Minnesota agencies from the Department of Human Services and the Office of Justice Programs oversee millions of dollars annually granted to nonprofit organizations and communities. In 2022 the state grants process itself became the focus of intense media, legislative and federal attention, with multiple hearings and proposals for reform. While the legislature ended up adopting no major rules changes, two Legislative Audit Commission studies of state grants are underway -- Programs Supporting Minnesotans Who Are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
It’s not always clear where information on open opportunities is posted, what funding opportunities will be available in the coming year, what information is required to apply, or how funding decisions are made.
Join us for a fresh look at the state of state grantmaking in this new climate. You’ll hear from former MCN executive director and sector expert Jon Pratt who has undertaken a new analysis of Minnesota’s grants economy, interviewing key leaders at a dozen state agencies that make grants to nonprofits and communities. You’ll learn what to expect from state grantmaking in the coming year and identify opportunities that may be a good fit for your nonprofit’s work.
Whether it’s your first time applying for a state grant or your 100th, this workshop will have valuable information for you. By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Have a foundational knowledge of the dozen Minnesota state agencies who make grants to nonprofits and communities
- Be apprised of upcoming requests for proposals and appropriate deadlines
This workshop is part of MCN’s broader efforts to identify and address barriers, and to increase access to government funding for Minnesota nonprofits.
Event Details
This virtual event will take place on the Zoom platform. Your access link will be emailed to you the day before the event after 12 p.m.
This session will be recorded. The recording will be made available to registrants after the live event.
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Speaker Information
Jon Pratt is the former and founding Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and is an attorney specializing in nonprofit law, with a law degree from Antioch School of Law in Washington D.C. and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. Pratt was a contributor to the Minnesota Nonprofit Law Handbook and is an annual speaker on the State of Nonprofits at the Nonprofit Law Conference sponsored by Minnesota Continuing Legal Education.
Laura “Lenny” Jones brings to MCN over 25 years of experience in grantwriting, program development, and awards management through her work with nonprofits in Chicago and Minneapolis/St Paul. Before becoming MCN’s Development Manager, she served as Grants & Contracts specialist for the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center in Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood, procuring and managing over $3 million annually in government, foundation, and corporate awards and contracts. Prior to her tenure at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, Laura was involved in program development and fundraising in the areas of HIV/AIDS, midwifery, community health, and reproductive justice in Chicago.
Naomi Munzner services as the director at the Minnesota Office of Grants Management at the Department of Administration, where she provides leadership and direction for standardizing state grants management polices and procedures. The Office of Grants Management provides policy leadership and direction to promote consistent grants administration between state agencies, funders, and grantees. They develop, coordinate, and share effective resources to support standardized, streamlined, and improved state grant-making practice.