Northwest Area Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Northwest Area Foundation supports access to capital, work opportunity, enterprise development, and financial inclusion in the Upper Midwest and Northwest regions of the U.S.
FUNDING AREAS: Access to capital, work opportunity, enterprise development, financial inclusion
IP TAKE: This foundation services a broad geographic area and is one of the top grantmakers in the Upper Midwest for poverty-fighting efforts that focus on equity.
PROFILE: Established in 1934, the Northwest Area Foundation (NAF) is a foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Louis W. Hill, the son of Great Northern Railway founder James M. Hill created this foundation to serve the communities where the railroad operated. The founder’s primary interests were railroads, mining, banking, automobiles, road-building, art collecting, 4-H, and local events. The foundation aims to " support efforts by the people, organizations and communities of our eight-state region to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity.” NAF funds local efforts for access to capital, work opportunity, enterprise development, and financial inclusion.
The Northwest Area Foundation works to reduce poverty and advance sustainable prosperity in its region of focus. It prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion for local people who live here. Accordingly, NAF devotes 40 percent of its new grant dollars to Native-led organizations. NAF’s cross-cutting portfolios are changing systems and policies, lifting up successful models, providing opportunities for learning, and learning together.
Grants range between about $25,000 and $50,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the grant listing pages of the funder’s website. Grantmaking focuses on Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and 75 Native Nations. Past local grantees include Appetite for Change, Dream of Wild Health, and EMERGE Community Development.
This foundation accepts unsolicited general inquiries from nonprofits at any time of the year. However, it generally only accepts full proposals by invitation only. NAF invites applications for competitive funding opportunities and lists opportunities on its website periodically. Direct general questions to the staff at 651-224-9635 or via online form.
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