Good Neighbor Fund

People painting a bench
Women and children painting a large container
Man celebrating with arms outstretched after painting a bench
Utility box mural showing shoes in a tree and a dog
Utility box mural showing a bike
Utility box mural showing a cat with a fire hydrant and stop light
Utility box mural showing a table under an umbrella made of flowers
People dancing
Group posing for photo
People dancing

2023 GNF Grant Cycle Timeline

  • January 11 - Board meeting to discuss 2023 GNF Grant Cycle
  • January 19 - 2023 Kick Off Event Email goes out and Application Opens
  • January 26 - 2023 Kick Off Community Meeting at Van Cleve Park 6:30-8:30pm
  • February 24 - Open Office Hours 9:30-10:30am
  • March 7 - Open Office Hours 2:00-3:00pm
  • March 30 - Applications due by the end of the day
  • April 21 - Projects will be distributed to the GNF Board for their review 
  • May 3 - May 12 SAAG Board returns grant applications rating sheets
  • May 16 - 1st GNF Board meeting to review projects
  • May 19 - Organizations will be notified of grant awards
  • May 22 through June 2 - GNF grant recipients must sign and return their grant agreement prior to their first check disbursement
  • May 22 through June 2 - First Disbursement Checks will be issued depending on when the grant agreement is signed and returned to the UMN Gov Rel office 
  • *Second Disbursement upon completion if project is over $5,000

2023 Good Neighbor Fund grants

The Stadium Area Advisory Group board approved $80,000 available in total grant funds for the year 2022 from the Good Neighbor Fund endowment. We encourage applications for projects that reflect the long-term purpose of the U of M Good Neighbor Fund, which is to promote the beauty, stability, vitality, and security of the communities adjacent to the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be member organizations of the University of Minnesota Stadium Area Advisory Group, and must be duly organized and incorporated and have systems in place to ensure financial accountability. Member organizations of the Stadium Area Advisory Group are:

  • Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association
  • Prospect Park Association
  • Saint Anthony Park Community Council
  • South East Como Improvement Association
  • West Bank Business Association
  • Dinkytown Business Alliance
  • South East Business Association
  • City of Falcon Heights
  • City of Minneapolis
  • City of Saint Paul
  • Hennepin County
  • Ramsey County
  • Minnesota State Fair
  • University of Minnesota Student Neighborhood Liaison Program
  • Towerside Business Alliance
  • Cedar Riverside Community Council

*Each Member organization can serve as fiscal agents for other organizations if approved.

Grant Application Process

Representatives from organizations in the campus area communities will review grant applications and make recommendations for funding. Grant applications are invited once each year. Funding recommendations are presented in May. Grant agreements are finalized and notifications will go out in May. Unless by special arrangement, grant activities are expected to be completed within one year. Staffing for the Good Neighbor Fund is provided by the University of Minnesota Office of Government and Community Relations.

Read full application process here: Good Neighbor Fund Request for Applications 2023

See the previous grant recipients

Good Neighbor Fund History

The Good Neighbor Fund (GNF) was founded in 2007 and is held and managed in an endowment by the University of Minnesota. The Stadium Area Advisory Group serves as the fund's board with representatives from local governments and neighborhood and business associations adjacent to the Twin Cities campus.

Formed with the purpose of enhancing and protecting the beauty, serenity, and security of the community we are part of, the University of Minnesota has awarded more than seven hundred thousand dollars of Good Neighbor Fund grants to community and local government partners for 128 projects. 

Grant recipients have used the Good Neighbor Fund to implement projects that range from crime prevention and neighborhood building, to beautification of public spaces and the arts. Recent projects include the preservation of murals in Dinkytown, the cultivation of hanging gardens in the Towerside neighborhood, and the painting of picnic tables and benches with support from local artist Ifrah Mansour in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.

Good Neighbor Fund Grant Cycle Community Meeting

Hear about past project successes, what makes a good application, what the Board is looking for in project ideas.

2023 Meeting Slides

2022 Meeting Slides

Questions? 

Please direct questions to [email protected].