Northland Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Northland Foundation supports children and youth, individual and community wellbeing and the economy and jobs in northeastern Minnesota.
FUNDING AREAS: Children and youth, individual and community wellbeing, the economy and jobs
IP TAKE: Not only is this a good resource to know for rural Minnesota nonprofit efforts, but also for loans for emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses. It accepts unsolicited proposals, but prospective grantees should reach out to the foundation before sending one in.
PROFILE: Established in 1986, the Northland Foundation is a private foundation based in Duluth, Minnesota. It is one of six Minnesota initiative foundations that the McKnight Foundations created in partnership with the citizens of Greater Minnesota. The foundation “invests in people and communities to support a thriving Northeastern Minnesota.” It funds local efforts for children and youth, individual and community wellbeing and the economy and jobs.
The Northland Foundation has an active grantmaking program area and also a separate Kids Plus program for child and youth wellbeing, a business loan program to help small and mid-size business and convening and training initiatives for learning opportunities and technical assistance. Children, youth and families are a big priority for the foundation, with grants typically supporting early childhood education, youth enrichment, parenting and grand-parenting support and youth leadership. Under the individual and community wellbeing priority, the Northland Foundation provides grants for job training, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness issues, domestic violence prevention, elderly independence, people with disabilities, financial literacy and diversity and inclusion.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $25,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on seven northeastern Minnesota counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis. It also supports five Tribal Nations within the same geographic boundaries: Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Past local grantees include Aitkin County CARE, Mesabi Outdoor Adventures and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.
This foundation accepts grant applications from nonprofits, although applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation staff to discuss a project idea before submitting paperwork. The foundation uses an online grant portal to accept application. It accepts small grant requests of $5,000 or less by deadlines on the first of the months of January, April, July and October. Large grant requests have the same deadlines but require submitting an initial inquiry prior to a full proposal. Youth in Philanthropy requests of up to $1,000 are due by October 1, January 1 and April 1. Direct general questions to the staff at 218-723-4040 or via online form.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
