The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council serves the artistic communities of the 9-county area of southcentral MN by supporting the creation and presentation of diverse art forms, fostering equitable access to arts opportunities, and integrating arts and culture to enhance quality of life in our communities.
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council’s grantmaking is built around the arts life of southcentral Minnesota’s 9-county region, with funding that reaches individual artists, schools, community groups, and arts organizations. In 2025, its recent grants include repeated $9,000 awards to groups such as Promusica Minnesota in Mankato and the New Ulm Suzuki School of Music in New Ulm, showing support for both performance and arts instruction. The council also backs community-facing arts organizations and local cultural programming, including awards to the Old Town Association in Mankato and the Waseca Arts Council in Waseca. The council’s program list shows a broad arts portfolio rather than a single discipline: arts and culture, K-12 arts education, individual artist support, youth scholarships, emergency relief, and organizational capacity building. Some awards are designed for organizations, while others are open to individual artists and students. Its work is explicitly tied to equitable access and to integrating arts and culture into daily community life across the region. The result is a grantmaker that supports both the creation of art and the local infrastructure that makes arts participation possible.
A major part of the council’s work is community arts programming. It gave $9,000 to T-bird Community Arts in Gibbon and $9,000 to Good Thunder Reading Series in Mankato, both of which point to local arts activity rooted in specific communities. It also supported The Grand Center for Arts & Culture in New Ulm with $9,000, reinforcing the role of arts venues and presenters in the region. Education is another clear strand. The grant programs include K-12 school arts projects, youth scholarships, and workshop-based learning, and the recent grants list includes New Ulm Suzuki School of Music in New Ulm. Individual artist support is also visible through programs such as Creative Impact for Individuals and Creativity in our Region, which fund artistic projects, classes, workshops, and supplies for adults and artists in the region. Emergency Relief Fund grants add a short-term safety-net role for artists facing lost income or unexpected expenses.
Typical grant sizes cluster tightly around $7,000 median, with a p25 of $7,000 and p75 of $9,000. The recent grants list is dominated by $9,000 awards, alongside smaller individual and school-oriented grants in the council’s active programs. The pattern suggests a mix of recurring organizational support and smaller targeted awards. Multiple grant programs are open to unsolicited applications, including Flexible Support, Small Arts Project Grant, Emergency Relief Fund, Creative Impact for Individuals, Creativity in our Region, Youth Scholarship for Students, Pilot Collaborative Support, and K-12 school arts grants. The organization funds grants, not individuals directly as general aid, though it does support individual artists through dedicated programs.
$421K
$295K
$1M
$1M
Most grants fall between $7K and $9K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$9K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MN.
RANDY MEDIGER
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Minnesota, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and a local geographic scope. Recent recipients are spread across southcentral Minnesota, including Mankato, New Ulm, St. Peter, Fairmont, Waseca, Gaylord, Gibbon, Nicollet, Pemberton, and Green Isle. Mankato appears frequently among recipients, along with New Ulm and St. Peter, reflecting the council’s role in the arts ecosystem of the 9-county region.
Its programs cover arts and culture, K-12 arts education, individual artist support, community arts programming, youth scholarships, emergency relief for artists, and organizational capacity building. The recent grants list shows support for both arts organizations and schools, as well as individual artists and community groups.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Flexible Support, Small Arts Project Grant, Emergency Relief Fund, Creative Impact for Individuals, Creativity in our Region, Youth Scholarship for Students, Pilot Collaborative Support, and K-12 school arts grants.
Typical recent grant sizes are tightly clustered: the p25 is $7,000, the median is $7,000, and the p75 is $9,000. Active program amounts range from $250 for Creativity in our Region to $25,000 for Pilot Collaborative Support.
Recipients include individual artists in southcentral Minnesota, arts organizations and community arts groups, K-12 students and schools, and residents of the 9-county southcentral Minnesota region through community arts programming and scholarships.
It gives locally, with 100% of grants going to recipients in Minnesota. Recent recipients include groups in Mankato, New Ulm, St. Peter, Fairmont, Waseca, Gaylord, Gibbon, Nicollet, Pemberton, and Green Isle.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must include two 501(c)(3)s, government entities, or schools/universities; applicants must be from two separate counties in the region; applications are considered together and both must be awarded or neither.
Deadline: July 1, 2026.
Who can apply: Tiered by operating budget/project budget. Tier 1: universities, government entities, public libraries, and arts organizations/projects with operating budget of $0-59,999 annually or by project; Tier 2: $60,000-199,999; Tier 3: $200,000+.
