The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Community Grant Program is a new grant funding opportunity currently in development.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will manage the Community Grant Program and created this webpage to keep the public informed about progress toward full implementation.
Funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Fund, the Community Grant Program will support projects for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources.
The program will increase the number and diversity of grant recipients who receive ENRTF funding, especially in communities that have been adversely affected by pollution and environmental degradation. Grant awards will benefit communities and residents in all regions of our state.
A Community Grant Program advisory council (“advisory council”) will review program elements and recommend any program changes to the DNR commissioner and the legislature Minn. Statutes, ch.116X.05. Advisory council members will be chosen through an open application process. The advisory council will review program elements and recommend changes to the Minnesota Legislature and DNR commissioner.
Program update
Legislative report development
The Minnesota Legislature has directed the commissioner of the DNR to submit a Community Grants Implementation report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources. The report is due December 15, 2025 (Minn. Laws 2025, ch. 1, art. 3, sec. 3).
Advisory council application and grant funding round
The Community Grants Advisory Council application process and grant funding rounds will not open until after the DNR submits the implementation report to legislators.
Resources
- To stay updated on the ENRTF Community Grant Program, please subscribe to our email notification list.
- For information about other DNR grant funding opportunities, please visit Grants | Minnesota DNR
- For information about other DNR advisory groups and task forces, please visit Advisory groups | Minnesota DNR
Background on the ENRTF Community Grant Program
Since 1988, a voter-approved amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution has dedicated state lottery proceeds to the ENRTF (Minn. Const. art. XI, sec. 14).
The purpose of the ENRTF is to provide a long-term, consistent, and stable source of funding for activities that protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota's "air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources" for the benefit of current citizens and future generations.
The ENRTF Community Grant Program was established in statute during the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session (Minn. Statutes, ch. 116X).
The legislature did not appropriate funding to the Community Grants Program at the time of the program authorization in 2023, but the statute named the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as the intended source of funding. The legislature needed voter approval to dedicate ENRTF funding to this new program.
In November 2024, Minnesota voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question extending the Minnesota State Constitutional Amendment that dedicates funding to the ENRTF. That successful ballot question increased the percentage of the ENRTF’s market value that could be spent each biennium, from 5.5 percent to 7 percent. The additional 1.5 percent will fund the Community Grants Program.
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers amended the original Community Grants statute. Here is the link to the session law with changes marked Minn. Laws 2025, ch. 1, art. 3, sec. 1.
Also, during the 2025 session, lawmakers appropriated just over $28 million from the ENRTF to the DNR for the Community Grants Program. That funding is available until June 30, 2029.