We fund in the state of Minnesota with priority given to the seven-county metro area. We work in settings that serve children who are at-risk or experiencing abuse or neglect, exposed to toxic stress/trauma, or have challenges developing reading, writing and math skills. This includes schools and early childhood settings, non-profit and research organizations, government agencies, collaboratives, and networks.
Due to the planned sunset in 2028, the best use of Sauer Family Foundation funding is shorter term projects that create change or help create something new in an organization that will be sustainable in the future without our funding. The Sauer Family Foundation is particularly interested in grants that support work in systems and agencies that keep children in safe, supported families, decrease toxic stress and move them to resiliency.
There will be three grant rounds in 2024 with due dates of February 16th, May 17th and September 27th.
We fund direct service, research, field building, and systems change efforts in the following areas:
Building Strong Family Relationships: Prevention and Intervention in Child Welfare
The staff contact is Sheri Hixon, Sheri@sauerff.org
Building Supportive Environments that Promote Emotional Safety for Children & Youth
The staff contact is Emma Mogendorff, Emma@sauerff.org
Please note: we do not make grants to support individual mental health treatment or counseling.
Building Educational Success for Children: Literacy Skills and Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading PreK – 12th Grade
The staff contact is Emma Mogendorff, Emma@sauerff.org
Building a Workforce that Reflects the Diversity of Minnesota’s Children: Racially Equitable Career Pathways in our Funding Areas
The staff contact is Emma Mogendorff, Emma@sauerff.org
The first deadline in 2024 is Friday, February 16th. The second grant deadline is Friday, May 17th. The last grant deadline is Friday, September 27th. If you feel your organization or project fits into our funding priorities, please send an email to the appropriate staff contact to discuss the potential fit. If you are invited to apply, you will be given a username and password for our online grant system. For more information about applying for a grant please visit the Apply Page.
All applicants must comply with all Federal, State and local non-discrimination laws. The Sauer Family Foundation does not make grants to individuals, political and lobbying activities, endowments, deficit or debt reduction, fundraising activities or advertising.
Children experience well-being. They grow up and develop in environments where they are