Mission
The fund primarily provides assistance to projects that promote economic development in the Two Harbors area. Economic development, in order to qualify as a charitable purpose, must benefit the public directly and significantly, with any private benefit only incidental and not substantial when compared with the public benefits.
The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects:
- Technical and managerial assistance to businesses;
- Maintenance or improvement of public lands and waters for recreational activities that are open and freely available to the public
- Construction or maintenance of public buildings, monuments or other works
- Business seed programs
- Projects that lessen the burdens of government
- Relief to the poor, distressed or underprivileged
- Projects to reduce juvenile delinquency
- Projects to help low-income people find emergency, temporary or permanent housing
- Promotion of social welfare by organizations designed to accomplish the above activities
Grant awards cannot provide long-term or permanent support. Therefore, organizations must have the financial potential to sustain programs. In some cases, more than one year of funding may be recommended to ensure the stability of a new organization or program.
Projects not eligible for funding include:
- Endowments
- Religious organizations for religious activities
- Medical research
- Debt retirement
- Requests from re-granting organizations for funding for their own grant-making
- Individuals
- Political organizations or campaigns
- Tickets for benefits
- Telephone solicitations
- Fundraising drives or activities
- Organizations that work to influence legislation as a substantial part of their purpose
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must:
Be classified as one of the following:
- Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., traditional nonprofit)
- Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., governmental entities and schools)
- Section 7871 Tribal government
- Church
- Organization with a fiscal agent that is classified as one of the above
- Be located in or provide services to residents of the Two Harbors Area Fund’s primary service area, defined as the boundaries of the Two Harbors High School District. Grants to promote economic development may be awarded without regard to geographic area if they are determined to have a beneficial economic impact on the Two Harbors area.
Grant range
Grants generally range from $1,000 to $15,000.
Application timeline
Spring 2025 Grant Cycle
- Open: January 3, 2025
- Close: March 3, 2025 at 5pm
- Project Start Date: June 1, 2025, or later
- Project End Date: No more than 12 months from the project start date
- Notifications: By May 21, 2025
- Funding Awarded: May 30, 2025
