LISC is working hard to support BIPOC ownership and development as the building blocks of transformative community development. Whether it’s assisting emerging developers of color, investment in the recovery of hard-hit Twin Cities corridors, or support for community land trusts, º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ has been there with its support.
Hometown Foundation Programs
At º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation, we believe a vibrant and growing economy is only possible when economic opportunities are available to all our neighbors. The º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and shared prosperity in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the greater state of Minnesota.
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Grants and initiatives
In addition to supporting the overarching Minneapolis-St. Paul philanthropic ecosystem and addressing persistent and immediate community needs, the º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation hometown program concentrates its investments in organizations working to address the specific systemic and structural barriers facing Black communities, Indigenous communities and communities of color. We do this in four priority areas: entrepreneurship and small business, workforce development, housing and asset building.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
The Foundation supports entrepreneurship initiatives that address current ecosystem gaps, drive inclusive practices and create access to knowledge, services, networks and capital for entrepreneurs at all stages.
Workforce Development
The Foundation supports employment and technical training opportunities to ensure the workforce development system operates effectively and connects job seekers and workers with the skills they need to succeed.
Housing
The Foundation supports efforts that increase housing availability, stability and access — creating pathways to greater opportunity.
Asset Building
The Foundation supports organizations that improve the asset building opportunities available to traditionally marginalized communities, especially those that are engaged in work to increase financial inclusion, wealth building and overall financial health.
How to apply
The 2024 Hometown Racial Equity grant cycle is now closed. Please check back in Spring 2025 for the next application cycle.
Learn more about our funding guidelines
Hometown grantee spotlights
We’re proud to support the work of and its efforts to revitalize communities and bring greater economic opportunity to residents.
LISC provides capital, strategy and know-how to the Twin Cities community development partners – helping to enhance the capacity of community-based partners to adapt to evolving needs in the region. To do this, it:
- Invests & Leverages: Directs and leverages strategic flow of significant capital to people and communities with underdeveloped assets;
- Builds Organizational & Ecosystem Capacity: Develops leadership and capacity at the local level to equip individuals, community partners and local coalitions to implement effective strategies;
- Advises: Serves as trusted partner to residents, organizations and investors seeking to design and deliver solutions in their communities;
- Convenes: Fosters collaboration by coordinating resources and actors across sectors and managing project implementation; and
- Advocates: Lifts up innovative ideas from local leaders and residents and engages in local, state and national policy arenas.
The º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation’s general operating funding will help LISC to implement its goals in the areas of recovery, asset-building and affordable housing.
We’re proud to support the work of the and its mission to increase economic opportunities for Asian Americans.
Envisioning vibrant diverse neighborhoods infused with the richness of Asian American cultures and leadership, AEDA builds innovative approaches to creating jobs and reducing poverty for the Twin Cities Asian population through in-language, culturally appropriate direct engagement with its communities.
Thanks to the º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation, AEDA has the resources to affect systems change and help underserved Asian small businesses grow and create jobs. The pandemic years were tough for Asian small businesses, but with the support of the º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation, AEDA was able to provide many with a life line. We continue to advocate for change and address systemic barriers that prevent equitable access to resources.
The º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation’s general operating funding will help to sustain and strengthen AEDA’s programs that create economic opportunities for Asian Americans and address racial inequities in capital access and availability of culturally responsive small business technical assistance services in Minnesota.
We’re proud to support the work of the and its mission to preserve and expand affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.
Housing Justice Center (HJC) partners with renters, community organizations, and policymakers to strengthen tenant protections and ensure that housing laws are not just words on a page but real rights that people can access. HJC works to increase the amount of affordable housing across the state and protect the scarce affordable housing opportunities that exist. Their team of lawyers, policy advocates, and organizers work diligently to transform the housing system so all Minnesotans can be stably housed with dignity while remaining rooted in community.
General operating support from the º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation helps HJC fight for equitable housing opportunities, while centering the leadership and expertise of communities most directly impacted by injustice in our housing systems—particularly low-wealth people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people of color. This support is helping us transform the systems, structures, and policies so that all Minnesotans have safe, stable, dignified, and affordable places to call home free from discriminatory barriers.
The º£½ÇÉçÇøÆƽâ°æ Foundation’s general operating funding will help allow HJC to make progress on specific policies, strategies, and system change efforts to protect and expand affordable housing, as well as maintain and grow its capacity.
