Welcome to our new website!

Welcome! We hope you find our new website helpful and easier to navigate. It's now as easy to use on your smartphone as your desktop. Take a tour and please tell us what you think.

Building Community Grant

The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Building Community Grant.  As our city continues to grow, we are dedicated to supporting projects that support building community, especially underserved and underrepresented groups.  This grant 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.

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 will your idea achieve?
  • Who will benefit?
  • How will you know if it’s successful?
  • How will you 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 $15,000 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.
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 the idea implementation
Signed Contract No signed contract required Requires a signed contract, including the return of funds if not implemented
  • Application Fund Cap: Each entity may receive up to $15,000 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 $15,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period. 
  • Project Submission: An idea can be submitted only for a large or a 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 the fiscal year.

Step 4: Apply

Apply for a Small Building Community Grant online.

Applications are assessed using the following rubric: 

PRIORITIES SCORE
Project Alignment with City Foundational Principles, 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 the 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

View the Building Community Grant Dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals or organizations can apply for funding. You do not need to be part of an organization to apply.

The grant awards 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.

Application Fund Cap: Each entity may receive up to $15,000 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 $15,000 per entity within a rolling 12-month period.

The idea does not have to be ongoing.

2026 Funding needs to be utilized before December 31st, 2026

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

Contact Us

City of Rochester

201 4th Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904

PHONE: 507-328-2311
FAX: 507-328-2901

View Contact Information by Department

Connect with City Services

Whether you have a question, need to report a concern or aren’t sure which department to contact, 311 connects you with the right team quickly and efficiently.

Visit the 311 Portal