988 Minnesota Lifeline Youth Peer Leader Grant RFP Q&A

Questions and answers regarding the 988 Minnesota Lifeline Youth Peer Leader Grant Request for Proposals will be posted below within two business days of submission.

Q: If we were recipients of the grant last year, are we eligible to apply again?  

A: Yes, previous grant recipients are eligible to apply.  

Q: Is a Pre-K-12th grade charter school with an after-school program eligible to apply?

A: Yes, a Pre-K-12th grade charter school with an after-school program is eligible to apply.  

Q: On page 9 of the 988 Minnesota Lifeline Someone to Talk to Peer Leader Grant RFP, it mentions that the applicant must establish system for payment/reimbursement of youth speakers after training is completed. Is there a specific amount for the stipend? Is this a one-time stipend? Is this something that needs to be completed after each training?  

A: The RFP does not set a required stipend amount or a prescribed payment structure. Instead, applicants should determine:

• The stipend amount they believe is appropriate and sustainable for their program. 
• Whether the stipend is a one‑time payment or structured differently, based on how they intend to engage youth speakers. 
• When stipends will be issued, such as after each training session or at the completion of a defined set of activities.

Organizations are encouraged to develop a process that is equitable, transparent, and feasible within their internal financial systems. The goal of the requirement is to ensure that youth speakers are compensated fairly for their time and contributions, while allowing each applicant the flexibility to implement a model that works best for their program. 

Q: The RFP states that priority will be given to applicants from certain counties that had greater than 20 youth suicides between 2011–2020 (Beltrami, Sherburne, St. Louis, Anoka, Scott, Dakota, Stearns, Washington, Wright, Olmsted, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties, and Minnesota Tribal nations and communities). Could you please clarify whether eligibility is limited only to those listed priority counties and Tribal communities, or whether a nonprofit organization based in Otter Tail County (such as Never Alone, Inc. in Fergus Falls) is eligible to apply and could be considered for funding?

A: Applicants could include, but are not limited to, youth-serving organizations, peer-driven initiatives, youth collectives, youth advocacy teams, universities, Tribal colleges, community colleges, young adult groups, young-adult serving organizations, and out-of-school time programs. Although applicants from the Minnesota Garrett Lee Smith grant prioritized counties listed in the RFP will be given priority, applicants can be from other Minnesota counties if they are located and conducting grant activities within the state of Minnesota. 

Q: We are considering applying under Track 1 (organizations serving youth enrolled in grades 9–12). We have two young people who were very involved in our program, turned 18, and graduated during the 2025–2026 school year. They remain actively involved and are willing to serve as peer leaders and deliver presentations to current grades 9–12 youth. Could these recent graduates still count as peer leaders under a Track 1 application, or would they only be eligible under Track 2? If they are not eligible as Track 1 peer leaders, is there any flexibility for them to support or co-facilitate with current high school peer leaders?

A: Yes, in the scenario provided, the individuals would be eligible to work within track one for the purposes of this grant. 

Q: Are applicants eligible to apply to both tracks? Will only be awarded?   

A: Organizations may apply for one of the following funded tracks:  

• Track 1: Organizations serving youth enrolled in grades 9–12 during the 2026–2027 school year.
• Track 2: Organizations serving young adults ages 18–24.

Q: Are current grantees of separate MDH suicide prevention grants eligible for this opportunity?

A: Yes, current grantees of separate MDH suicide prevention grants are eligible to apply. Applicants awarded funding under multiple MDH grant programs will be responsible for maintaining compliance with and completing all required activities, deliverables, and reporting obligations for each grant.

Q: Is there an expected $ of the stipend for the youth participants? and is $ eligible to be used for meals for youth meetings?

A: No, there is not an expected minimum amount to pay the participants, that will be decided by the grant staff. In the example budget, there is $4400 budgeted for 5-7 youth to pay for training time (x3) and facilitating community presentations (x5). This number is an example and can be adjusted to community needs. Because this is federal funding, this funding is not eligible to be used for meals for youth meetings at this time.  

Q: When you state that two co-leads must attend onboarding, are these the organization staff (grant managers / coordinators) or are you referring to peer-leaders? How extensive are these peer presentations? Is the curriculum something that will take an hour to present or is it a shorter timeframe? Can presentations be conducted virtually or only in-person?

A: The two co-leads that must attend onboarding are the organization staff (grant managers / coordinators). The peer presentations take an average of 10-15 minutes. Presentations are designed to be conducted in-person.

Q: For organizations applying under Track 1 that intend to implement the program by partnering with or recruiting local high schools, does the grant specify a required or maximum number of schools that can or should be recruited, or is the focus exclusively on recruiting the minimum of 5–7 youth peer leaders regardless of school representation?

A: The organizations applying should focus on recruiting the 5-7 youth peer leaders to participate in the 988 Minnesota Lifeline Someone to Talk to Peer Leader grant regardless of school representation. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate established, ongoing relationships with youth or young adult groups and can describe how youth or young adults are meaningfully engaged in project planning, implementation, leadership, and evaluation activities. For example, you have an established young adult/youth group that is currently meeting regularly.

Q: Can the curriculum be supplemented with org information around co-occurring disorder like gambling?

A: The priority should be focused on completion of the identified goals and deliverables outlined in the RFP. 

Q: Is a Minnesota-registered, for-profit LLC with a federal EIN eligible to apply directly as the lead grantee? If not, may an eligible school or nonprofit apply as the lead organization and contract with our LLC to coordinate and implement the required program activities?

A: Yes, a for-profit LLC with a federal EIN is eligible to apply as the lead grantee. Applicants must have state or federal recognition as a formal organization or entity, such as a Federal Identification Number. Organizations or groups that do not have state or federal recognition must apply with a fiscal agent. Applicants could include, but are not limited to, youth-serving organizations, peer-driven initiatives, youth collectives, youth advocacy teams, universities, Tribal colleges, community colleges, young adult groups, young-adult serving organizations, and out-of-school time programs. Applicants should have demonstrated capacity to engage with and support youth or young adults. Priority will be given to organizations that can demonstrate existing, established relationships with youth or young adults’ groups. For example, have established young adult/youth group that is currently meeting regularly. MDH recognizes the sovereignty of Tribal nations and will only fund non-Tribal projects led in Tribal communities if the applicant has full support of the Tribal government. Applicants within the Minnesota GLS grant prioritized counties will be given priority. Priority areas were selected that had greater than 20 youth suicides between 2011-2020 and includes: Beltrami, Sherburne, St. Louis, Anoka, Scott, Dakota, Stearns, Washington, Wright, Olmsted, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties, and Minnesota Tribal nations and communities. Applicants must be located and conduct grant activities within the state of Minnesota. Grant funds are not transferable to any other entity. Applicants that are aware of any upcoming mergers, acquisitions, or any other changes in their organization or legal standing, must disclose this information to MDH in their application, or as soon as they are aware of it. Organizations may apply through a fiscal host if the arrangement allows the applicant to meet the eligibility requirements and demonstrate the organizational capacity to administer the grant. Applicants should clearly identify the fiscal host and describe the roles and responsibilities of each organization, including fiscal and administrative oversight.