19 survey respondents
Location: 100 N Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids, 55744 MN
EIN: 41-6038619
100%
0%
10 hours
Median
100%
0%
100%
0%
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 7392 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
We have had a relationship with Blandin since May 2018. We were turned down from a grant but given access to much needed consultation. Since that time we have been funded on all our grant requests which has led us to be in position to apply for state broadband funding. Their conferences are amazing they are accessible and gracious. Our rural community is being transformed with their support.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2019
Good
Amazing in guiding us to do the work we need to do to change and to grow.
Good
5 to 10 hours
Reviewer 8168 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Reach out to a program officer and build a personal relationship. They're extremely accessible, and it'll be worth your time.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded
Array
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
The Blandin Foundation is one of the most accessible funders we've worked with to date. Their program officer was extremely transparent about the application process. In addition, we appreciate that their application form clearly states that they welcome grant proposals from ALL nonprofits, not just those with professional grant writers on staff.
Good
Their support goes above and beyond simply writing a check. For example, they offered to host our gathering in their beautiful event space. Their President/CEO even delivered welcome remarks, which meant a lot to us!
6
Reviewer 731 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
An excellent resource for Itasca County-area nonprofits. For nonprofits outside that region, the guidelines and funding priorities are more restrictive so be sure to look through their materials carefully to see if your project/organization is a fit.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Blandin stands out as a rural funder focusing on rural communities. We need more of that!
The Blandin grants team does a great job of being out and about in the community, which gives important context for their work.
12
Thank you for your true observation of where we fund: Our founder charged us with a special commitment to our home County of Itasca where over 60% of our funding is placed.
In other parts of rural Minnesota (towns under 35,000) we fund organizations that work in the intersection of economic innovation, educational attainment, and equity.
If this is you, let's talk. And if we can't find a way to yes, we always leave you with other ideas for connections and resources .
Onward :)
Reviewer 5123 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
They're really accessible on a personal level - reach out even informally to a grants officer to start a conversation. They were up-front and honest about what they're interested in funding. In terms of their interest in projects, it helps to have an existing connection to the Blandin Foundation if you're outside the Itasca County area. In our case, we have several cohorts of Blandin Community Leadership Program alumni actively working on engagement projects in our community.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
The grants officer was incredibly accessible, both on email and over the phone, responding to everything from informal quick questions to a more detailed review of the proposal.
Good
Our organization connects to Blandin's overall mission of rural Minnesota community asset building, and specifically to their desire to provide funding to projects led by people who have completed the Blandin Community Leadership Program. In this sense, they're directly contributing to their philanthropic goals, and we're pleased to have funding to help kick-start ideas that come from the BCLP training.
Expand their giving programs to even further support great community asset-building and equity work happening all across rural Minnesota!
Provide wrap-around support to help rural Minnesota community leaders. In our specific case, on top of providing a grant for project-specific work, Blandin has been really supportive in making connections to other resources, whether it's organizations doing similar work in other Minnesota communities, other Blandin staff members that can provide mentorship, or other opportunities.
10
Thank you for your honest comments.
You are right, we do support specifically leaders who happen to still be working with their original Blandin Community Leadership Program cohort members on community projects that include and benefit everyone.
Also - if you are someone whose organization works in the intersection of economic innovation, educational attainment, and equity in rural Minnesota - let us know.
Happy Spring.
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
They are very approachable and good listeners. Call and talk to them if you have a good proposal.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2016
Good
Good
Keep up the great partnerships with grantees and the community.
They are dedicated to rural philanthropy.
18
Thank you for your positive feedback. Rural philanthropy is different - deeply relational - we promise to keep working through authentic partnerships.
Reviewer 213 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
The Blandin Foundation has the experience and knowledge of the region to receive Grant requests, Help the Grantees apply, Support Community Efforts and Fund them with a user friendly application and clear directions. Response time is excellent and is willing to work with each request efficiently. On going support with advisors and consultants to assist you on the way to success. Excellent team to work with.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Excellent Response time and communication.
Good
The Foundation has a broad range of support services that encompass the many issues related to Rural Communities. We are enthusiastic and passionate about how far they have helped our organization come.
Great a way for Grantees to engage with each other .
They will offer you as much as they can but it is ultimately up to you to do the leg work.
Communicates well.
10 to 15 hours
Thank you for the thoughtful comments, and for recognizing our programs in Leadership, Public Policy & Engagement, and Communications add to the way we fund and work with organizations and rural communities.
Reviewer 938 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
I would definitely reach out and talk to someone in person to see if you and your request would be a fit with the foundation. From there you can decide if you should do a formal written request for funding.
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
Other
2017
Good
All folks that work at the foundation are more than willing to help you be successful. They network amongst themselves and genuinely set you up with who in their array of services can help you best with your request.
