STEAM Forward Grant 

We are proud to announce the opening of the STEAM Forward Grant.

A $10,000 investment opportunity rooted in the belief that Black youth in North Minneapolis are already architects, creators, and innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).

This is not about introducing something new. 

It is about investing in the brilliance already alive in Black youth and nurturing the pathways, relationships, and opportunities that allow their creativity, innovation, and genius to shape the world. 

More information about the STEAM Forward grant opportunity, can be found by downloading the “Grant Guidelines” PDF. 

About the Grant

Grant Amount: $10,000 (1 grant awarded) 

STEAM exists everywhere. In the way our young people solve problems, build, create, and imagine.

STEAM Forward is grounded in the recognition that a thriving STEAM ecosystem already lives in North Minneapolis, in community organizations, schools, families, cultural spaces, and informal learning environments. Our role, and this investment, is to help cultivate the conditions where what already exists continues to grow. 

Eligibility Requirements

 To apply, your organization must: 

  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational institution (PreK-12 or postsecondary), or an organization with a fiscal sponsor
  • Be based in North Minneapolis (zip codes 55411 or 55412) OR based in Minnesota and demonstrate that the majority of proposed activities will serve Black-identifying youth in PreK-12th grade who live in North Minneapolis 
  • Advance at least one of the six community-designed ideas outlined in this opportunity
  • Demonstrate clear connection to at least one Cradle-to-Career Learning strategy within the Northside Forward Plan 

Why This Matters

Black communities have long been innovators and architects of the scientific and technological advancements that shape our world.

The young people of North Minneapolis are part of that continuum—not beginning from a place of absence, but from a place of inheritance, possibility, and ongoing contribution. STEAM Forward is an invitation to invest in that truth. 

How To Apply

  • Applications will open June 1, 2026 and can be submitted via JotForm Application
  • For more information about the community-designed ideas, visit this page.  
  • To learn more about the Northside Forward Plan, click here. 
  • Questions? Reach out to Dr. Jessica Thompson-Dixon of the African American Leadership Forum at design@aalftc.org 
Apply for Grant