Top takeaway: The Office of Grant’s Management is asking for input by May 8 on three areas – payments, reports, and monitoring. Plus May 4 State Grant Payments Listening Session.
Nonprofits across Minnesota often share how the state’s policies on grantmaking, especially around payments, reporting, and monitoring, can create real challenges to seek or manage state grant partnerships. Right now there is an opportunity to share those experiences, and suggestions for better policies.
The Office of Grants Management (OGM), which sets policies for state grantmaking, plans to revise three of those policies, and is asking for input by May 8, including from organizations that have considered applying for a state grant but decided not to, especially if one of these policies was a deciding factor.
This is a meaningful chance to push for improvements that reduce administrative burden and support stronger partnerships between nonprofits and the state. We strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to complete one or more of these short surveys by May 8, and to share these survey links widely. These policies impact every grantmaking state agency, including DCYF, DEED, Department of Education, and the DNR.
MCN and partners will be hosting a free listening session May 4 to hear your ideas to improve these policies from the nonprofit perspective. We will compile findings and share with OGM.
State Grant Payments: Nonprofit Feedback Session
Monday, May 4 | 1pm – 2:30pm | Virtual | FREE
Surveys to improve state grantmaking policies
Current policy states that “reimbursement is the preferred method for making grant payments,” and allows advance payments in certain situations, requiring a written justification from the granting agency. It includes important definitions and lays out procedures for granting agencies.
Survey deadline: May 8
Current policy requires that grantees provide written progress reports at least annually during the grant period, and allows state agency staff to determine the report format and content requirements. This policy also states that grant payments shall not be made on grants with past due progress reports without a written extension.
Survey deadline: May 8
Current policy lays out requirements for state agencies to monitoring visits and financial reconciliation before final payment.
Survey deadline: May 8