2022 East African Youth Economic Development Grant (RFP)

Minnesota is home to a large and growing East African population with many concentrated communities spread throughout the state in cities such as Faribault, Rochester, St. Cloud, Moorhead, Willmar, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Their communities have greatly contributed to the cultural and economic landscape in Minnesota. However, East African communities in Minnesota face cultural, religious, language, and racial barriers that make it difficult for them to achieve economic self-sufficiency. As part of our commitment to invest and build capacity in East African organizations and youth, Youthprise has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to reduce disparities and address challenges facing East African youth.

The purpose of funding is to support East African youth and community focused organizations to provide economic development activities and services designed to develop long-term economic self-sufficiency for East African youth in communities with concentrated East African populations.

Youthprise is interested in projects delivered by organizations steeped in East African culture that address the needs of East African youth regarding workforce development, family sustaining wages, career pathways, education development, entrepreneurship, and support services. Projects should focus on activities designed to give youth tools and skills that can lead to economic self-sufficiency such as:

• Career exploration and career planning
• Work readiness training
• Job training
• Job placement
• Mentoring
• Internships and apprenticeships
• Education and industry recognized credentialing
• Business development and entrepreneurship exploration

Projects are encouraged to dedicate funding for youth wages and fringe benefits in support of job placement efforts. In addition, projects are encouraged to provide support services to promote success by addressing barriers in areas such as:

• Transportation
• Housing
• Remedial education
• Language
• Social Emotional Learning

Grant Program Information:

• $1,197,000 is available in funding.
• We will have 2 tiers of funding available.
  Tier 1: Organizations can request up to $50,000 total. The application requires a budget proposal breaking down how funds will be spent over the 2 years (i.e. 25,000 in year 1 and 25,000 in year 2).
  Tier 2: Organizations can request up to $170,000. The application requires a budget proposal breaking down how funds will be spent over the 2 years. (i.e. 85,000 in year 1 and 85,000 in year 2).
  Organizations can request either tier of funding and the award amount will be decided during the application review process.

• Fifty percent of funds will be available for Twin Cities based projects.
• Fifty percent of funds will be available for Greater Minnesota based projects.
• Grants begin in January 1, 2022 and run for 18 months till July 2023 with the possibility of extension to December 2023.

Eligibility & Requirements:
 
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) youth and community focused organizations as well as economic development organizations. In addition, organizations must not have a budget greater than $2,000,000, must be located in Minnesota, and must have a history of serving East African youth or communities. Eligible applicants also include organizations described above that have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor in lieu of a 501(c)(3). Awarded applicants will be required to submit quarterly progress reports and monthly or quarterly financial reimbursement reports.

RFP Timeline:

How to Apply:
 
Grant applications are accepted online through or grants management system. Grants must be submitted by 11:59 PM CDT on 2-28-22. We encourage you to submit your application early to give you ample time to ask questions or address any technical difficulties you may experience. Link to grant application: https://www.grantinterface.com/sl/9exYVe

Questions:
 
For questions, please contact My Bui at my@youthprise.org or 651-242-0890.