In 2011, the Beim Foundation awarded approximately 63 grants with a value of $450,000 in the areas of human services, education, arts and the environment.
In 2012, the Beim Foundation is transitioning to a community-based philanthropy approach, based on the location of its Directors. This will alter the geographic focus of the Foundation’s grantmaking. For more information, go to Grant Guidelines on this website.
To support this new direction of the Foundation’s giving, the Beim Foundation will undertake two new initiatives in 2012: a Collaborative Grantmaking Program and the Minnesota Legacy Program.
The Collaborative Grantmaking Program will be based in the communities where the Beim Directors live. This program will be open to nonprofit organizations in the areas of human services, education, arts and the environment by invitation only.
In order to honor founder Nels Beim and his emphasis on education, a responsive Minnesota Legacy program will also be available to nonprofits in the state. The Beim Foundation will be supporting college readiness for middle school and high school students and literacy programs for children, families and adults. For deadlines and further information, go to Grant Guidelines on this website.
In a period of economic uncertainty, the Directors recognize this shift in grantmaking is challenging to the local non-profit community. The Foundation is proud of its long history of support of strong and vital programs that have served Minnesota effectively. The Directors regret that in undertaking a change that is revitalizing the Foundation, it may present a hardship for local programs that serve the community so well.