Youth activity grants

The youth activity grants program is dedicated to enhancing youth access to various activities by offering grant opportunities to local government units located within Hennepin County.

This program is funded through a portion of the 0.15% sales tax surcharge, authorized by state legislation for the construction of Target Field. Since its inception, the program has awarded several millions in grant funding, benefiting many communities throughout Hennepin County.

We typically host two grant cycles per year and provide grants for the following opportunities:

• Play areas
• Equipment
• Arts and music
• Lifeguard services
• Swim lessons

Funding available

Spring 2026 grant cycle

Approximately 1.3 million dollars have been allocated for this grant cycle. The number of awards will be based on requests received and availability of funding. 

• Play areas: awards up to $300,000
• Equipment: awards up to $10,000
• Arts and music: awards up to $25,000
• Lifeguard services: awards up to $50,000

Application

Applications are open March 30 to May 7 at 4 p.m.

RFA and application materials available on the Supplier Portal.

Information session

Join a virtual pre-application conference on April 8, 2026 at 10 a.m. for more information about the grant applications. On the date and time of the meeting, join this Microsoft Teams meeting.

Questions and support

For questions about the grants and application support:

• Email: youth.grants@hennepin.us
• All questions must be submitted by April 27 at 12 p.m.

For questions about the Supplier Portal:

• Supplier Portal Help webpage
• Phone: 612-543-5412
• Email: supplierportal@hennepin.us

Grant recipients

Grant awards will not be announced on this page. If you apply for an open grant opportunity, you will be contacted directly by program staff with your award decision.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a youth activities grant:

Applicant must be a local government unit located at least partially within the geographic boundaries of Hennepin County. For the purposes of the youth activities grant program, local government units are defined as:

• Municipalities
• Public school districts
• Park districts
• Watershed districts

The majority of young people benefiting from grant funding must reside within Hennepin County.

The majority of young people benefiting from grant funding must be:

• Aged 18 years and younger OR participating in U4-19 sports for play area and equipment grants
• Aged 21 years and younger for lifeguard services grants
• Aged 24 years and younger for arts and music grants

Grant funded projects, including programming and services, must take place in Hennepin County.

Purchases made with grant funds may not be kept by individual participants and must reside in and be stored in Hennepin County.

Applicants may submit no more than ten applications across all grant opportunities. Each application must be submitted as a separate, unique bid in the Supplier Portal.

Partnerships with community organizations

Local government units are strongly encouraged to partner with local businesses, nonprofits, and other community organizations for grant-funded projects. Partner organizations, such as non-profits and charter schools, are not eligible to apply on their own and must enlist a local government unit to apply.

Partner organizations must be registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State. School departments, community education programs, and other subsidiaries of school districts need to apply through the school district and not as a separate entity.

Grants

Play areas

The play area grant supports opportunities for youth ages 18 and younger to participate in sports and play by providing funding for the creation, expansion, and improvement of athletic facilities, recreational facilities, playgrounds, and other play spaces.

Grants up to $300,000 are available. The grant agreement term for a play area grant is typically two years in length but may be subject to change.

Equipment

The equipment grant supports opportunities for youth ages 18 and younger to participate in sports and other recreational activities by providing funding to purchase sports equipment.

Grants up to $10,000 are available. The grant agreement term for an equipment grant is typically one year in length but may be subject to change.

Arts and music

The arts and music grant supports opportunities for youth ages 24 and younger to participate in arts and music projects by providing funding for arts and music supplies, programming, and education.

Grants up to $25,000 are available. The grant agreement term for an arts and music grant is typically one year in length but may be subject to change.

Lifeguard services

The lifeguard services grant supports lifeguard services for youth ages 21 and younger by funding creative, innovative, and sustainable solutions to the youth lifeguard shortage through recruitment, training, hiring, and retention efforts.

Grants up to $50,000 are available. The grant agreement term for a lifeguard services grant is typically two years in length but may be subject to change.

Swim lessons

The swim lesson grant aims to promote youth water safety and reduce drowning disparities across the county by removing barriers to swim lessons. Swim lesson grant funds may be used by the swim lesson program to offer free or reduced-cost swim lessons and/or support transportation to swim lesson locations for young people.

Hennepin County has partnered with USA Swimming Foundation to administer grants to local swim lesson providers who have been approved within the Swim Lesson Provider Network.

Information about upcoming grant cycles, available funding, and the application process will be communicated by USA Swimming Foundation.