Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Paint the Town Grant Program
Guidelines and Procedures
Effective May 2015
SouthernMinnesotaInitiativeFoundation(SMIF)isacatalystforeconomicgrowthin20Minnesota
counties.Weworktobuildaprosperousregionwithvibrantcommunitiesandinnovativebusinesses.To
accomplishthis,weinvestinearlychildhoodandentrepreneurdevelopmentinitiatives.
SMIF’sPainttheTownGrantProgramisdesignedtoengagevolunteersandbuildcollaborativeefforts
thatbeautifycommunitieswithapopulationunder10,000.
ThroughSouthernMinnesotaInitiativeFoundation(SMIF),IRS‐Designated501(c)(3)nonprofit
organizationsandunits/agenciesoflocal,stateandfederalgovernmentinsouthernMinnesotacanapply
toreceivefreepaintproductsforCommunityMuralorCommunityWelcomeSignprojects.ThePaint
theTownGrantProgramisadministeredbySMIFinpartnershipwithseveralAceHardwarestoresin
ourregion.TheparticipatingstoresarelocatedinChaska,Faribault,Mankato,Northfield,Owatonna,
Rochester(4locations),Rushford,Shakopee,St.Charles,andSt.Peter.SMIFgenerouslydonatesthepaint
products.
UptotenapplicantswillbechosenfromthisgrantroundforaCommunityMuralorCommunity
WelcomeSignprojectandtheawardwillbeannouncedJuly1,2015
FUNDING
Between15‐100gallonsofpaintfromselectedAceHardwarestoresvaluedaround$25pergallon.
ELIGIBILITY
TobeeligibleforaSMIFgrant,organizationsmustmeetthefollowingrequirements:
 Eligibleorganizationsaretaxexempt501(c)(3)organizations,units/agenciesoflocal,stateorfederal
governmentandpublicschools/highereducationinstitutions.
 Located(orserve)withinSMIF’s20‐countyregion:
BlueEarth Fillmore
LeSueur
Olmsted
Wabasha
Brown
Freeborn
Martin
Rice Waseca
Dodge
Goodhue
Mower
Sibley Watonwan
Faribault
Houston
Nicollet
Steele Winona
 Communitypopulationmustbeunder10,000(U.S.2010Census)
 Allprojectsmustexhibitvisualimpact,current/intendedpublicuseofthestructure,andvolunteer
participation.
Rev. 4/18/14
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Privately‐ownedbuildingsmusthavea501(c)(3)asafiscalagenttoreceivethepaint.
Atleast50%ofthepaintingmustbedonebyvolunteers.
Muralists/artistswhoassistinthedesignandapplicationareacceptable.
Paintrequestsmustbebetween15‐100gallons.SMIFreservestherighttolimitpaintproduct
amountsawarded.
OnlyCommunityMuralorCommunityWelcomeSignprojectswillbeconsidered
EXCLUSIONS
Ineligibleorganizationsoractivitiesinclude:
 Organizationsthatdonotmeettheabovecriteria
 Privately‐ownedfacilitiesthatrequiremembership/feeforaccess
 Routinecitymaintenance
APPLICATIONPROCESS
GrantReviewandAwardProcess
SMIFawardspaintgrantsonacompetitivebasis.
AreviewcommitteecreatedbySMIFwillmakethefinalgrantawarddecisions.
GrantrecipientsarerequiredtoconnectwitharepresentativeofoneoftheparticipatingAceHardware
storestodiscussthedetailsoftheirprojectandorderpaintproducts.
GrantrecipientsmustpickuptheirpaintproductsatoneoftheparticipatingAceHardwarestores.Please
considertravelcostsbeforecompletingtheapplication.
TheProjectcompletionReportandphotosofthecompletedprojectmustbeprovidedtoSMIFnolater
thanNovember1,2015.
SMIFwillissueapressreleasehighlightingtherecipientandtheirproject.
ProposalComponents
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Completedapplication
Projectphotos(loosephotosmustbeaffixedtoasheetofpaperorinsideaplasticsleeveandproperly
identified.Donotsendloosephotosorslides.)
IRSdeterminationletter(if501(c)organization)ortax‐exemptletter(ifgovernment
organization/agencyorpublicschool/highereducationinstitution)
Letter(s)ofsupportfromvolunteersorvolunteerorganization(s)describingtheirroleinyourproject
IncompletegrantapplicationsorapplicationssubmittedorpostmarkedafterJune15,2015will
notbeconsidered.
Forgrantawardconsideration,[email protected]
orpostalmailto:
Rev. 4/18/14
GrantsCoordinator
SouthernMinnesotaInitiativeFoundation
POBox695
Owatonna,MN55060
Allapplicantswillbecontactedviaemailortelephonetoconfirmreceiptoftheirapplication.Forfurther
informationorquestionsregardingtheapplication,callJenniferHeien,GrantsCoordinator,at507‐455‐
3215oremailatjenniferh@smifoundation.org.ApplicantswillbenotifiedofawarddecisionsbyJuly1,
2015.
SMIFisamemberoftheMinnesotaCouncilofFoundationsandadherestotheCouncilofFoundation’sStatementofPrinciplesand
Practices.SMIF’sannualreportisavailableon‐lineatwww.smifoundation.org
Rev. 4/18/14