The “North Side” is an area rich with opportunity and assets but has experienced years of disinvestment. It’s also the neighborhood where Rose and her family lived for many years. This historical sentiment coupled with community opportunities make our decision to focus on North Minneapolis a perfect evolution of the Foundation’s focus and interests, and creates a strong direction for the Foundation for years to come.

The Foundation embraces community-led decision-making practices to ensure that its overarching strategy and individual grants align with Northside residents’ aspirations. We currently make grants in three areas:

Since 2016, we have supported innovative, educator-led work within Northside Minneapolis Public Schools. Our most recent investments include our Genius & Joy summer programs.

Since 2020, we have invested in the advancement of Black commercial real estate developers in North Minneapolis through programs like our Northside Real Estate Developer initiative.

On a case-by-case basis, the Foundation will consider funding special projects administered by units of government. However, the Foundation will not fund efforts that are traditionally the responsibility or function of government.

The Foundation predominately funds entities that are classified by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations. We will consider funding through a fiscal agent on a case-by-case basis. We also offer some funding opportunities for businesses; check our grant guidelines for details.

The Foundation generally does not make grants for capital needs. We may consider a strategic capital grant to an organization with which we have a working relationship if the capital needs advance the work of that organization and are related to the funding focus of the Foundation.

The Foundation is prohibited from funding direct lobbying activities aimed at influencing specific pending or proposed legislation, including referenda, local, statewide or federal ordinances and resolutions. This prohibition generally includes direct lobbying of legislators and other government officials with respect to specific legislation and mass media advertising campaigns aimed at influencing specific legislation. The Foundation will consider requests for efforts such as grassroots organizing, issue education that is neutral, nonpartisan and grounded in recognized research, and policy research and education. If you have questions about the acceptability of a proposed activity, please review the provisions describing prohibited activities included in Section 4945(e) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations Section 53.4945-2.

The Foundation currently does not provide program related investments, nor loans of any kind.

The Foundation has a limited capacity to support important events in North Minneapolis. If you are seeking sponsorship support for a Northside event, please contact a staff member.

In 2021, the Phillips Foundation entered a strategic operating partnership with the Minneapolis Foundation. The Phillips Foundation remains an independent foundation with its own resources and Board of Directors while receiving a variety of impact and administrative services from the Minneapolis Foundation.