Rochester Area Foundation wishes to congratulate the eleven community nonprofit organizations that received Better Communities Grants this spring. Better Communities Grants are Rochester Area Foundation’s competitive grant awards, providing unrestricted funding for the core mission of critical community organizations. The purpose of these grants is twofold. First, we seek to empower nonprofits to expand, improve or pursue their best ideas, and second, to build the capacity and infrastructure of organizations poised for growth. This spring, Rochester Area Foundation awarded $110,000 in the impact areas of Youth and Education and Vibrant Communities.
Read more about the organizations below, and consider joining us in supporting the work of these organizations by donating here.
Youth + Education Grantees
Bolder Options
Bolder Options is a one-on-one, wellness-based mentoring program for youth seeking extra support to realize their full potential. Bolder Options’ mission is to teach youth to succeed in all of life’s races. Our goal is to ensure that the promise of youth in our community is realized, regardless of their life circumstances.
Cradle 2 Career
Cradle 2 Career was created in 2017 as a community-wide initiative to improve the educational outcomes for every child in Rochester by transforming the way partners work together.
Girls on the Run Minnesota
Girls on the Run Minnesota inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. GOTR’s innovative curricula uses running and adult mentorship to teach girls and gender non-conforming youth in 3rd-8th grades healthy physical and psychological habits and skills tied to academic success. GOTR promises that any girl who wants to participate can, ensuring inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) in our programming.
Listos Preschool and Childcare
Listos is a community partnered organization that provides accessible, equitable and immersive early childhood education in both English and Spanish. We empower educators, families and community members to embrace cultural differences and build connections that inspire lifelong knowledge, skills and relationships.
Project Get Outdoors, Inc.
Our goal is to help community action organizations implement nature-based programs for underrepresented youth during the out of school hours. Since 2005, we have helped dozens of community-based organizations implement programs unique to their sites and we have reached more than 50,000 youth.
The Reading Center
Through partnership tutoring we are providing intervention to struggling readers to reach their potential using science of reading based teaching approaches. The Reading Center is expanding their partnership with Rochester Public Schools to provide tutoring to at-risk struggling readers.
Vibrant Communities Grantees
Chatfield Center for the Arts
Chatfield Center for the Arts mission is to serve as a regional hub for advancement of the Arts, fostering creative expression, social engagement and lifelong learning.From inception in 2009, Chatfield Center for the Arts, Inc. (CCA) collaborates with city and community stakeholders, and regional arts and educational organizations to expand relevant performance, outreach and educational programs within Chatfield and the surrounding region.
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
Founded in 1978, Eagle Bluff is a year-round outdoor learning center providing accredited education programs and outdoor adventures to over 14,000 children, adults, and families each year.
EA Therapeutic Health
EA Therapeutic Health, founded in 2011 as ExercisAbilities, Inc, is a community-based provider of physical rehabilitation and medically-informed therapeutic health and wellness services.
History Center of Olmsted County
The mission of the History Center of Olmsted County is to give people of all ages and backgrounds access and opportunity to learn about the past through interpretive programs and exhibits, research, publications, and events. Our vision is to become a gathering place for the broader community that inspires and encourages the exploration of history.
We Bike Rochester
WBR (WBR) and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) are longtime partners with the shared vision of a community where every person can easily walk, bike and roll as ways to move in daily life.WBR’s programs fit within three broad categories: community building, education, and infrastructure.