Good
VERY. They coach all to think about inclusion...How are you ACTIVELY serving and/or seeking out the folks who need your services the most- Complacency is NOT ever going to serve anyone! They encourage collaborations and networking so that everyone can DO MORE philanthropically speaking.
Keep it up! You are all holding that BAR high and making true change in the areas you serve and fund!
You better be ready for a mind blowing conversation on inclusion! They are MASTERS at making you think about how you can do better by your mission. All the staff are professional and well versed in all things non-profit. They take your skill set and help you polish it to a shine to take the great things you are already doing to the next level! It's exciting and energizing!
This foundation is GOLD to us because they help fund us with General Operational funding to help offset costs of all our programming. PLUS- they help to mentor and guide us to make potential collaborations to further our mission:) They ROCK
LISTENING! They really make an effort to say "Use US" They are more than happy to set up meetings with you for not only money requests but relationship building. They WANT to hear the battles you are up against and WANT to foster relationships that will be beneficial for all. They actually HELP you to be successful through collaborations. Funding is not enough to move our missions forward- We must know connections to take our missions further- They are MASTERS at making us think about inclusion and making connections that will be more impactful for all!
24
Many thanks for your kind words. It's nice to see you find value beyond being able to fund your organization. That's exactly what we strive for.
Onward :)
Reviewer 252 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Early in the process contact the Blandin Foundation staff and explain your funding needs and the benefits to the community. If there is a potential fit for funding or Blandin assistance a staff person will be assigned. Blandin is a very helpful connector as well as funder.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Blandin staff is very accessible given the demand on their time around deadlines and board meetings. Again contact them early in the process to work around these times.
Good
The Itasca Area owes its vitality to the Blandin Foundation which has provided enormous leverage for community driven initiatives.
Consider being more active in convening community stakeholders around issues important to the community.
Blandin's focus is on the Itasca Area.
Listens to community.
16
Thank you for your comments and encouragement to continue to convene our local communities around issues that matter.
If you have ideas, please give us a call. Our colleagues in 'Public Policy & Engagement' are making themselves available as much as feasibly possible to help groups move forward in a good way.
Reviewer 830 - Grant Applicant - applied before 2014
The Foundation has a genuine "open door" policy making approaching them personally not only useful, but pleasant and non-threatening. Their regular in-house analysis of their philanthropic goals and tools like this one demonstrate an energetic corporate environment committed to serving its whole community through changing challenges.
Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for greater amount
Before 2014
Good
Very highly.
Good
My suggestion is that the Foundation examine again its reluctance to offer any operating funds to the small non-profits which, in every other way, the Foundation has supported and nurtured. The analogy to parents who bring offspring to adulthood and then expect the offspring to thrive on their own (with helpful gifts at special times) fails here. Volunteer human capital spent on supporting heat, light, a secretary, internet service, and the like, dilutes the energy that brought those people to their work initially. It decreases the desire in those people to enlarge their group's vision, to expand their services, and sometimes even to continue to serve. If we're trusted enough over a long enough duration to get grants from the Foundation for the programming we do, help me understand why grants to pay for some overhead are not acceptable. There must be many historical answers to my question. My request is that you look critically once again. Thank you for this forum. It speaks well of you all.
It is a leader in its field. Make sure you know what their parameters are, but do make an appointment to meet with them.
It views each application and applicant as individuals. There isn't one form for all to fill out, no matter the circumstances.
8
Thank you for your candid feedback on our operations funding versus programmatic funding.
There's no doubt operations funding is what is most needed in our work. As it is, Blandin Foundation is a rare foundation that allocates around 60% of all funding toward operations at various nonprofits. And we do it for the reasons you state.
Because these funds are so precious, we admittedly tend to be slower to offer this kind of support, yet on the other hand, once we do, we tend to offer it for a long time. We also admit that this kind of support varies with nonprofit size, mission, and strategic fit with our priorities.
Thank you for the work you do in rural Minnesota.
Reviewer 774 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
I'm writing as an Itasca County organization, which is in Blandin Foundation's primary funding area. We have found the Foundation to be extremely responsive and helpful, a true partner in helping us find resources and meet community needs. The staff is honest and accessible. Talk your ideas over with them before submitting a proposal. Besides funding, they may give guidance and offer additional contacts.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Blandin's grants require "reflection," which is good but time consuming. If their grant applications are filled out thoughtfully they can require a huge amount of work. Shortening the application by a section or two would help.
Blandin does a good job of focusing on diversity and inclusion.
24
Many thanks for your note and for commenting on what is our "Committed Connections" grant application.
We will review the questions and consider simplifying them. You are not the only grantee who has found this particular application to be challenging due to the reflective elements.
Reflection, on the other hand, does generate good insights and learning about our work, which is key to being able to identify ongoing adjustments for greater impact.
We recognize, inside our own walls too, that finding time for reflecting on our work with an aim of continual improvement, is challenging.
