Charles K Blandin Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Approximately $15 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 2-3 months (from Letter of Inquiry in January to decision in late March/early April)
Grant Range: $25,000 - $150,000 (typical); larger grants up to $2.8 million awarded
Geographic Focus: Itasca County, MN plus Northome, Blackduck, Hill City, and Remer (local); small rural communities across Minnesota (statewide)

Contact Details

Address: 100 North Pokegama Avenue, Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744

Website: https://blandinfoundation.org/

Email: grants@blandinfoundation.org

Key Contacts:

Linda Gibeau, Small Communities Officer: 218-327-8702
Matt Hanson, Grants Officer: 218-326-0523
Mary Magnuson, Rural Placemaking Officer: 218-327-8738
LuAnn Robinson, Grants Officer: 218-327-8724
Christy Marshall, Grants Management Associate: 218-326-0523

Overview

Founded in 1941 by Charles K. Blandin—a teacher, newspaperman, and industrialist—the Blandin Foundation is Minnesota's largest rural-based and rural-focused private foundation. With combined assets of $506 million (as of 2024), the foundation provides approximately $15 million in grants annually to rural Minnesota communities and Native Nations. Since inception, the foundation has approved 5,600 grants totaling over $336 million. Under the leadership of President and CEO Tuleah Palmer (who assumed the role in July 2020), the foundation has undergone significant strategic transformation, shifting from a 40-year focus on rural broadband to emphasizing community wealth building and rural placemaking. Palmer describes this as addressing "two generations of downward mobility" in small towns and Native communities. The foundation's mission is to "connect, fund and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward," with a vision for "rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Communities Grants

Focus: Funding resources, skills, and system changes in Minnesota's smallest rural communities
Target: Communities with populations of 1,000 or fewer receive highest priority
Amount: Typically $25,000 - $150,000
Duration: Up to 3 years
Application: Two-part process with Letter of Inquiry, then invitation to full proposal

Rural Placemaking Grants

Focus: Maintaining and improving the quality of rural places to help people feel connected, invested, and proud of where they live
Amount: Typically $25,000 - $150,000
Duration: Up to 3 years
Application: Two-part process with Letter of Inquiry, then invitation to full proposal

Community Wealth Building Grants

Focus: Weaving together financial, intellectual, cultural, and social assets for healthy communities
Amount: Typically $25,000 - $150,000
Duration: Up to 3 years
Application: Two-part process with Letter of Inquiry, then invitation to full proposal

Note: Requests over $250,000 follow a different review timeline. Recent large grants include $2.8 million to Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority, $1.575 million to Free Range Food Co-op, and $500,000 to Scenic Rivers Health Services.

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes projects that:

Serve rural communities with populations of 1,000 or fewer
Significantly benefit low-income residents
Intentionally include BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, non-English speaking, disabled, and other marginalized residents in planning and implementation
Address systemic barriers through partnerships
Demonstrate engagement across diverse demographics and beliefs
Show evidence of community support (volunteer time, donated resources, professional services)
Propose sustainable, innovative, or scalable approaches
Build lasting organizational capacity beyond the grant period

The foundation gives highest priority to proposals from organizations without an active grant.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside Minnesota
Individual grants
Political advocacy or candidate support
Infrastructure typically provided by government
Religious organizations seeking funding for religious purposes
For-profit ventures
Metro-based organizations (Minneapolis-St. Paul area)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Tuleah Palmer - Assumed leadership in July 2020 following a national search. Palmer oversees grantmaking, community leadership training, public policy initiatives, and stewardship of foundation resources. She succeeded Dr. Kathleen Annette, who led the foundation for 10 years (2011-2021) and awarded 1,798 grants during her tenure. Palmer has been instrumental in transforming the foundation's strategic approach, stating: "We've been making grants the same way for 40 years" and "If we want change to happen, we have to be a part of that change." In 2023, Palmer was appointed to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Community Advisory Board.

Board of Trustees

Board Chair: Dustin Goslin

Trustees (community leaders from across rural Minnesota serving up to 12 years):

Peter Birkey
Sholom Blake, CPA
Ashley Charwood, LGSW, MSW
Guy Clairmont
Laura Connelly
Dr. Kandace Creel Falcón
Mark Hawkinson
Bukata Hayes
Julie Marinucci
Alice Moren
Kayla Scrivner

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Part Application Process:

Part 1 - Eligibility Screening and Letter of Inquiry (LOI): Applicants complete a brief online eligibility screening and Letter of Inquiry. This is open to all eligible organizations that meet geographic and organizational requirements.

Part 2 - Full Proposal (by invitation only): Selected applicants receive an invitation from grants staff to complete the full proposal form. Applications received without prior invitation will not be considered for funding. Selected applicants may participate in phone calls or site visits during the review process.

Recommendation: The foundation encourages prospective applicants to call before submitting to discuss alignment and eligibility.

Decision Timeline

2026 Application Cycle (applications open January 2, 2026):

Milestone	Date
LOI Opens	January 2, 2026
LOI Closes	January 16, 2026
Proposals Open	February 2, 2026
Proposals Close	February 20, 2026
Review Period	February 21 - March 20, 2026
Award Notifications	March 30 - April 3, 2026

Total timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from initial Letter of Inquiry to final decision.

