Spring 2026 Grant Cycle: Timeline, Funds & Application Details

📅 2026 Spring Grant Cycle Timeline

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January 5 | Spring Grant Info Session (for applicants) - REGISTER HERE

January 5 | Applications open – APPLY HERE

February 2 at 11:59 PM | Applications close

‍February 16 – March 8 | Committee Review Period

April 16 | Recommendations presented to Boreal Waters Community Foundation Board

April 16 | Applicants Notified of decisions  

April 30 | Grant Payments Issued  

June 1, 2026 (or later) to 12 months of start date| Grant period

Please note: The grant portal dashboard has a new look.  To begin a new application, instead of clicking APPLY at the top of your home page, click SEE OPPORTUNITIES. 

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Opportunities available in the Spring Grant Cycle:

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Cook County Community Fund

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• Cook County Community Fund

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Eveleth Community Foundation

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• ‍Eveleth Community Foundation Fund

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South Shore Community Fund

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• Apostle Islands Area Community Fund‍
• Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund‍
• Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund‍
• Grutzner Madeline Island Fund‍
• Mary H. Rice Community Innovation Fund‍
• Michael Madeline Island Fund‍
• Red Cliff / Miskwaabikaang Fund‍
• West Wind Fund

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Two Harbors Area Community Fund

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• ‍LaBounty Family Fund‍
• Two Harbors Area Fund

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Area of Interest Funds

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• ‍Anishinabe Fund
• ‍Animal-Assisted Therapy Fund‍
• Biodiversity Fund‍
• Four Cedars Environmental Fund‍
• Fund for Women and Girls‍
• Global Awareness Fund‍
• Sandbulte Family Higher Education Endowment Fund‍
• Silver Bay Charitable Fund‍
• Wetherby Fund‍
• Wirtanen Family Fund

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Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must meet both of the following criteria:

1. IRS Classification

The organization must be classified by the IRS as one of the following:

• A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

• A Section 170(c)(1) public entity (e.g., governmental agencies, public schools)

• A Section 7871 Tribal government

• A church

• An organization with a fiscal sponsor that is classified under one of the above categories

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2. Geographic Area

The organization must serve communities within the Boreal Waters Community Foundation’s service area.

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What We Fund

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We support a wide range of community-driven, equity-centered work. Generally funding can be used for the following; (Please note that specific funds may have certain criteria that differ from these)  

• Program or Project Support: To launch, expand, or sustain work in alignment with the mission of the grant

• General Operating Support: To build strength and stability

• Capacity Building: To grow organizational effectiveness or leadership

• Community-Led Solutions: Especially those involving lived experience and cross-sector collaboration

• Systems Change and Upstream Impact: Projects that address root causes—not just symptoms

What We Don’t Fund

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To stay aligned with our mission, we do not fund:

• Individuals or direct personal aid

• Capital campaigns or major construction projects

• One-time equipment purchases without strategic context

• Fundraising events or sponsorships

• Political or lobbying efforts

• Religious activities (non-religious programming by faith-based organizations is eligible)

• Medical research

• Debt retirement

• Regranting to other groups (funds must be used directly by the applicant to carry out the proposed work)

• Endowments

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Spring 2026 Application Questions

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You can view the application questions and related criteria here:

👉 Spring 2026 Application Questions  

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We're Here to Support You

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We know applying for funding takes time and energy, and we're here to support you along the way. We encourage you to join the Spring Grants Info Session if this is your first time applying for a grant in this round. Register here.

If you have questions about eligibility, fit or the application process, please reach out to:  

Kursula Harris | Senior Community Impact Associate

✉️ kursula@borealwaters.org

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