Opus Foundation Continues Building Community with November Grant Cycle

The Opus Foundation wrapped up another grant cycle in November awarding $592,899 in Impact Fund grants to 14 nonprofit organizations. Impact Fund grants are strategic investments between $20,000 and $75,000 in the areas of early childhood education, youth development, workforce development and community revitalization.

Grant recipients included Eastside Neighborhood Services that received a $40,000 grant to enhance and expand learning opportunities in out-of-school-time programming for youth living in Southeast Minneapolis. Eastside Neighborhood Services provides assistance to Northeast, Southeast and surrounding communities in Minneapolis.

The Nebraska Children’s Home Society (NCHS) received a $42,500 Impact grant to create and implement STEMstart, which will provide early childhood education learning opportunities in science, technology and mathematics. Located in Omaha, NCHS came to our attention through our partnership with Gavilon. Last summer we partnered with Gavilon in the Sand in the City sand castle building contest that also supported the NCHS.

Other recipients of Impact grants included the following nonprofit organizations:

• Aspire of Illinois
• Rebuilding Together of Metro Chicago
• Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap Program,
• Project IOWA
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City
• Atonement Early Childhood Center (Milwaukee)
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation Milwaukee
• Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
• Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (Minneapolis)
• Project for Pride in Living (Minneapolis)
• Twin Cities RISE

The Early Childhood Education focus area received the highest funding with just over $200,000 (34%), followed by Workforce Development with $185,000 (31%), Youth Development with $180,000 (30%) and Community Revitalization with $25,000 (4%).

The Foundation’s next Impact grant cycle will end in June.

During the second half of the year, the Opus Foundation also awarded $144,700 in Opportunity Fund grants to 33 organizations. These grants are designed to provide a quick response to needs and opportunities in our communities.