Special considerations: Proposals over $250,000 may follow a different timeline for review and approval.

Notification: Funding decisions are communicated directly to applicants. The foundation announces awarded grants publicly after each quarterly board meeting.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, in recent grant cycles:

June 2025: 48 organizations received grants totaling $10.2 million
The foundation awards approximately $15 million annually across all programs

The foundation notes that "highest priority will be given to proposals from organizations without an active grant," suggesting competitive selection among applicants.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Prospective reapplicants should contact the grants team at grants@blandinfoundation.org for guidance on timing and approach for resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Blandin Foundation's documented priorities and recent grant awards, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Focus on Smallest, Most Marginalized Communities The foundation explicitly states: "Winning applications tend to be directed toward the smallest, lowest income, most diverse, and remote communities." Applicants serving communities with populations of 1,000 or fewer receive highest priority.

2. Community-Driven Solutions Projects must "address a known community need and/or issue facing residents, and show engagement across different beliefs, races, ages, genders, socioeconomic status, educational, physical and cognitive abilities, and differing experiences present in the community."

3. Evidence of Broad Community Support Demonstrate community buy-in through volunteer time, donated resources, and professional services contributed to the project.

4. Inclusion of Marginalized Groups The foundation gives preference to proposals that "significantly benefit BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Non-English Speaking, Disabled, and other marginalized residents" and intentionally include these groups in planning and implementation.

5. Sustainability Beyond Grant Period Projects should "have the potential to sustain themselves without Blandin Foundation funding" and "build community or organizational capacity beyond the grant project period."

6. Innovative Approaches to Systemic Issues The foundation favors proposals that "demonstrate ideas that move small communities forward" and propose "innovative solutions to longstanding challenges" while addressing "systemic barriers through partnerships."

7. Alignment with Current Strategic Priorities Recent grants reflect the foundation's focus on:

Community wealth building: Examples include $400,000 to KOOTASCA Community Action for organizational development; $1.575 million to Free Range Food Co-op for a community-owned grocery store
Rural placemaking: Examples include $475,000 to Reif Performing Arts Center for amphitheater expansion; $175,000 to Bearville Township for multipurpose community facility; $150,000 to Fire in the Village for arts and culture community-building
Capacity building: $500,000 to Scenic Rivers Health Services for electronic health record system implementation

8. First-Time Applicants Have an Advantage The foundation gives "highest priority to proposals from organizations without an active grant," suggesting first-time applicants or those without current funding may have better success rates.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Target the smallest communities: Applications benefiting communities with populations under 1,000 receive highest priority; explicitly demonstrate how your project serves low-income, remote, and diverse rural populations
Apply early if you're a first-timer: The foundation prioritizes organizations without active grants, giving an advantage to new applicants
Call before applying: The foundation encourages pre-application conversations with grants officers to discuss alignment—use this to refine your approach and build relationships
Show genuine community engagement: Document involvement across diverse demographics, beliefs, and experiences; demonstrate volunteer time, donated resources, and broad community support
Think beyond the grant period: Articulate how the project will sustain itself and build lasting capacity after Blandin funding ends
Align with strategic transformation: Under Tuleah Palmer's leadership, the foundation has shifted to community wealth building and rural placemaking after 40 years of different priorities—understand and speak to this evolution
Be prepared for a selective process: While exact success rates aren't published, the two-stage invitation process and emphasis on smallest communities suggests competitive selection; make your LOI compelling and specific

References

Blandin Foundation Official Website: https://blandinfoundation.org/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Blandin Foundation About Page: https://blandinfoundation.org/about/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Blandin Foundation Grants Page: https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Grant Eligibility & Applications: https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/eligibility-applications/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Blandin Foundation Trustees: https://blandinfoundation.org/about/our-people/trustees/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/blandin-foundation,416038619/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/416038619 (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Inside Philanthropy Profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/minnesota-grants/blandin-foundation (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Northern Minnesota leader named Blandin Foundation President and CEO": https://blandinfoundation.org/news-room/news-items/northern-minnesota-leader-named-blandin-foundation-president-and-ceo/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Blandin Foundation sets new course," BusinessNorth: https://www.businessnorth.com/businessnorth_exclusives/blandin-foundation-sets-new-course/article_7ab2c518-71d4-11ee-8472-0fb17819a738.html (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Blandin Foundation Invests More Than $10 Million to Strengthen the Itasca Area": https://blandinfoundation.org/news-room/news-items/blandin-foundation-invests-more-than-10-million-to-strengthen-the-itasca-area/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Grant Lists: https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/grant-listings/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Free Range Food Co-op Closer to Becoming Reality with Blandin Foundation Grant": https://blandinfoundation.org/news-room/news-items/free-range-food-co-op-closer-to-becoming-reality-with-blandin-foundation-grant/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Blandin Foundation Supports Reif Performing Arts Center Expansion With $475,000 Grant": https://blandinfoundation.org/news-room/news-items/blandin-foundation-supports-reif-performing-arts-center-expansion-with-475000-grant/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
"Kootasca Community Action Building Resilience with $400,000 Blandin Foundation Grant": https://blandinfoundation.org/news-room/news-items/kootasca-community-action-building-resilience-with-400000-blandin-foundation-grant/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)