Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy — 2026–27 Community Power Play Period 3
The Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy jointly offer the Community Power Play Grant Program for Minnesota-based nonprofit hockey organizations. The current NHL-season program offers three distinct one-time grants of $10,000 each, one per funding period. This record covers Period 3, specifically supporting investments and upgrades to local municipally owned hockey rinks and facilities, including ice-resurfacing machines, locker-room improvements and capital campaign initiatives. It is a competitive charitable grant to applicants, not a vendor contract.
Applicant award, timing and funding track
Applicant eligibility and project scope
Applicants must be Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations drawn from the funder’s listed groups: youth or amateur hockey associations, high school hockey programs, and organizations associated with municipally owned hockey rinks/facilities. The published instructions require nonprofit organization status; operating a municipal rink by itself is not proof that a governmental entity can apply directly, and the eligible nonprofit applicant should confirm its legal status with the portal. The funder’s stated Period 3 emphasis is Eligible physical investments and improvements at municipally owned hockey rinks and facilities; the funder specifically includes rink equipment and locker rooms. Projects must benefit people in Minnesota and align with community hockey growth, participation and access.
Restrictions, matching and review
Grant money cannot pay for individual benefits such as salaries, fundraising events or sponsorships, projects outside Minnesota, requests from religious or political organizations, or projects submitted on behalf of another organization. No universal applicant matching percentage or reimbursement-only term is published in the official program summary. Applications will be evaluated on fit with program goals, number of beneficiaries, impact on hockey participation or facilities, and whether the project would be undertaken without the grant.
How to apply
Confirm a Minnesota nonprofit applicant is proposing a qualified project at a municipally owned hockey rink or facility, with permission to undertake the improvement; prepare project description, benefits and itemized capital/infrastructure budget. Period 3 application window January 27–February 28, 2027; submit via the official grant application in that window. Use the official Minnesota Wild Community Power Play grant guidelines and embedded application. The program’s subsequent Overtime fan voting period is separately scheduled for March 8–21, 2027 and does not establish an additional direct applicant open call. Verify portal-specific attachments and final submission confirmation before the listed deadline.
Controlling sources and research date
The official Minnesota Wild/Xcel Energy program page, funding windows, eligibility and exclusions were reviewed October 27, 2026. The program’s $30,000 initial three-period budget is not an award available to a single applicant. The separate possible $20,000 overtime award is contingent on selection and voting.