fraternal organizations or school athletic funds
● Organizations that discriminate
● Trips and tours
● Individuals
● National health agencies or their local affiliates
● Capital/Building campaigns
● Debt retirement or operational deficits
● Endowments
● Religious organizations that are purely denominational or sectarian in purpose
● General operating budgets of tax-supported educational institutions
● General operating support to foundations that are themselves grant-making bodies