$28 million available for local communities to improve Minnesota’s environment

Minnesota’s commitment to the environment took a major step forward in 2024 as voters overwhelmingly agreed to extend the dedication of state lottery dollars to environmental causes for another 25 years. That ballot measure included a new provision set to make a huge difference in community health and well-being: the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) Community Grants Program.

Funded by an additional 1.5% of lottery proceeds—currently worth over $28 million dollars—this new program will be housed by The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and invests in the protection, conservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish and other natural resources.

Grants will also function outside of the traditional ENRTF process, “providing vital resources to communities that are most impacted by environmental issues, including many that are rural, low-income, and/or minority-serving,” said Don Hickman, community development program officer at the Initiative Foundation.

Hickman is also a member of the community grants working group, which is a collaborative of BIPOC-led organizations and mainstream environmental organizations formed in 2022 to advocate for a new, more equitable ENRTF grant program. Now, the group is engaging communities about the initiative and gathering feedback to inform its design. By working alongside administrators at the DNR, they are helping create an inclusive, equitable, and just program for all Minnesotans.

Currently, securing lottery funding is a complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive process where grant awardees are mainly large, well-established organizations. This reality creates barriers for rural communities, tribal communities, small nonprofits, and BIPOC-led organizations attempting to access state conservation dollars.

The new grant program is meant to increase the accessibility of lottery funds and will be guided by an advisory council made up of Minnesota residents. This council will oversee the development and management of the grant program and ensure that decisions are informed by a diverse range of perspectives from all corners of the state.

“We have received robust support from the DNR to help address these barriers and are excited to implement the plans the working group has developed over the past three years,” said Hickman.

Together, the advisory council and community grants funds allow more people to contribute to solving environmental challenges and build long-term capacity for sustainable solutions. According to statue, money may be allocated to the following:

• Helping adversely impacted communities respond to environmental degradation and related health concerns;
• Educating and expanding awareness related to stewardship of air, land, water, forests, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources; or
• Preserving or enhancing air, land, water, and other natural resources that otherwise may be substantially impaired or destroyed in any area of the state.

Grant dollars are currently expected to be available in early 2026. Exact timing of grant and advisory council applications will be announced following DNR’s submission of an implementation report to state legislators.

Interested Minnesotans can sign up for updates on the DNR’s website.