Promotes educators’ innovation and achievement focused on the practices of equity and inclusion.
Education Minnesota’s recent grantmaking is built around educator-led work: financial assistance to local teacher organizations, settlement grants that support staffing or organizational capacity, and smaller awards for classroom and professional development projects. The foundation’s largest recent grants go to city-based educator groups in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including $838,842 to the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and $748,002 to the St Paul Federation of Educators. Those awards sit alongside repeated support for other Minnesota locals such as the Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers, Education Minnesota Worthington, and Education Minnesota Osseo. The foundation’s giving reflects a strong interest in equity and inclusion in teaching and learning, with grant programs that support educator innovation, classroom projects, science education, and National Board Certification. Its active programs also include the IMPACT Grant, which is designed for projects coordinated by an active Education Minnesota member and partnered with a nonprofit or community organization. Across the grant list, the pattern is less about isolated philanthropy and more about backing educator organizations, member professional growth, and locally grounded initiatives that can be carried into schools and communities.
A major part of Education Minnesota’s funding goes to educator organizations through financial assistance and settlement-style grants. That support reaches large locals in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but also smaller associations such as Metro Area Council and Mankato Teachers Association. In classroom innovation, the foundation funds projects that go beyond implemented curriculum. It awarded $38,458 to Education Minnesota St Francis for a local-time enhancement award, and its classroom-focused project programs are set up for licensed educators seeking support for student achievement and instructional practice. Professional learning is another consistent theme. Education Minnesota backs National Board Certification through scholarship reimbursements, and it also funds professional development for educators, higher education faculty, and education support professionals. The foundation also makes room for subject-specific work: its Bruce Vento Science Educator Grant is a distinct category for science educators, showing a narrower STEM-oriented strand within the broader education portfolio.
$3.5M
$91.6M
$40M
$40.8M
Most grants fall between $8K and $22K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$22K
DENISE SPECHT
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Typical grant size is modest for project and professional-development awards, with a p25 of $8,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $21,721. The structure is a regular funder, and the active grant programs show both unsolicited access and reimbursement-based awards. Several programs are explicitly open to applicants in Minnesota, including IMPACT, NBCT scholarship, professional development, and classroom-focused project grants. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially educator associations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Robbinsdale. That pattern suggests ongoing organizational relationships rather than one-time grants only. The portfolio also includes both operationally oriented support and settlement grants, indicating a mix of direct financial assistance and capacity support.
Education Minnesota gives almost entirely within Minnesota: 98% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the grant list shows 228 U.S. grants. The strongest concentration is in St. Paul and Minneapolis, with additional awards landing in Crystal, Brooklyn Park, Worthington, Moorhead, Duluth, Mankato, Prior Lake, and Woodbury. Recipients also include a few non-metro Minnesota communities such as White Bear Township and Cedar. The geographic pattern is local and statewide rather than national.
The foundation funds educator organizations, nonprofit and community-based partners, and school-related groups in Minnesota. Recent grants include financial assistance to local teacher federations, org settlement grants for education associations, and support for initiatives tied to classroom projects, professional development, science education, and National Board Certification.
Education Minnesota’s typical grant size is $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $21,721 at the 75th percentile. Its active programs also show smaller awards, including classroom-focused project grants and professional development grants that can go up to $3,000.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including the IMPACT Grant, National Board Certified Teachers scholarship, Professional Development Grant, Bruce Vento Science Educator Grant, Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Grants, Classroom-Focused Project Grant, and related professional development programs.
It is highly local. 98% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Recent grants are concentrated in Minnesota cities and school-affiliated organizations, especially in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The active programs emphasize K-12 education, teacher professional development, education equity, classroom innovation, National Board Certification scholarships, and community or nonprofit partnerships through IMPACT grants. The program descriptions also point to science education, instructional tactics, technology use, and family or caregiver engagement.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Education Minnesota that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must be coordinated by an active member of Education Minnesota who has teamed up with a nonprofit/community organization. The budget should reflect a one-year project. The program is intended to influence policies and generalized practices, not individual classes or specific curricula.
Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026 at 4 p.m. (new deadline!)
