Community-Led Philanthropy

The Eagan Community Foundation is looking for community support as we transition into more community-led grantmaking. As part of that shift, we are including non-board members in our grants selection process as Volunteer Community Reviewers. We encourage members across the community to use their voice and experience to inform our grants process. You will gain a unique opportunity to learn more about the variety of organizations that serve Eagan and the important needs they address. If you are able to attend our Community Grants Awards Breakfast, you will also get an opportunity to create personal connections across the nonprofit community. 

Community Reviewers would support the Foundation’s existing community grants program. Since 1990, the Foundation has awarded over $200,000 to community organizations working to make Eagan a better place to live, learn, work, and play for all residents. The community grants program prioritizes areas of need, such as shelter/housing, at-risk youth, those in economic need, access to nutritious food, youth development, and community building.

Potential Candidates

We are especially interested in volunteers who represent communities that are underserved or economically disadvantaged and/or who have experience (work, volunteer, client, etc.) with nonprofits or community groups in the Eagan area. 

We are asking Community Reviewers to spend about 12 hours over a period of 5 weeks reviewing, scoring, and participating in final grant award decisions. This would involve:

• Orientation/training: This can be done in person or remotely - approximately 90 minutes. Orientation will include introduction to the Foundation, review application process, scoring matrix, and general grant priorities. Orientation date options include:

  • Saturday, March 16, 9:00 - 10:30 AM

  • Tuesday, March 19, 5:00 - 6:30 PM

  • Thursday, March 21, 4:00 - 5:30 PM

    • Other: Other arrangements can be made if these dates do not work for you.

• Reviewing and scoring of submitted grant proposals (done remotely on your own time, approximately 5 hours)

• Grants Selection Night: Friday, April 5th 5:00 - 9:00 PM (approximately 4 hours - dinner served)

• Opportunity to participate in Community Grants Awards Breakfast - Thursday, April 25 (2 hours)

If interested, please fill out the application form here. If you need any assistance or have questions, please contact us using the information below.