The Mill City Times Interview: Chanda Baker, SVP of Impact for the Minneapolis Foundation, Fund for Safe Communities Grants Program
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 12:16PMArticle by Becky Fillinger
Minneapolis’ communities have certainly experienced trauma in the past year. There are micro grants available for activities that help promote healing and foster connection. Meet Chanda Smith Baker. As the Senior Vice President of Impact for the Minneapolis Foundation, she’s heading up a micro grants program that can provide funding for small scale activities that can jump-start recovery across our city.
Chanda Smith Baker
Q: Please tell us the history of the Fund for Safe Communities grants program.
A: The Fund for Safe Communities was established in 2018 to support tangible, specific, and meaningful actions to address and prevent violence. The Fund was inspired in part by the leadership shown by students who were affected by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and it emphasizes the importance of work led by young people.
The Fund’s first grant round took place in the spring of 2020 under the leadership of an advisory committee made up of emerging leaders who have personal experience with community violence. After George Floyd was killed in police custody, the Minneapolis Foundation quickly doubled down on this work, committing an additional $500,000 to the Fund for Safe Communities to prevent further violence, address systemic inequities, and heal individuals and communities. Those grants were awarded last fall.
Now, as we approach the anniversary of George Floyd’s death and the start of the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in his killing, we know that our community is still hurting. During this difficult time, we want to help ensure that people have places to gather safely and resources available to promote connection and healing. That’s why we designed our upcoming round of micro grants.
Q: Has the Foundation issued micro grants before?
A: While the Minneapolis Foundation may have issued micro grants for other purposes in this past, these grants are a first for the Fund for Safe Communities.
Q: What is the purpose of this round of micro grants?
A: This funding opportunity is designed to support gatherings and activities to address community trauma and promote wellness among Minneapolis youth and adults. Funding will be awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and religious organizations. We will prioritize proposals to serve areas of Minneapolis that were directly affected by last summer’s social unrest.
Q: Does the Foundation have an idea of what activities will be funded? Are you open to creative approaches to promoting wellness in the community?
A: Here are some examples of activities we’re interested in supporting:
We welcome additional ideas and input about what’s needed to diffuse anger and pain and promote wellness in our community. It’s important to note that we want to support people and organizations that are already deeply connected in the community. These dollars are not for newly established efforts, but to strengthen existing relationships and networks. We also encourage organizations to consider what they need in order to host gatherings that support social distancing and safety as we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Do you offer assistance for those completing the grant application?
A: We encourage anyone who is interested in applying for a micro grant to learn more by going to https://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/stories/fund-for-safe-communities/2021-micro-grants/. This webpage has lots of information about this funding opportunity and how to apply, as well as contact information for applicants who have additional questions.
Q: How may we follow the news of this program?
A: The Minneapolis Foundation will announce the micro grants we award from the Fund for Safe Communities. We welcome everyone to keep an eye on our website, www.minneapolisfoundation.org, and to follow the Minneapolis Foundation on Facebook or Twitter.
