MN Forward Pooled Fund invests $1.35M in Minnesota nonprofits
MN Forward Pooled Fund launched with a $1.35 million statewide investment to strengthen small and mid-sized Minnesota nonprofits. In its first round, 27 organizations received $50,000 each, including the New Justice Project, a Black led group advancing jobs, housing justice, and community safety. The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, in collaboration with partners, created the pooled fund to target high-impact groups under 3 million in annual budgets, backing both immediate needs and long-term community building.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and other philanthropic partners announced a $1.35 million statewide investment in Minnesota nonprofits through the newly launched MN Forward Pooled Fund. The initiative is designed to strengthen small and mid-sized organizations addressing urgent and long-term community needs across the state.
The fund’s first round awarded $50,000 grants to each of 27 organizations, including the New Justice Project, a Black-led organization dedicated to creating job opportunities, advocating for housing justice, and reimagining community safety. Other recipients serve Native communities, Greater Minnesota, and the Twin Cities metro area, reflecting the fund’s commitment to equity and impact statewide.
“This fund emerged from conversations with our peer foundations about how to respond to both immediate and long-term needs in our communities,” said Tsega Tamene, associate vice president of community impact at Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. “We knew we wanted to pool resources collaboratively so we could move quickly and strategically to support community builders doing critical work on the ground.”
Tamene, who leads a team focused on resourcing changemakers and community builders across Minnesota, explained that the idea for the MN Forward Pooled Fund began in late 2024. Following federal policy shifts and a perceived shift in community resources, the foundation convened peer funders to assess what needs might emerge and how philanthropic organizations could respond collectively.
“It started with conversations about what we might expect in our communities and how we could continue to invest despite challenges,” Tamene said. “We realized that pooling resources in a collaborative way could have a real-time impact while also supporting longer-term community-building efforts.”
By mid-2025 the collaborative fund was established, attracting contributions from 10 foundations and several individual donors and raising over $1.5 million to support community-centered initiatives. Tamene described the effort as “miraculous,” noting how quickly the fund was assembled and grants distributed. Program finalists were notified by the end of June, with denied applicants informed at the same time.
Rod Adams, founder of the New Justice Project and a 2024 Bush Fellow, said the grant will allow the organization to advance two new initiatives: United We Build, which hosts community forums and roundtables throughout the year to foster political engagement and connection between residents and elected officials; and United We Heal, a culturally rooted program focused on joy, healing, restoration, and relationship-building.
“This support allows us to take the next step in building community power and creating spaces for connection and restoration,” Adams said. “It elevates the work we’ve been developing and helps us progress initiatives that address both immediate needs and long-term community wellness.”
The MN Forward Pooled Fund intentionally targeted organizations with operating budgets under $3 million, focusing on smaller groups that often lack resources but have deep community impact. Eligible organizations ranged from emerging groups without formal nonprofit status to tribal government programs, demonstrating inclusivity in both structure and mission.
Tamene emphasized that while this fund provides critical support, it is not intended to replace government funding, which in some areas has been diminishing or at risk. “The goal here isn’t to supplant other resources but to respond in the moment and support those already doing the work in their communities,” she said. “At the same time, our sector continues to advocate for the state and federal resources our communities deserve.”
While the MN Forward Pooled Fund is a new initiative, foundations involved hope to continue the collaborative model in the future. “We’re still convening and thinking about how best to coordinate resources so our partners and communities feel supported,” Tamene said.
By investing in organizations like the New Justice Project, the MN Forward Pooled Fund exemplifies how foundations can work together to amplify impact, address inequities, and support community-driven solutions at both the local and statewide level. For smaller, grassroots nonprofits, these funds provide not only financial resources but also recognition and momentum to expand programming and strengthen their impact in Minnesota communities.
As Adams noted, “With this support, we’re able to dream bigger, act faster, and create opportunities for residents to connect, heal, and take part in shaping the community they want to see.”
For more information on the MN Forward Pooled Fund, visit www.spmcf.org/nonprofits/grants-for-nonprofits/mn-forward-grants.
For more information on the New Justice Project MN, visit www.newjusticeprojectmn.org.
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