Deadline: Tier 1 deadlines: July 1, August 1, September 1, October 1, 2026 and February 1, March 1, April 1, 2027. Tier 2 & 3 deadlines: August 1, 2026 and February 1, 2027.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF GREEN ILSE | GREEN ISLE, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| UNITING CULTURES MULTICULTURAL FIE | ST JAMES, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| IMAGINE MARTIN | FAIRMONT, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| OLD TOWN MANKATO DAY OF THE DEAD | NORTH MANKATO, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| THE GRAND CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE | NEW ULM, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| MADELIA ARTS COLLABORATIVE | MADELIA, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| CARNEGIE ART CENTER | MANKATO, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| HACER | MANKATO, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| MINNESOTA OVER 60 BAND | ST PETER, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| MINNESOTA SONGWRITER SANCTUARY | HENDERSON, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| CITY CENTER PARTNERSHIP | MANKATO, MN | $9,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| WASECA ARTS COUNCIL | WASECA, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| BLUE EARTH VALLEY CONCERT ASSOC | WINNEBAGO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| LA GRANDE BANDE GAYLORD | GAYLORD, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MUSICORUM | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MARTIN COUNTY PRESERVATION | FAIRMONT, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MINNESOTA VALLEY CHORALE | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| SOUTH CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE | NORTH MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MANKATO MAKERSPACE | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| GOOD THUNDER READING SERIES | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MANKATO AREA YOUTH SYMPH ORCHESTRA | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MANKATON MANKATO ACT ON ALZHEIMER | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| DAVORI PROD - MANKATO PLAYHOUSE | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| STATE STREET THEATRE COMPANY | NEW ULM, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| TWIN RIVERS COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MANKATO ARE COMMUNITY EDUCATION | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| ARTS CENTER OF ST PETER | ST PETER, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MERELY PLAYERS COMM THEATRE | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| PROJECT GEM | PEMBERTON, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| FAIRMONT OPERA HOUSE | FAIRMONT, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MANKATO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| PROMUSICA MINNESOTA | MANKATO, MN | $8,313 | 2026 | ACH |
| MAKE IT - WATERVILLE | WATERVILLE, MN | $8,202 | 2026 | ACH |
| MN RIVER VALLEY WIND ENSEMBLE | MANKATO, MN | $6,060 | 2026 | ACH |
| MN ORIGINAL MUSIC FESTIVAL | ST PETER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| SAINT PETER GOOD NEIGHBOR DIVERSITY | ST PETER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| GAYLORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | GAYLORD, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| CITY OF ST PETER | ST PETER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| CITY OF NEW ULM PARKS AND REC | NEW ULM, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| BETSY-TACY SOCIETY | MANKATO, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| CITY OF WINTHROP | WINTHROP, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| MADELIA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MADELIA, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| BAVARIAN BLAST | NEW ULM, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| SAINT PETER ART STROLL | ST PETER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| ROCK BEND FOLK FESTIVAL | ST PETER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| 4UNITY CORNSTALK FESTIVAL | DUNNELL, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ACH |
| WASECA-LESEUER REGIONAL LIBRARY | WASECA, MN | $5,658 | 2026 | ACH |
| ST PETER PUBLIC LIBRARY | ST PETER, MN | $5,542 | 2026 | ACH |
| MN NEW COUNTRY SCHOOL | HENDERSON, MN | $5,542 | 2026 | ACH |
| WATERVILLE ELYSIAN MORRISTOWN COMM | WATERVILLE, MN | $5,542 | 2026 | ACH |
CITY OF GREEN ILSE
$9,000ACH
UNITING CULTURES MULTICULTURAL FIE
$9,000ACH
IMAGINE MARTIN
$9,000ACH
OLD TOWN MANKATO DAY OF THE DEAD
$9,000ACH
THE GRAND CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE
$9,000ACH
MADELIA ARTS COLLABORATIVE
$9,000ACH
CARNEGIE ART CENTER
ACH
HACER
$9,000ACH
MINNESOTA OVER 60 BAND
$9,000ACH
MINNESOTA SONGWRITER SANCTUARY
$9,000ACH
CITY CENTER PARTNERSHIP
$9,000ACH
WASECA ARTS COUNCIL
$8,313ACH
BLUE EARTH VALLEY CONCERT ASSOC
$8,313ACH
LA GRANDE BANDE GAYLORD
$8,313ACH
MUSICORUM
$8,313ACH
MARTIN COUNTY PRESERVATION
$8,313ACH
MINNESOTA VALLEY CHORALE
$8,313ACH
SOUTH CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE
$8,313ACH
MANKATO MAKERSPACE
$8,313ACH
GOOD THUNDER READING SERIES
$8,313ACH
MANKATO AREA YOUTH SYMPH ORCHESTRA
$8,313ACH
MANKATON MANKATO ACT ON ALZHEIMER
$8,313ACH
DAVORI PROD - MANKATO PLAYHOUSE
$8,313ACH
STATE STREET THEATRE COMPANY
$8,313ACH
TWIN RIVERS COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
$8,313ACH
MANKATO ARE COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$8,313ACH
ARTS CENTER OF ST PETER
$8,313ACH
MERELY PLAYERS COMM THEATRE
$8,313ACH
PROJECT GEM
$8,313ACH
FAIRMONT OPERA HOUSE
$8,313ACH
MANKATO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$8,313ACH
PROMUSICA MINNESOTA
$8,313ACH
MAKE IT - WATERVILLE
$8,202ACH
MN RIVER VALLEY WIND ENSEMBLE
$6,060ACH
MN ORIGINAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
$6,000ACH
SAINT PETER GOOD NEIGHBOR DIVERSITY
$6,000ACH
GAYLORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$6,000ACH
CITY OF ST PETER
$6,000ACH
CITY OF NEW ULM PARKS AND REC
$6,000ACH
BETSY-TACY SOCIETY
$6,000ACH
CITY OF WINTHROP
$6,000ACH
MADELIA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$6,000ACH
BAVARIAN BLAST
$6,000ACH
SAINT PETER ART STROLL
$6,000ACH
ROCK BEND FOLK FESTIVAL
$6,000ACH
4UNITY CORNSTALK FESTIVAL
$6,000ACH
WASECA-LESEUER REGIONAL LIBRARY
$5,658ACH
ST PETER PUBLIC LIBRARY
$5,542ACH
MN NEW COUNTRY SCHOOL
$5,542ACH
WATERVILLE ELYSIAN MORRISTOWN COMM
$5,542ACH
