Focused economy
Get to know our Rural Placemaking funding priority!
Placemaking is a comprehensive approach to community development where residents are encouraged to connect and contribute toward a shared vision for their community, and work together toward achieving that vision – helping people feel connected to one another and their community.
💫 Placemaking should enable positive economic, physical and social changes in the community, increasing civic engagement, pride in place, and/or nurturing the creative economy.
💫 Projects, whether focused on capacity building, planning or implementation, should demonstrate how community participation in decision making around issues that affect their quality of place will strengthen development capacity or improve discourse.
💫 Outcomes may also involve making visible improvements to community gathering spaces, including increased visibility of the arts, that respect the local landscape, people and culture.
Our upcoming funding round is open to Itasca-area non-profit organizations, with letters of inquiry opening March 7th.
After several years of grassroots collaboration, strategic planning and a realignment of the Foundation's priorities with the intent of our founder, we've refocused our grant portfolios to focus on three key priority areas: Community Wealth Building, Rural Placemaking, and Small Communities. Each initiative is designed to empower local leaders and organizations to create lasting, meaningful change.
Learn more:
https://bit.ly/3DRAE42