GRANTMAKING GUIDELINES

The Beim Foundation supports grants in the areas of arts, education, environment, human services, and small capital giving for art organizations and sustainable building design.

The Beim Foundation supports programs in Minnesota, as well as a limited number of projects in the counties of Park and Gallatin in, Montana; the city of Seattle, Washington;  the county of Fairfield, Connecticut; and the county of Cumberland, Maine..

Application Procedures


GENERAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAM
Requirements for all arts, education, environment and human services grants:

  • The Foundation makes one year grants and does not provide multi-year grants.
  • A new application must be submitted in each year for which funding is requested.
  • The Foundation will not support the same organization for more than three years.
  • After three years of support, organizations are not eligible to apply for funding for a one year period.

Description of Funding Priorities -

The Arts

The Foundation supports arts organizations to provide programs  that -

  • Increase access to the arts through community based programming
  • Engage children and youth in the creation of art within the following disciplines: dance, literature, music, theater, and visual arts

Education

The Foundation supports -

  • Enrichment programs for children and youth that -
         * Address the needs of the academically gifted
         * Promote service learning
  • Literacy programs that promote reading and writing for children and families

Environment

The Foundation supports -

  • Environmental education programs for children and youth that emphasize outdoor experiences
  • Educational opportunities/enrichment for teachers that focus on environment-based education
  • Community based environmental programs that foster sustainable use in the following areas
        * Water Conservation
        * Wildlife Habitat Preservation

Human Services

The Foundation supports -

  • Programs that promote self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life for the disabled, mentally ill, and elderly
  • Prevention focused programs that foster youth development for youth who experience barriers academically, socially and economically

In its general grantmaking program, priority will be given to:

  • Programs that foster collaboration and leverage resources in the community
  • Programs that utilize entrepreneurial approaches


SMALL CAPITAL & EQUIPMENT GRANTMAKING

Arts Small Capital & Equipment

  • The Foundation supports small capital and equipment grants that enhance the organizational capacity and stability of arts organizations.

Requirements for Arts Small Capital & Equipment

  • Applicant organizations must have an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less in order to receive consideration (the budget limit applies to arts small capital giving only).
  • Applicants may apply up for up to $8,000.
  • Applicant organizations are only eligible to apply for arts small capital and equipment support once every three years.

Sustainable Building Design Small Capital & Equipment

  • The Foundation supports small capital grants for environmentally sustainable features in new construction or renovation projects.

Requirements for Sustainable Building Design Small Capital & Equipment

  • Applicants may apply for up to $15,000.
  • Applicant organizations are only eligible to apply for sustainable building small capital and equipment support once every three years.

In its small capital grantmaking program, priority will be given to small capital and equipment grants that will help springboard an organization's or project's development
 

The Beim Foundation does not support the following -

  • Individuals
  • Private foundations
  • Political organizations or campaigns
  • Religious organizations, including schools, except for secular human activities
  • International efforts
  • Organizations that have as a substantial part of their purpose, the influencing of legislation
  • General Operating Support
  • Memberships, subscriptions, tickets for benefits, conferences, fundraising events, annual campaigns
  • Capital - except for the small capital and equipment grants described in these guidelines
  • Endowment
  • Multi-year grants


Grantmaking Philosophy
In all of its grantmaking, the Foundation supports projects that are strengths-based, focus on prevention, and apply common sense solutions to community needs. The Foundation favors innovative approaches that are participant designed, leverage community resources, and have a ripple effect in the community.