Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation seeking applications for Taylor Rural Improvements Grant
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is currently accepting applications for its Taylor Rural Improvements Grant program. Towns, or the Native nation, with populations under 10,000 in SMIF’s 20-county region that provide essential services to underserved populations are eligible. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public institutions and units or agencies of local, state, federal and tribal government are encouraged to apply. Requests of up to $30,000 for eligible projects will be considered.
The Taylor Rural Improvements Grant seeks to support capital projects that provide essential services to underserved populations within the community. For this grant round we will consider projects that fall under the following essential services categories: food, clothing, shelter, transportation or internet accessibility.
Examples of projects include, but are not limited to: refrigerator/freezer or loading dock for food shelf, upgrades to community owned thrift store, new furniture for a homeless shelter, computers or hot spots for libraries, or a bus that provides transportation for underserved community members to school or medical appointments.
The Taylor Rural Improvements Grant is supported by a generous donation from Glen A. Taylor through the Taylor Family Farms Foundation. Taylor has a long history of funding philanthropic initiatives related to rural community revitalization. The gift will create a financial framework to support these and other causes for future generations in the area Glen Taylor still calls home.
“We are grateful to Glen A. Taylor and the Taylor Family Farms Foundation for their initiative to support small towns,” shared Benya Kraus, SMIF president and CEO. “Their generosity with the insight of leaders of small communities will help provide services essential to the wellbeing of underserved populations in our region.”
Applications are due to SMIF by October 15, 2025. Awardees will be notified by November 14, 2025. For the application and guidelines, visit smifoundation.org/taylorruralimprovements. For questions, contact Sarah Scheffert, communications and community vitality specialist, at 507-214-7015 or sarahs@smifoundation.org.
