Important Dates:

• Applications posted: May 3, 2023
• Pre-Application Conference: May 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
• Closing date for all questions: May 30, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
• Solicitation due date: June 7, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

Program Background:

Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants is a program focused on increasing youth access to activities by providing grant opportunities for Local Government Units (LGUs) within Hennepin County.  The program has three grant initiatives:  

Important Dates:

• Water safety grants support free and reduced cost swim lessons as well as lifeguard services.
• Sports grants provide funding for sports equipment, playgrounds and sports facilities.
• Arts grants provide funding for creative and musical youth activities.

Since it began in 2009, the program has awarded more than $32.7 million in grants. Proceeds from the Twins ballpark sales tax support this program. 

In 2022, Hennepin County delegated administration for youth arts and music grants to Encouraging Leaders. As a third-party grant administrator, Encouraging Leaders is charged with distributing information and applications; providing technical assistance to proposers; collecting and evaluating proposals seeking grants; and developing and communicating primary recommendations for funding to Hennepin County.

A total of $250,000 in funding has been allocated to art and music grants for 2023.  

About Youth Art and Music Grants:

This grant initiative aims to support youth art and music programming and education in communities across Hennepin County. Arts education and programming encompasses:

Eligibility:

1. Applicants must be Local Government Units (LGUs). LGUs are defined as governmental entities. For the purposes of this grant, eligible LGUs are cities, public school districts, park districts, and watershed districts located in or operating within Hennepin County. Charter schools, community education or other school departments, and community-based organizations must enlist a LGU to submit an application.
2. LGUs are strongly encouraged to partner with businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations to promote youth activities in their communities. School departments, community education programs, and other subsidiaries of school districts are not partners for the purposes of this grant program and would be considered part of the school district. 
3. The majority of youth served by the proposed project should reside within Hennepin County.
4. Youth served by the project must be 24 years of age or younger.

Grants up to $25,000 are available. Grant funding is meant to support youth participation in art and music opportunities. Grant awards will be paid to grant recipients through a cost-reimbursement contract. The awards are paid as reimbursement after the Local Government Unit (LGU) submits documentation of project activity expenses.

For technical assistance, please contact Samuel Karie at support@encouragingleadersmn.org