Common Grant Instructions for Funders

The Minnesota Common Grant Application and Report create the most benefit for nonprofits when many funders are aligned and using the forms. We’re glad you’re ready to get on-board.

Please use any of the suggested grant application language for the sections in your own applications or let grantees know they can use the online grant application form. We suggest adding the following language to signal your alignment with the Common Grant, “This application (or section, question) aligns with the Minnesota Common Grant.”

To reduce the burden on grantees, we recommend:

• using the exact language provided (even if it's only one "common" question)
• using only the sections and questions you need (don't ask for information you won't use)
• limiting the use of additional questions, fields or attachments (the less you request from grantee partners, the lower their burden)

We encourage using resources such as Impala or GuideStar to collect as much information as possible for these sections: Data About the Organization; Demographic Data; and publicly available financial data. If your foundation wishes to automate the process and lessen the burden on potential grantees, Candid (the maker of GuideStar) offers APIs that can import information directly from GuideStar into many grants management platforms. 

Ideas for Funders to Align With the Common Grant Application

The ultimate goal would be for funders to use the Minnesota Common Grant Application. However, we recognize that most funders have a small number of unique needs. Even if you need to individualize your grant application and grant report, you can still take steps to start easing the burden on nonprofits:

• Adopt One or More of the 4 Common Sections of the Grant Application: You don’t need to use the whole common grant.
  • Common Narrative Questions
  • Common Data About the Organization
  • Common Demographic Data
  • Common Attachments
• Adopt the Common Grant Application for One of Your Grant Cycles: Use the 4 Common Sections for one of your grant cycles or one of your grant types. Starting with your Gen Op grants can be a good place to begin.
• Adopt One or More Common Narrative Questions: If you aren’t ready to change your grant process, start with using just one or two of the common questions.
• Get Support From a Peer: Please reach out to the working group, listed here, to learn from them, build peer relationships, and expand the use of the Common Grant. Or reach out to MCF and we can help make a one-to-one connection for you to connect to a peer.

Download the Common Grant Application Now

• Minnesota Common Grant Application (PDF Version | Microsoft Word Version) with instructions
• Minnesota Common Grant Application (Microsoft Word Version) without instructions (this version is best for grantseekers to fill in their own answers)

Or go to your software provider (i.e., Foundant, akoyaGO, Submittable) and search for the Minnesota Common Grant template.

Tell Us How You’re Using It

The Minnesota Common Grant will be updated on a regular basis. Let us know how you’re using it, what’s working well, and what could be improved next. Your peers in philanthropy can benefit from your comments and testimonials as we all learn and grow along the way.

Submit your comment now.

For more information about the Minnesota Common Grant, please reach out to MCF, [email protected].