Frequently Asked Questions

MicroGrants does not award grants directly to individuals. MicroGrants only accepts applications from approved Partner Agencies. View our current Partner Agencies here.

MicroGrants candidates are only nominated by our partner agencies*. Each agency has different criteria for selecting who they nominate, but all must fall within the MicroGrants guidelines. MicroGrants either accepts or declines nominated grantees.

A complete list of partner agencies* can be found here.

We’ve selected our 2024 Partner Agencies and are not accepting applications at this time. 

To become a future Partner Agency, read the requirements below and contact angie@microgrants.net to get on the waitlist. 

To be a partner agency you must:
– be a 501(c)(3)
– operate in the greater Twin Cities area
– be helping low-income people get to self-sufficiency
– have the capacity to nominate individuals (fill out an online form), coach them on how to spend the money, and follow up with grantees three to six months later with a questionnaire.

No. As the name implies, they are grants, not loans. MicroGrants wants to help recipients to build equity, not acquire debt.

Donations enter into a pool of MicroGrants funds and grants are distributed from this pool, so a donor’s name is not attached to a grant given.

Low overhead is one of the important precepts of our organization. Our partner agencies* select, coach, and follow up with our recipients, so we are able to minimize expenses and maximize the impact of your donation. Last year, 85% of all dollars spent were used for program services.

Donations enter into a pool of MicroGrants funds and grants are distributed from this pool, so a donor’s name is not attached to a grant given. But, all donors are listed in our Annual Report as a donor unless the person anonymity is requested.

Yes, absolutely! The total amount donated will be granted to as many recipients as it can financially assist. Every dollar helps!