Current Priorities
Minnesota votes “Yes” for conservation
In November 2024—an election where many focused on division—Minnesotans came together and overwhelmingly voted to approve a constitutional amendment to rededicate state lottery funds for our Great Outdoors. The amendment won with 77.5%, the most votes in state history, securing clear majorities in every region, county, and district.
Once again, Minnesota voters showed that we vote “Yes” when the environment is on the ballot.
Even in the most divided of times, our shared love of Minnesota’s lakes, lands, nature, and wildlife are enduring values that we can rely on to create a brighter future.
Investing in our Great Outdoors isn’t a partisan issue—it's a Minnesotan value.
We Built a Coalition
Conservation Minnesota managed the Minnesotans For Our Great Outdoors campaign working to educate and advocate for this Great Outdoors funding source. We built a coalition of more than 150 conservation, tourism, business, and community organizations who affirmed our belief in finding common ground.
With message-tested communications, we leveraged local media outlets to tell the story of lottery funding and the importance of voting "Yes" on the ballot amendment. We spread the word from Farmfest in Southern Minnesota to press events in Duluth and hunting events in Dakota County—and we ran a highly targeted digital advertising campaign. The success of the coalition showed what's possible when diverse organizations come together to work on something that benefits us all.
Lottery investments support our lakes & Great Outdoors
Minnesotans first voted to use a portion of Minnesota State Lottery proceeds to fund conservation activities in 1988. By the time of the 2024 vote, over $1 billion had been invested to help restore and protect our water, land, and wildlife.
The Lottery funds over $80 million per year in projects through the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). These projects are "for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources." In communities across the state, thousands of projects have been funded, from protecting endangered species in Voyageurs National Park and researching moose, loon, and wolves to pollinator-friendly lawn grants, cover crops and soil health, and new campgrounds, trails, and recreation areas.
The renewal in 2024 ensured Lottery dollars will continue to work for the Great Outdoors for another 25 years.
Beyond simply continuing to invest Minnesota State Lottery funds into the ENRTF, the renewal also created a new Community Grants program, which dedicates an additional 1.5% from the ENRTF to help smaller rural communities and BIPOC-led organizations more easily access Lottery funds.
