Grant Making

The Depot Foundation's area of arts and cultural interests include:

  • Artistic performance and presentation including ballet and dance, drama and theatrical, symphonic and choral music, and the visual arts
  • Arts and cultural educational programming
  • Cultural preservation and interpretation
  • Historic preservation and interpretation
  • Emerging artists

Undesignated Fund:
The Depot Foundation makes grants from its Undesignated fund to capital and programmatic initiatives that meet the changing needs of our arts and cultural community.

Prindle/Wood Family Memorial Endowment Fund:
The Depot Foundation awards grants from this Restricted endowment to support programmatic activities defined as specific artistic, cultural, literary and scientific activities.

Designated Funds:
The Depot Foundation awards grants from the designated funds to support specific arts and cultural activities, purposes or organizations.

Muriel Whiteside Designated Fund:
The Depot Foundation awards grants from the Muriel Whiteside Designated Fund to support operational needs of the following organizations: Arrowhead Chorale, Duluth Art Institute, Duluth Children’s Museum, Duluth Playhouse, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Matinee Musicale, Minnesota Ballet, St. Louis County Historical Society.

Grant Applications:
All applicants should contact the Depot Foundation regarding a grant application. Depot Foundation staff are available to work with grant seekers at any stage of the application process.

Eligibility:
Eligible organizations must:

  1. be classified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
  2. have a mission to preserve or present arts, culture or history within the region of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.

Application Deadlines/Award Dates:

Designated Funds:

Application Deadline:
October 31
 

Award Date:
November 30
 
Undesignated Fund:
Application Deadline:
October 31
 
 Award Date:
November 30
 
Prindle/Wood Family Endowment:
Application Deadline:
October 31
 
 Award Date:
November 30
 
Muriel Whiteside Designated Fund:
Application Deadline:
October 31
 
 Award Date:
November 30
 

Grant applications must be received at the Depot Foundation office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.

Grant Making Evaluation and Additional Weighting of Applications:
The grant making process is conducted in an impartial manner based upon the evaluation of each application. Additional consideration is given to initiatives that support:

  • Collaborative projects benefiting multiple arts and cultural disciplines
  • Creative endeavors
  • Projects that involve funding from multiple sources
  • Projects that benefit others beyond the organization

The Depot Foundation does not accept grant applications to its Undesignated fund that request support for on-going programs and/or materials, for on-going general operating costs or salaries (unless it is a one time project), for political action programs/candidates, or to establish a permanent endowment or permanent interest bearing account.

For further information about our grant making funds or application procedures, please contact the Depot Foundation.