Rochester Area Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,283,281 (2023)
• Success Rate: ~50% (approximately 50% of grant applications are funded at some level)
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (from LOI to notification)
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $25,000
• Geographic Focus: 30-mile radius surrounding Rochester, Minnesota
• Total Assets: $61,087,038

Contact Details

Address: 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901

Phone: 507-282-0203

Email: giving@rochesterarea.org

Website: www.rochesterarea.org

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For Grant Inquiries: Ellen Hegge at ellen@rochesterarea.org

Overview

Founded in 1944, the Rochester Area Foundation is southeastern Minnesota's community foundation, building and enhancing quality of life in the greater Rochester area through philanthropic leadership and community partnerships. With assets exceeding $61 million, the foundation awarded $4.3 million in grants to 115 organizations in 2023. The foundation operates as a place where generous people from diverse backgrounds come together to make communities better, serving a 30-mile radius surrounding Rochester. President Jennifer Woodford, who joined RAF in 2017, emphasizes that "strong nonprofits build strong communities" and highlights Rochester's unique collaborative spirit where nonprofits, businesses, the public sector, and educational institutions work together daily to meet community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Better Communities Grants: $2,500 - $25,000 Rochester Area Foundation's competitive grant awards provide unrestricted funding for the core mission of critical community organizations. The program has two purposes: to empower nonprofits to expand, improve, or pursue their best ideas, and to build the capacity and infrastructure of organizations poised for growth. Two grant cycles annually with rotating focus areas.

weGive365 Grants: $1,000 - $2,000 For emerging local nonprofits. Grantees must have a representative attend a fall event and speak about their mission and program.

Scholarships: Various amounts RAF administers numerous scholarship programs for students in the Rochester area.

Fiscal Sponsorship: Available for emerging charitable projects without 501(c)(3) designation.

Priority Areas

Grant cycles alternate between focus areas:

Spring Cycle: Youth + Education and Vibrant Communities (culture, arts, environment, recreation)

Fall Cycle: Historically Marginalized Communities (disability services, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+) and Basic Needs + Economic Mobility

Recent spring 2024 grantees (11 organizations, $110,000 total) included Bolder Options (mentoring program for youth), Cradle 2 Career (educational outcomes initiative), and Girls on the Run Minnesota.

Fall 2024 awarded grants to 10 community nonprofits.

What They Don't Fund

• Better Communities grants are made to qualifying charitable organizations, not to individuals
• Organizations that received funding during the previous grant cycle (general restriction, though not absolute)
• Organizations that can apply once per cycle only
• Organizations with ongoing grants must complete projects and submit final reports before reapplying
• Organizations may be limited to 3 consecutive years of grants in the same focus area
• Organizations outside the 30-mile catchment area unless the project primarily serves the catchment area

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Tony Benson - Chair, State of Minnesota

Harold Burden - First Vice Chair, Manager of Demand Planning, Hormel Foods

Natalie Jones - Second Vice Chair, Second Vice President/Principal Banker, West Bank

Marco Wageman - Treasurer, Retired, Mayo Clinic

Chris Wendland - Secretary, Attorney, Wendland Utz

Judi Wilson - Past Chair

The Board comprises area business and civic leaders dedicated to donor and community stewardship, thoughtful professional guidance, and permanent, sustainable charitable giving for the greater Rochester region.

Staff

Jennifer Woodford - President (since June 2017). Previously Executive Director at Channel One Regional Food Bank for nine years. Woodford stated: "This is an important time of growth and change for our area, and through philanthropy and community partnerships the Rochester Area Foundation is positioned to play a critical role in building and enhancing the quality of life for all who live, work, learn and play here."

Ellen Hegge - Philanthropy Officer (contact for grant inquiries at ellen@rochesterarea.org)

Staff expertise includes over 15 years in nonprofit community work supporting positive youth development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications submitted through the RAF Grant Portal accessible at rochesterarea.org.

Two-Step Process:

Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Very brief summary of grant project
• RAF staff and Grant Distribution Committee review LOIs to ensure consistency with RAF grantmaking priorities and inclusion criteria
• Organizations limited to one LOI per grant cycle

Step 2: Full Application

• Invited applicants submit full application through the Grant Portal
• Applications can be saved as drafts and edited before submission
• Portal maintains record of application history

Application Timeline

2025 Fall Grant Cycle Example:

• January 28, 2025: Letter of Intent Opens
• February 13, 2025: Letter of Intent Due
• February 19, 2025: Notification of organizations moving forward
• March 12, 2025: Written applications due
• April 7-11, 2025: Follow-up conversations

Two grant cycles operate annually with similar timeframes.