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST PAUL FEDERATION OF EDUCATORS | ST PAUL, MN | $827,918 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MINNEAPOLIS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $714,699 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| ROBBINSDALE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS | CRYSTAL, MN | $262,068 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ANOKA HENNEPIN EDUCATION MN | COON RAPIDS, MN | $141,434 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ST CROIX RIVER EDUCATION | STILLWATER, MN | $64,198 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ROCHESTER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | ROCHESTER, MN | $54,598 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| CHASKA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | NORWOOD, MN | $51,716 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| TAKE ACTION MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA GRAND RAPIDS | GRAND RAPIDS, MN | $48,157 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| MINNEWASKA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION | GLENWOOD, MN | $47,122 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA BUFFALO | BUFFALO, MN | $44,941 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ELK RIVER EDUCATION MINNESOTA | ELK RIVER, MN | $40,558 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA OSSEO | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $40,481 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| METRO AREA COUNCIL | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $36,500 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SHAKOPEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | SHAKOPEE, MN | $34,320 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA BRAINERD | BRAINARD, MN | $32,611 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA WILLMAR | WILLMAR, MN | $31,033 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| FARMINGTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | FARMINGTON, MN | $29,823 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 916 | BURNSVILLE, MN | $28,343 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA ALEXANDRIA | FARWELL, MN | $27,841 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| BURNSVILLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,960 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA CAMBRIDGE-ISANT | CAMBRIDGE, MN | $25,198 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| SAUK RAPIDS-RICE EDUCATION | SAUK RAPIDS, MN | $24,882 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| SPRING LAKE PARK TEACHERS UNITED | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $24,755 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 287 | BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | $24,743 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| WACONIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | WACONIA, MN | $22,938 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDINA EDUCATION MINNESOTA | EDINA, MN | $22,280 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA INVER GROVE | INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN | $21,715 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA HERMANTOWN | HERMANTOWN, MN | $20,281 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 917 | ROSEMOUNT, MN | $19,995 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ST CLOUD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | ST CLOUD, MN | $19,712 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA ST FRANCIS | CEDAR, MN | $19,673 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| MONTEVIDEO EDUCATION MINNESOTA | MONTEVIDEO, MN | $19,325 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| ALBERT LEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | ALBERT LEA, MN | $19,002 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA HAWLEY | HAWLEY, MN | $18,824 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA KASSON- | MAZEPPA, MN | $16,947 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA CLOQUET | CLOQUET, MN | $15,787 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA LAKEVILLE | LAKEVILLE, MN | $15,541 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA OSSEO ESP | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $15,199 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| THE FRIENDS OF ST PAUL PUBLIC | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA JORDAN | JORDAN, MN | $14,528 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| LITTLE FALLS EDUCATION MINNESOTA | LITTLE FALLS, MN | $13,941 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| 917 PROGRAM ASSISTANTS EDUCATION | WEST ST PAUL, MN | $13,839 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| LUVERNE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | LUVERNE, MN | $12,325 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| METRO WEST UNISERV | EDINA, MN | $11,925 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| HOPKINS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | MINNETONKA, MN | $11,890 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| WEST ST PAUL FEDERATION OF TEACHERS | HASTINGS, MN | $11,781 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| BECKER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | BECKER, MN | $11,577 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| EDUCATION MINNESOTA LAKE SUPERIOR | TWO HARBORS, MN | $11,564 | 2026 | ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT |
| MINNESOTA AFL-CIO | ST PAUL, MN | $11,500 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
ST PAUL FEDERATION OF EDUCATORS
$827,918FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MINNEAPOLIS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
$714,699FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
ROBBINSDALE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
$262,068ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ANOKA HENNEPIN EDUCATION MN
$141,434ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ST CROIX RIVER EDUCATION
$64,198ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ROCHESTER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$54,598ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
CHASKA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$51,716ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA GRAND RAPIDS
$48,157ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
MINNEWASKA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
$47,122ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA BUFFALO
$44,941ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ELK RIVER EDUCATION MINNESOTA
$40,558ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA OSSEO
$40,481ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
METRO AREA COUNCIL
$36,500FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SHAKOPEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$34,320ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA BRAINERD
$32,611ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA WILLMAR
$31,033ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
FARMINGTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$29,823ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 916
$28,343ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA ALEXANDRIA
$27,841ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
BURNSVILLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$25,960ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA CAMBRIDGE-ISANT
$25,198ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
SAUK RAPIDS-RICE EDUCATION
$24,882ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
SPRING LAKE PARK TEACHERS UNITED
$24,755ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 287
$24,743ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
WACONIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$22,938ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDINA EDUCATION MINNESOTA
$22,280ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA INVER GROVE
$21,715ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA HERMANTOWN
$20,281ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA INTR DIST 917
$19,995ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ST CLOUD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$19,712ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA ST FRANCIS
$19,673ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
MONTEVIDEO EDUCATION MINNESOTA
$19,325ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
ALBERT LEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$19,002ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA HAWLEY
$18,824ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA KASSON-
$16,947ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA CLOQUET
$15,787ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA LAKEVILLE
$15,541ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA OSSEO ESP
$15,199ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA JORDAN
$14,528ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
LITTLE FALLS EDUCATION MINNESOTA
$13,941ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
917 PROGRAM ASSISTANTS EDUCATION
$13,839ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
LUVERNE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$12,325ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
METRO WEST UNISERV
$11,925FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HOPKINS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$11,890ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
WEST ST PAUL FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
$11,781ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
BECKER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$11,577ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
EDUCATION MINNESOTA LAKE SUPERIOR
$11,564ORG SETTLEMENT GRANT
MINNESOTA AFL-CIO
$11,500FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
