Who qualifies for the Open Road Fund’s $50,000 gift?

Who qualifies

• Black person who is a descendant of African people kidnapped and subjected to chattel enslavement in the Americas
• Age 14 or older
• Resident of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or any of the 23 Native nations whose territories are occupied by those states
• Eligible uses include investing in a business, cooperative, investment portfolio, real estate, education, or debt reduction
• Previous awardees are not eligible

Who is not eligible

• Nonprofit organizations
• Individuals who are not Black descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
• Residents outside MN, ND, SD, or the eligible Native nations
• Projects that could cause or support harm in communities

Is the Open Road Fund legit?

Yes. Nexus Community Partners, a Twin Cities nonprofit, started it in 2022. It gives $50,000 wealth-building gifts to 100 people a round, picked at random, and does not name recipients. It is for individuals, not businesses.

• Who runs it: Nexus Community Partners, a St. Paul and Minneapolis nonprofit
• Since: 2022
• How recipients are picked: Random selection, 100 awardees per round

Sources: nexuscp.org · spokesman-recorder.com. Last checked at the funder on October 18, 2026.

Open Road Fund: what people ask next

How is the winner chosen?

By random draw, not by merit. Nexus checks that each application is complete and eligible, then a computer program picks applicants at random; the fund says it selects 100 awardees a round. Picked applicants are checked again, and anyone who no longer qualifies is replaced by a new draw. Because the draw is random, the useful work is confirming you qualify before you apply.

Can I use it for a business?

Yes, as one of several uses. The gift can go into a business, a cooperative, an investment portfolio, real estate, education or paying down debt. Up to five awardees can pool their gifts on one shared project. It cannot start a nonprofit, fund mainly charitable giving or support a project that could harm a community. The fund describes it as a gift to individuals, so check before applying as a business.

What happens after I apply?

Selected applicants finish a second part and then have one month to write a wealth-building project plan. Once awardees are chosen, Nexus contacts them by email and phone, and they have 10 calendar days to confirm or the spot goes to someone else. The fund does not publish a date for when applicants hear back.

Can past winners apply again?

No. Previous Open Road Fund awardees are not eligible and may not apply again.

What if it is closed?

The fund opens once a year around Juneteenth, so a closed window means waiting for the next one; check the Deadline row above for where this round stands. In the meantime, see Black-owned business grants that are open now, Minnesota small business grants, or the Amber Grant for women.

What it covers

How to apply

1. 1

   Review eligibility and application questions

   Confirm you meet ancestry, geography, and age requirements and read the downloadable application questions.

   ~1 hrs

2. 2

   Submit Part 1 registration application

   Complete the online registration application when the fund opens on Juneteenth.

   ~1 hrs

3. 3

   Complete Part 2 project plan if selected as finalist

   Finalists have one month to create a detailed wealth-building project plan.

   ~3 hrs

4. 4

   Confirm participation if selected

   Respond within 10 calendar days if selected as an awardee.

   ~15 min

Deadline & timing

Opens annually on Juneteenth (June 19) and closes in late July. The next window is expected around Juneteenth; confirm with the fund.

Required documents

• Online application
• Identifying documents to verify identity
• Detailed wealth-building project plan (if finalist)

Related programs

This program is not taking applications today — these are

Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on November 1, 2026 — all 170 open grant programs · filter the database.

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