The Blaze Credit Union Foundation is accepting applications for our Community Impact Grant from charitable organizations that share our mission and passion for providing resources to the communities we serve and help empower people to be strong, financially stable, and healthy.
Our Community Impact Grant is limited to charitable organizations whose work closely aligns with at least one of our five priority funding focus areas for this grant:
- Community and Economic Development
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Housing
- Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating Programs
- Informal Education - Supporting life skills & financial well-being for all.
Applications from organizations that do not meet the above focus areas will not be considered for this grant. Please note that requests for recurring operational expenses are not funded. Community Impact Grants will range between $500 - $10,000. Grants will be awarded based on potential community impact and the applicant organization's eligibility and needs. Grants will be awarded until all available grant funds have been expended. Priority will be given to applicants with less than $1M in annual revenue and who have not received a community impact grant from the Hiway Foundation or a grant from the InSPIREation Foundation in the last two years. Awarded applicants must sign a grant agreement that clarifies the legal parameters for the use of the grant funds. They must also agree to submit bi-annual grant reports to show the project/program results and that all the funds have been spent as intended. All grant applicants will be notified of their approval or denial status by August 31, 2024.
Eligibility:
All applicant organizations must:
Be a current tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, listed on the IRS Master File, classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) (Types I or II); and
Be current with all state and federal reporting requirements; and
Engage in charitable activities that meet the Community Impact Grant priority funding focus areas listed above; and
Operate and conduct their charitable activities in at least one (1) or more of the communities served by Blaze Credit Union, including the Minnesota and Wisconsin counties of Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Burnett, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, LeSueur, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pierce, Pine, Polk, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, St. Croix, St. Louis, Stearns, Waseca, Washington, or Wright; and
Not deny service, participation, membership, or other involvement in their charitable activities based on race, religion or religious beliefs, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, or disability status.
If selected, your organization must provide bi-annual updates to the Foundation for two years, or until the project is complete. If the updates are not received this may impact your eligibility in future grant rounds.
Application Guidelines and FAQ:
Applications will be accepted starting June 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (11:59 PM-CT).
To begin the application:
- Register your non-profit as an "Organization" by clicking the "Register" link in the top right-hand corner of this screen
- After you are registered, use the drop-down menu in the top left corner (under your name) and select your organization
- Hit "Apply" and begin your application!
- Remember that submitting your application is a two-step process. After hitting "Mark as Complete" at the bottom of the application, you will be returned to the top of the request page. The "Submit" button will then be found on the left-hand side of your screen.
- You will know your application has been submitted when you receive a confirmation e-mail
Contact:
Questions about Community Impact Grants should be directed to Tina Jones, AVP Financial Empowerment, at tjones@blazecu.com or 651-789-3061.
Community Impact Grant 2024
The Blaze Credit Union Foundation is accepting applications for our Community Impact Grant from charitable organizations that share our mission and passion for providing resources to the communities we serve and help empower people to be strong, financially stable, and healthy.
Our Community Impact Grant is limited to charitable organizations whose work closely aligns with at least one of our five priority funding focus areas for this grant:
- Community and Economic Development
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Housing
- Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating Programs
- Informal Education - Supporting life skills & financial well-being for all.
Applications from organizations that do not meet the above focus areas will not be considered for this grant. Please note that requests for recurring operational expenses are not funded. Community Impact Grants will range between $500 - $10,000. Grants will be awarded based on potential community impact and the applicant organization's eligibility and needs. Grants will be awarded until all available grant funds have been expended. Priority will be given to applicants with less than $1M in annual revenue and who have not received a community impact grant from the Hiway Foundation or a grant from the InSPIREation Foundation in the last two years. Awarded applicants must sign a grant agreement that clarifies the legal parameters for the use of the grant funds. They must also agree to submit bi-annual grant reports to show the project/program results and that all the funds have been spent as intended. All grant applicants will be notified of their approval or denial status by August 31, 2024.
Eligibility:
All applicant organizations must:
Be a current tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, listed on the IRS Master File, classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) (Types I or II); and
Be current with all state and federal reporting requirements; and
Engage in charitable activities that meet the Community Impact Grant priority funding focus areas listed above; and
Operate and conduct their charitable activities in at least one (1) or more of the communities served by Blaze Credit Union, including the Minnesota and Wisconsin counties of Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Burnett, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, LeSueur, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pierce, Pine, Polk, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, St. Croix, St. Louis, Stearns, Waseca, Washington, or Wright; and
Not deny service, participation, membership, or other involvement in their charitable activities based on race, religion or religious beliefs, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran, or disability status.
If selected, your organization must provide bi-annual updates to the Foundation for two years, or until the project is complete. If the updates are not received this may impact your eligibility in future grant rounds.
Application Guidelines and FAQ:
Applications will be accepted starting June 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 (11:59 PM-CT).
To begin the application:
- Register your non-profit as an "Organization" by clicking the "Register" link in the top right-hand corner of this screen
- After you are registered, use the drop-down menu in the top left corner (under your name) and select your organization
- Hit "Apply" and begin your application!
- Remember that submitting your application is a two-step process. After hitting "Mark as Complete" at the bottom of the application, you will be returned to the top of the request page. The "Submit" button will then be found on the left-hand side of your screen.
- You will know your application has been submitted when you receive a confirmation e-mail
Contact:
Questions about Community Impact Grants should be directed to Tina Jones, AVP Financial Empowerment, at tjones@blazecu.com or 651-789-3061.