The Ann Bancroft Foundation Spring Grant Cycle Awards 153 Minnesota Girls More Than $76,000 To Help Fund Their Dreams

ST. PAUL, MN (June 14, 2022) − The Ann Bancroft Foundation (ABF) is proud to announce its 2022 spring grant cycle resulted in awards to153 Minnesota girls through the organization’s grant programs and overall mission to help local girls who dare to dream, to have the support, inspiration, and resources to help make those dreams come true. 

“We continue to see the devastating effects the pandemic and other life events are having on girls' mental health, " says Ethelind B. Kaba, Executive Director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation. "Our goal is to give Minnesota girls safe spaces to dream to meet the challenges they're facing and significantly increase outcomes for their futures. We hope our 2022 grantees will experience joy in these uncertain times through the activities the grants allow them to explore." Kaba says. 

ABF grants have funded a wide range of transformational activities and experiences including the following examples from the awards cycle this spring:

  • Isabelle (16) from International Falls, hopes to become a professional writer and will attend Camp Atsokan for Young Writers.
  • Nyahna (13) from Crystal, wants to go to cosmetology school and will be touring HBCU schools in the fall.
  • Mya (6) from Mankato, has a dream to publish a book with characters that look different and just like the friends she sees in the world and will be publishing a book with the Equity Network.
  • Aubrey (13) from Minneapolis who wants to attend hockey camp to grow her skills and make her high school’s hockey team next year.  
  • Kiera (15) from Albertville, dreams to become a biologist, so she will be going on a research trip to Costa Rica.

The breakdown of awards per county are: 

Anoka 5
Blue Earth 2
Carver 1
Chisago 1
Dakota 7
Goodhue 1
Hennepin 54
Koochiching 11
Lake 1
Marshall 1
Meeker 1
Olmsted 1
Ramsey 17
Rice 3
Roseau 5
Scott 2
St. Louis 13
Sherburne 1
Stearns 3
Waseca 12
Washington 7
Wright 5

Since 1997, ABF has awarded over $2.3 million to 5,500 Minnesota girls in grades K-12. The organization also connects girls to mentors who provide guidance, encouragement and friendship at a critical time in their lives. The grants are investments (up to $500) that have immediate and lasting impact. These grants are about more than giving girls just money. For many, it is the first time someone believed in them, heard their dream and took a stand for them. Each ABF grant opens the window to a world of possibly, providing a young Minnesota girl an opportunity she may never thought existed. 

How It Works

Each applicant is guided through the application process by an adult mentor who is not in the girl’s immediate family. This can be a teacher, coach, family friend, etc. ABF grants are based on several factors including need which can include, but is not limited to financial need, a personal or family challenge and other barriers. A panel of ABF volunteers reviews applications. 

ABF accepts grant applications twice a year, in fall and spring. Applications are available at: https://www.annbancroftfoundation.org/programs/grant-programs

For Press Inquiries Contact: 
Kelly Plummer
651-206-9852
kelly@superstarpr.com