Community Building Fund

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2025 Grants Applications Closed
Both large grant and small grant funding has been fully allocated and 2025 applications are now closed. We encourage you to check back on this webpage in October for 2026 Grant Applications.

The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Community Building Fund. As our city continues to grow, we are dedicated to supporting projects that support community building, especially underserved and underrepresented groups. This fund is all about supporting projects, programs, and events in the city that actively promote equity and inclusion.

Do you have a great idea for making Rochester more inclusive and welcoming? Whether it is a community project, a groundbreaking program, or an inspiring event, we want to hear from you.

How to Apply

Step 1: Verify Eligibility.

Your idea should happen in Rochester, MN
You must be 15 or older to apply. If you are under 18, you will need an adult sponsor.

Step 2: Consider...

What your idea will achieve.
Who will benefit.
How you will know if it’s successful.
How you will keep it going in the future.

Step 3: Determine Application Type (Large or Small).

Category	Small Application	Large Application
Funding	Up to $5,000 per applicant, per rolling year	Up to $20,000 per applicant, per rolling year
Timing	It's recommended to apply at least 6 weeks before the event, project, or program	It's recommended to apply at least 3 months before the event, project, or program
Application Requirements	Requires general notes on your idea's budget, schedule, and success metrics	Requires a more thorough outline of your idea's budget, schedule, and success metrics (view the application packet)
Approval Process	The Approval Process is estimated to take 2 weeks	The Approval Process is estimated to take 4-8 weeks
Reporting	Feedback requested but not required	Mandatory reporting after idea implementation
Signed Contract	No signed contract required	Requires signed contract, including return of funds if not implemented

Additional Notes:

Application Fund Cap: Each entity may receive up to a total of $20,000 per year, regardless of whether the funding comes from one or both application types (Large or Small).
- Small Applications: Limited to $5,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period.
- Large Applications: Limited to $20,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period.
Project Submission: An idea can only be submitted for either a large or small application, not both. If an entity applies for both types of funding, the projects must be clearly distinct in scope and objectives.
Funding Availability: Applications will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis, subject to available funding. Award amounts may be less than the requested funding.
Funding Utilization: All awarded funds must be utilized within 6 months of receipt.

Step 4: Apply!

Funding Dashboard

Evaluation Rubric

Applications are assessed using the following rubric:

Priorities	Score
Project Alignment with City Foundational Principles and City Strategic Plan and Organizational Vision	3 - Strongly Aligns 2 - Somewhat aligns 1 - Does not align
Promotion of connection/engagement with diverse communities	3 - Strongly promotes 2- Somewhat promotes 1 - Does not promote
Support for economic mobility and underrepresented/marginalized communities	3 - Actively invests 2 - Indirectly invests 1 - Does not invest
Elevates voices of underrepresented/marginalized communities	3 - Strongly shares 2 - Somewhat shares 1 - Does not share
New/innovative in our community	3 - Idea new to community 2 - Idea implemented within the last two years 1 - Idea implemented for 3 or more years
Fills a gap/need	3 - Addresses clear gap/need 2 - Addresses minor gap/need 1 - Does not address a recognized gap/need

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be part of an organization to apply for the fund?
- Individuals or organizations can apply for funding. You do not need to be part of an organization to apply.
Are there ideas that the funds cannot be used for?
- The fund cannot be used for:
  - Capital/funding for business
  - Alcohol or tobacco purchase
  - Gifts/promotional items over $5 per item
  - Political campaigns
  - Ideas that do not align with the goal of supporting community building, especially for underserved and underrepresented groups.
Amount of funding available
- Application Fund Cap: Each entity may receive up to a total of $20,000 per year, regardless of whether the funding comes from one or both application types (Large or Small).
  - Small Applications: Limited to $5,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period.
  - Large Applications: Limited to $20,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period.
Does the idea have to be ongoing?
- The idea does not have to be ongoing.
When do I/we have to utilize funding?
- 2025 Funding needs to be utilized before December 31st,2025

Have additional questions? Please submit a Q&A Form.

Rochester, MN

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Community Building Fund

Step 1: Verify Eligibility.

Step 2: Consider...

Step 3: Determine Application Type (Large or Small).

Step 4: Apply!