Grants for MPS Staff

AchieveMpls manages several grant funds that support Minneapolis Public Schools staff and classrooms. Check out these three opportunities for funding professional development, field trips, classroom projects and more.

Assistance League grant recipients

1.  Links to Learning Grants


AchieveMpls administers Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul Links to Learning grants, which award up to $750 for classroom projects. In the 2020-21 school year, 63 recipients received over $41,000 for fields trips, class projects and more. Applications for 2021-22 school year are due October 11.  Contact mpsgrants@achievempls.org with questions.

2. Minneapolis Educator Leadership Awards (MELA)


The Minneapolis Educator Leadership Awards (MELA) provide provide financial support to MPS teachers, principals, paraprofessionals and support staff in designing creative learning opportunities for students. A program of the John & Denise Graves Foundation and administered by AchieveMpls, the MELA nomination and selection process is entirely teacher-driven. Nominations for 2022 MELA awards are now open and due on January 21. Learn more about MELA and nominate a MPS educator.

3. AchieveMpls Mini-Grants


AchieveMpls also manages several grants for MPS staff and classrooms that are funded by community donations, AchieveMpls discretionary funds and MPS staff through the We Give campaign. For details or to apply for a grant, contact mpsgrants@achievempls.org.

For more information about any of these opportunities, contact mpsgrants@achievempls.org.

Funding new awards

To learn how you can design or fund new special awards to support MPS staff, programs or classrooms, contact Jennifer McGee, Director of Development, at 612-455-1552.