PRISM Fund

PRISM (Promoting Rural Interconnections for Sexual Minorities) grants support rural LGBTQ+ organizations from across PFund’s five-state service area.

The PRISM program works to increase the capacity and connection of rural LGBTQ+ serving organizations through grants, trainings and cohort collaboration. For the inaugural round of PRISM grants in 2022, PFund awarded $125,000 to 17 rural-serving queer organizations from across the Upper Midwest. In 2023, PFund was able to expand its PRISM grantmaking and awarded $260,000 in capacity-building grants to 21 queer organizations across our five-state service area. Applications for the next round of PRISM grants opened on July 29, 2024 and are due by 5pm central on September 9, 2024.

Person looking at their phone in a field

To apply for a PRISM grant, organizations must meet the following qualifications:

  • Primarily serve LGBTQIA2S+ populations in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and/or the Native Nations therein.

  • Been in operation at least 1-year as of September 1st.

  • Organizations must be based in a rural community or serve rural populations (defined as small and mid-sized towns under 50,000 people). 

  • Registered as 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the IRS. Informal groups with a nonprofit organization serving as a fiscal sponsor are also eligible to apply.

  • Have a senior organizational representative able to participate in monthly, virtual cohort meetings.

  • An informational webinar was held on August 6th at 10 am central. Use this link to access a recording.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

PRISM grants are made possible through the major support provided by the Northwest Area Foundation.

Grantee profile: LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin

The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin is one of PFund’s 2022 PRISM grantees. Learn more about the work the center is doing in rural Wisconsin by reading the organization’s grantee profile.

States We Serve:

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Iowa

North Dakota

South Dakota

The First Nations therein