Charitable Gaming

How We Fund

Our contributions follow our mission. If you are a registered non-profit organization whose work positively impacts the children in Central Minnesota, you are eligible to receive a grant. Each month, applications are reviewed and grants are awarded. Organizations who receive awards are invited to pick up their donation after the monthly board meeting (dates/times provided upon award notification). Our average award is $500. We do not sponsor events or drives.

Dollars Given to Youth Programs in Central Minnesota

Looking for a Donation?

Typically, applicants begin the process by providing a 15-25 minute presentation at a noon Optimist meeting. These are held at Old Chicago Restaurant in St. Cloud on Tuesdays. To request an appearance, email our speaker coordinator at wendy@centralmnoptimist.org. Note that speakers are typically scheduled several months out.

Raising funds and managing those funds takes effort, time, talent, and treasure. As such, we seek to be good stewards of the resources we raise. For consideration of an award, applicants must supply:

A completed donation request form, accessible at the button below.
A copy of the tax letter stating that you are a recognized non-profit organization. This letter will contain the tax ID number the IRS assigned your organization.
Optional: Fliers or other documents that help tell the story of your organization or program.

Download Application

Until further notice please send all funding requests to:

Central MN Noon Optimist Club, PO Box 734, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

Where Does the Money Go?

83.8% Payback to the Winners

After the winners are paid, here’s where the rest of the money goes:

Supplies and Rentals 58% 58%
Taxes and Licensing Fees 29% 29%
Donations 13% 13%

We Love Giving…But it Costs Us

Unfortunately, we can’t give as much as we like due to the tax rate on charitable gaming. We are taxed on gross receipts, minus prizes paid, at a progressive rate that ranges from 9 (in the beginning of the year) to 36 percent (by the end of the year) for pull tabs, tip boards and electronic link bingo. In Minnesota, for every dollar spent on charitable gaming .50 cents goes to expenses, .36 cents is paid in state taxes, and that leaves .14 cents left for donations.

In 2016 alone, the state of Minnesota collected $55.8 million in taxes on charitable gaming! If you agree this is too high a percentage diverted away from supporting, please consider contacting your representatives to let them know! You can find their contact information here.

Organizations and Projects Funded with Noon Optimist Dollars

Play For a Cause

If you enjoy the game, why not choose to gamble where some of the dollars will go back to the kids in our community?! Below is a list of charitable gaming sites that support Central MN Noon Optimist Club. We thank them, and you, for your support!

BlueLine South

Clear Lake Amoco

Goodfellas

Rusty Nail

Southway Bowl

Stone Creek Golf Course

Midtown Bar and Grill

Meat raffles at Midtown Bar and Grill on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and Blue Line South on Wednesdays at 7:00pm

Premiere Sites

Join Us!

We would love you see you at our next event or meeting. If you're interested in volunteering or joining us in our mission to improve the lives of central Minnesota's kids, fill out the short form and we will get back to you shortly.