8 survey respondents
Location: Po Box 64560, St Paul, 55164 MN
EIN: 36-3525653
100%
0%
7 hours
Median
100%
0%
83%
17%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 415 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
My relationship with the program officer is nothing but exceptional. I cannot compare the relationship that BCBS MN Foundation program officers have with their grantees to any other foundation. They not only provide guidance throughout the application process, but are truly invested partners in the success of the grantee's program. It is a reciprocal mentoring process. I feel supported, I can call on her when I need advice, a sounding board, or just validation of my decision making. Our program officer is a program officer that everyone should see as the sector's leader, mentor, and responsive philanthropist. She has guided us every step of the way, helped us build capacity, and reframe the work we are doing more effectively.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Very accessible. I can email her and she will call me immediately to discuss issues and concerns or ideas I may have.
Good
BCBS MN Foundation has an amazing staff, connected to the community, understands our needs and are POCs. I don't feel like I have to explain every detail of our lived experiences. They get it!
Faster turn around time. more diverse board.
They make me smarter and tell us we make them smarter. Very mutual.
Provides advice and also lifts us up. Confidence boost, validating that we are doing awesome work.
25
Thank you for sharing your experience. Relationships with our grantee-partners are at the center of everything we do. It is gratifying to hear that it is working!
Reviewer 5289 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Take the time to connect with Foundation staff before submitting your application. They are very responsive and enjoy conversing about your proposed ideas. Also highly recommend setting up a time to debrief your proposal if you are not selected for funding. Foundation staff provided us with very detailed feedback that will certainly help shape our future proposals for our project.
Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Responsive
Minnesota
Applied and not funded
2018
Good
Staff are easy to reach and easy to talk to.
Keep the narrow funding focus for more than one application cycle. Creating systems change, which is the Foundation's goal, requires time.
Not sure - would like to see additional information on who was funded and what their outcomes and impact were.
Takes the time to talk to grant seekers.
15
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate you sharing your experience with our application process and staff.
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
This foundation is very forward-thinking in their approach and focus areas. They are intentional about removing the power dynamics with their grantees and seek to build a genuine, supportive, equitable relationship based on sharing of mutual resources toward a common goal. As a grantee, you feel you are a true "partner" with them in the work together.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Foundation is accessible in hosting informational meetings to better inform on funding priorities and is very responsive to grantees inquiries and needs.
Good
The foundation's focus on health equity is clear and they adapt their funding focus areas from time to time to respond to emerging needs. They don't just fund the easy, "pretty" programs, they understand the landscape of inequities and how it is tied to determinants of health and are dedicated to put the dollars where they are most impactful.
Program officers are "community oriented" people and understand the underlying complexities and challenges of nonprofits and programs on a deeper level. Also, they are fun, engaging, and highly responsive. As a grantee, the relationship feels much more of a personal relationship than a transactional one.
20
Thank you for your comment! We appreciate you sharing your experience with our grantmaking process.
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Read the guidance in order to clearly articulate your questions before calling.
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Applied and not funded
2017
Good
Very timely in their responsiveness to questions-even when one is on maternity leave.
Good
Social determinants of health-they are very specific on it which is why they are accomplishing philanthropic goals.
Social determinants of health is broad and when you look at the agencies that are awarded funds over the years, it seems the Foundation could more specifically articulate their priorities so that agencies that are really 'outside the box' know not to invest time into applying.
Very user friendly
8
We appreciate you taking the time to share your comment.
Reviewer 438 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
A fairly straightforward application. There are program officers available to speak with you and help along the way. They are narrower than some in their scope, but in a way that's helpful: you know what they're looking for.
Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Both program team and administrators got back to me quickly.
Average
Hard to reconcile the foundation's goals with a large corporation. The current goals feel like they are authentic according to the foundation, but one wonders how long a corporation like BCBS MN will allow this good work to go one.
It's a very, very small foundation considering the size of the corporation.
Communicates.
5
Thank you. We appreciate your comment!
Did not apply
If you want to learn about their approach and process, attend their meetings. Also call them with follow up questions. Their staff were very friendly and accessible.
Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Did not apply
Other
2017
Good
Consider accepting applications throughout the year and maybe having a pot of funds for small and start up organizations.
I like that the staff is diverse - age, culture, race.
I am on the board of a grassroots organization operating with a fiscal sponsor. I appreciated the information sessions held in 2017 to learn about funding opportunities. While we did not apply, I do have a better understanding of their point of view on health equity, determinants of health and system change. Staff were welcoming and approachable.
Staff are approachable, knowledgeable, and friendly.
0
Thank you for your comment!
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
Great staff to work with! They provide support when requested. I love the fact that grant applications can be innovative and creative.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2016
Good
Good
They listen to what local needs are then allow agency to 'go forth and provide services'
Thank you for keeping he reporting piece simple but accountable.
They Allow for creative and innovative ideas. They do not prescribe project activities or outcomes.
0
Thank you. We appreciate your comment!
Reviewer 741 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2014
Their guidelines are very accurate to what they're looking for. They often host meetings when they release an RFP, and are really available for questions and conversations as a part of those meetings. I recommend calling before you write an application to get a sense of if your project is a fit.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Builds relationships, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2014
Good
They give honest, useful, and thoughtful feedback about why you are or aren't funded. They continue to work to increase transparency, too!
Average
Their grantmaking approach is intended to be a transformational partnership, but their conception of how radical they are doesn't line up with their funding practices: the organizations they're looking to fund (small, POC-led, communities of color, immigrants) don't have the resources to complete the application process they've developed, and the requirement around the public support test eliminates many important and radical organizations from the pool.
Hire more immigrants and people of color at the foundation, and listen to what they have to say. You've made great strides in that area and helped other nonprofits do that too. The next step is to really radicalize your grantmaking process!
Approaches nonprofits as partners, and responds to honest and critical feedback.
Less than 5
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate you sharing your experience with our grantmaking process.