Decision Timeline

Approximately 6-8 weeks from initial LOI submission to notification. Organizations invited to submit full applications are notified within one week of the LOI deadline. Final decisions typically made 6-8 weeks after full applications are submitted.

Success Rates

Approximately 50% of grant applications are funded at some level. RAF receives far more requests than available funding allows. In some instances, the Grant Distribution Committee may recommend funding a specific portion of a grant application or conclude that needs can be met through partial funding.

In 2023, RAF made 115 awards. Spring 2024 awarded $110,000 to 11 organizations. Fall 2024 awarded grants to 10 organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply once per grant cycle. In general, RAF will not award a grant to an organization funded during the previous grant cycle. Organizations with ongoing grants must finish projects and submit final reports before reapplying for new funds. Organizations may be limited to receiving grants in the same focus area for more than 3 consecutive years.

Application Success Factors

Focus on Capacity Building: Better Communities Grants specifically aim to "build the capacity and infrastructure of organizations that are poised for growth." Applications should demonstrate how funding will strengthen organizational infrastructure and expand impact, not just maintain current operations.

Alignment with Rotating Focus Areas: Carefully review which focus area your grant falls under (Youth + Education, Vibrant Communities, Historically Marginalized Communities, or Basic Needs + Economic Mobility) and apply during the appropriate cycle. Organizations can only apply once per cycle.

Unrestricted vs. Restricted Funding: RAF provides "unrestricted funding for the core mission" - applications should emphasize how funding empowers the organization to "expand, improve or pursue their best ideas" rather than funding a single project with rigid parameters.

Geographic Service: Clearly demonstrate that your organization serves residents within the 30-mile radius surrounding Rochester. If located outside this area, explicitly show how the project primarily serves the catchment area.

Financial Accountability: Ensure you have completed annual IRS Form 990 or 990EZ and have an annual audit or financial review by an independent CPA within the last 24 months. Board-approved financial statements may be accepted if a formal CPA review hasn't been conducted.

Non-Discrimination: Organizations must conduct business without discrimination and maintain a non-discrimination policy meeting federal requirements.

Follow-Up Engagement: Be prepared for follow-up conversations (typically scheduled in April for spring cycle applications) - this is part of RAF's decision-making process.

Avoid Consecutive Funding: Since RAF generally doesn't fund organizations in consecutive cycles, plan your grant requests strategically and ensure you have alternative funding sources for interim years.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• 50% funding rate makes this a moderately competitive opportunity - applications should be strong but chances are better than highly competitive national funders
• Unrestricted funding is rare and valuable - emphasize organizational capacity and flexibility rather than rigid project boundaries
• Two cycles annually with different focus areas - apply in the correct cycle for your mission area and plan ahead since you can't reapply for consecutive cycles
• Geographic specificity matters - be explicit about serving the 30-mile Rochester radius
• President Jennifer Woodford values collaboration - "Members of all sectors of our region work together every day to make local improvements" - demonstrate partnerships and collective impact
• Letter of Intent is a screening tool - keep it brief but ensure it clearly shows alignment with RAF priorities and inclusion criteria
• Partial funding is common - be prepared to receive less than requested and show flexibility in scaling your proposal

References

• Rochester Area Foundation official website: https://rochesterarea.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Better Communities Grants page: https://rochesterarea.org/nonprofits/better-communities-grants/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantseeker FAQ: https://rochesterarea.org/nonprofits/apply-for-a-grant/grantseeker-faq/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Application information: https://rochesterarea.org/nonprofits/apply-for-a-grant/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Board of Trustees: https://rochesterarea.org/about/trustees-committees/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Staff page: https://rochesterarea.org/about/staff/ (Accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-6017740 (Accessed January 2026)
• Foundation Directory (Candid): https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=ROCH005 (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/416017740 (Accessed January 2026)
• Post Bulletin: "Jennifer Woodford quotes on community philanthropy" (Accessed January 2026)
• Spring 2024 Grant Awards announcement: https://rochesterarea.org/2024/05/17/raf-awards-110000-to-local-nonprofit-organizations/ (Accessed January 2026)