from news release
Deadline April 30
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation recently opened its Difference Maker grant round. The goal of this grant round is to help fund projects or initiatives that will bring about a lasting, positive change in mental health and racial equity for Central Minnesota. Application deadline for the grant round is April 30.
The focus area for the Difference Maker grant round in 2024 is mental health, including upstream and downstream efforts to improve mental health education and accessibility in Central Minnesota.
Upstream efforts in Mental Health
Projects and programs that help build a pipeline of solutions to address key areas of mental health in Central Minnesota. Examples may include:
• Efforts to increase therapists and mental health experts in our region
• Programs to empower the formation of new mental health care options in the region
• Programs that increase accessibility to mental health education and resources
• Preventative mental health programs
• Efforts to foster interest in the mental health profession among K-college students
• Efforts to promote awareness of mental health within underserved communities
• Efforts to educate parents and caretakers in youth mental health
• Efforts to destigmatize mental health
Downstream efforts in Mental Health
Projects and programs that help address critical and immediate needs in mental health in Central Minnesota. Examples may include:
• Programs to promote awareness of 988 and other mental health crisis resources
• Efforts to increase school-based therapy for students
• Efforts to streamline funnels to urgent and emergency mental healthcare
• Programs that increase access and address immediate and/or long-term mental health crisis needs
“Access to mental health resources and programs continues to be a prevalent need in our communities,” says Tailor Doeden, CMCF director of community engagement. “By offering the Central Minnesota Difference Maker grant, we hope to further address the ongoing mental health needs in our area.”
Since 2018, the Difference Maker grant round has awarded 27 grants totaling nearly $424,000.
Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits, schools or governmental entities. For more information about the grant round and specific criteria, visit communitygiving.org/cmcfgrants.
If you are interested in learning more about this grant, or getting feedback on a proposal idea before submitting, we encourage you to set up a time to connect with a team member at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation via email at cmcf@communitygiving.org or call our offices at 320-253-4380.
