Opportunity Overview
The Bernick Family Foundation, administered through CommunityGiving partner foundations, is accepting 2026 applications for the Bernick’s Beverages and Vending Fund Grants. The program supports capital projects and new or expanded programs in two focus areas: Youth and Education and Youth Health and Fitness.
Funding and Deadline
CommunityGiving states that up to $300,000 will be awarded across the seven Bernick service areas to approximately 8-10 organizations. Individual awards range from $5,000 to $40,000. The current 2026 application window closes September 30, 2026, and CommunityGiving states that applications must be submitted online by midnight on the deadline. The official pages do not publish a time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Eligibility and Minnesota Geography
Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities. For this Minnesota state record, the organization must be based in or serve an eligible Bernick service area in or around Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Waite Park, or Willmar. CommunityGiving also lists Wisconsin service areas, which are outside this Minnesota lane.
Eligible Uses and Restrictions
Supported strategies are capital projects and new or expanded programs. Youth and Education projects should help prepare students for future educational or workplace success. Youth Health and Fitness projects should support active lifestyles, including fitness, recreation, responsible lifestyle, youth leadership, teamwork, community involvement, or entrepreneurship when aligned with the program.
The current public grant guidance typically excludes individuals, religious organizations for religious purposes, political organizations or campaigns, event sponsorships and annual fundraising drives, multi-year requests, endowments, debt retirement, completed or retroactive projects, individual postsecondary scholarships, grants solely for staff travel or conferences, and replacement of reduced or eliminated government funding. The controlling public grant page does not state a mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement.
Application and Submission
Applications must be submitted through the CommunityGiving Grant Management System. The Grant Advisory Committee recommends applications and the Board of Directors makes final funding decisions. Notifications are sent by email. For funded applicants, CommunityGiving identifies the Grant Agreement and Final Report as required follow-up documents, with a Progress Report if requested. Applicants should follow the live Grant Management System prompts for any current application fields or uploads.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 80/100. This is a currently open, well-defined Minnesota youth and school opportunity with a meaningful award ceiling, multiple eligible Minnesota service areas, and a clear online application path. Its focus is youth development, education, fitness, and recreation rather than clinical service delivery.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. The current guidance does not establish a telehealth, diagnostic, remote-examination, or clinical-device pathway. Atlas should not force an N9+ role into this opportunity.
QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The program’s Youth Health and Fitness focus is active-lifestyle and recreation oriented, not a healthcare-service procurement pathway.
Dr. Miltie direct applicant fit: not eligible on current evidence. Eligibility is limited to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and government entities. A vendor or partner role should be considered only if independently appropriate to an eligible grantee’s approved project.
Official Sources
Controlling sources are the current CommunityGiving Bernick’s Beverages and Vending Fund Grants page and current CommunityGiving foundation grant listings showing the September 30, 2026 deadline and online-only submission requirement. Last verified September 15, 2026.