Hometown Foundation Programs

At Target Foundation we believe a vibrant and growing economy is only possible when economic opportunities are available to all our neighbors. The Target Foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and shared prosperity in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Featured content

A photo of a person in gloves cleaning a piece of food equipment at nonprofit All Square.

Photo credit: All Square, Target Foundation partner

Grants and initiatives

In addition to supporting the overarching Minneapolis-St. Paul philanthropic ecosystem and addressing persistent and immediate community needs, the Target Foundation hometown program concentrates its investments in organizations working to address the specific systemic and structural barriers facing Black communities, Indigenous communities and communities of color. We do this in four priority areas: entrepreneurship and small business, workforce development, housing and asset building.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business

The Foundation supports entrepreneurship initiatives that address current ecosystem gaps, drive inclusive practices and create access to knowledge, services, networks and capital for entrepreneurs at all stages.

Workforce Development

The Foundation supports employment and technical training opportunities to ensure the workforce development system operates effectively and connects job seekers and workers with the skills they need to succeed.

Housing

The Foundation supports efforts that increase housing availability, stability and access — creating pathways to greater opportunity.

Asset Building

The Foundation supports organizations that improve the asset building opportunities available to traditionally marginalized communities, especially those that are engaged in work to increase financial inclusion, wealth building and overall financial health.

How to apply

The 2022 application period is now closed.

Learn more about our funding guidelines

quote block

“We have immense pride in our hometown, and we know there is a lot of work to be done to advance racial equity in the Twin Cities and the state of Minnesota. In an effort to do our part to address the specific systemic and structural barriers facing Black communities, Indigenous communities and other communities of color, we’re both excited and humbled to provide grants to nonprofit organizations who serve and support these communities.”

AMANDA NUSZ SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRESIDENT OF THE TARGET FOUNDATION

Hometown grantee spotlights

Northside Economic Opportunity Network

quote block

“Target Foundation is a consistent and steadfast partner in NEON’s work on the Northside. It has helped NEON achieve unprecedented results in supporting our clients. Target Foundation’s exceptional levels of support have helped to create a very positive upward shift in the trajectory of North Minneapolis’ BIPOC businesses.”

WARREN MCLEAN PRESIDENT, NEON

We’re proud to support the work of the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) and its mission to build wealth for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis and surrounding communities.

For more than a decade, NEON has been working to advance the efforts of underserved entrepreneurs — working toward its vision to transform North Minneapolis and the surrounding area into a prosperous, visible, sustainable and highly diverse multi-cultural community of entrepreneurs.

Juxtaposition Arts

quote block

“We are so grateful for the Target Foundation’s meaningful investment in our organization. It allows us to continue training and paying talented young creatives, so they can work to create solutions for the issues that affect them most. Target Foundation is an important partner in JXTA’s work on the Northside and our impact nationwide.”

GABRIELLE GRIER MANAGING DIRECTOR, JUXTAPOSITION ARTS

We’re proud to support the work of Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA) and its work to develop community by engaging and employing young urban artists in hands-on education initiatives that create pathways to self-sufficiency while actualizing creative power.

For over two decades, JXTA has trained and employed North Minneapolis youth artists with the help of industry professionals to foster creativity in the next generation of artists. JXTA combines creative sector youth workforce development, a social enterprise model, place-based community development strategies and cross-sector partnerships to invest in the agency and cultural and political power of youth, artists and Northside residents. It understands design as both a means toward individual economic mobility and a tool for bringing justice to the systems that have disinvested in North Minneapolis and its residents of color for generations.

All Square

quote block

“The funding that All Square secured from the Target Foundation will play an instrumental role in ensuring that we, as an organization, can continue to do our part in removing the economic barriers that plague over-incarcerated communities while healing the harms created by the criminal legal system."

EMILY HUNT TURNER CEO, ALL SQUARE

We’re proud to support the work of All Square, a nonprofit social enterprise that offers competitive employment for those impacted by mass incarceration. All Square’s Fellowship program exists exclusively for individuals who have criminal infractions that prevent forward momentum — aiming to disrupt the prosperity gap that plagues over-incarcerated communities. The 9-month fellowship is focused on healing, growth and prosperity and has three primary components: