Public and private nonprofit colleges and universities in Minnesota are eligible for mini-grants to support a complete 2020 Census count.
These are first-come, first-served, noncompetitive mini-grants made possible by the state legislature. Each grant provides $750 plus a $250 voucher for We Count Minnesota census gear (buttons, stickers, etc). Participating campuses will need to form a campus Complete Count Committee in order to receive the funds. This is intended to be a simple process requiring a letter from a campus administrator.
If your university is spread over various campuses, you can create a committee per campus. At present there are funds for 400 committees of all kinds across the state, and the funds will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis, but they are not competitive. All you have to do is fill out the paperwork and you will be eligible.
The letter asks for an action plan. You can create a plan or copy and paste any census action plans that you may have already developed earlier, such as through the summer Higher Education 2020 Census Planning Institute.
Step 1: Submit a Complete Count Committee (CCC) Formation Letter
- Download and fill in the higher education Complete Count Committee (CCC) letter template: https://mncampuscompact.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2019/11/Census-Higher-education-letter-19.11.22.docx
- Print it on letterhead and have the relevant administrator sign.
- Email a pdf of the letter to Rachel Dame Rachel.Dame {at} state.mn(.)us and Ellisa Johnson at Ellisa.Johnson {at} 2020census(.)gov
Step 2: Apply for the Minigrant via the Minneapolis Foundation
- There is only one narrative question, and you can copy and paste the plan from your CCC letter.
- Start the application here.
Questions?
- Instructions: Here’s a step-by-step guide to completing the application form.
- Zoom Info Sessions:
- Resources: Minnesota Higher Education Network and Minnesota Campus Compact on the 2020 Census.
- Contacts:
- With Minneapolis Foundation grants portal questions, 612-672-8665 or grantsupport {at} mplsfoundation(.)org
- With questions about forming/implementing a higher education CCC: Adrienne Falcon or Sinda Nichols at mncensus2020 {at} gmail(.)com