Grant Program

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota knew it was facing a tough year for fundraising, when the Northland Foundation called to invite a $100,000 dollar grant request. Northland normally doesn’t seek out grant applications, but this was an important exception.

Based in Chisholm, the United Way helps support more than 40 community organizations spread across a wide, multi-county area each year. And, it has suffered alongside the Iron Range economy. Mining layoffs means reduced United Way donations, and that means less funding they have to give.

“This year, the shortfall was just over half a million dollars, so it very dramatically affected our fund distribution process and a lot of the programs that we run,” stated Shelley Valentini, Executive Director at the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota.

The Northland Foundation grant helped the United Way continue its annual “Rampage at the Ridge” fundraiser, an extreme 5K mud run that draws over one thousand runners supporting veterans.

The grant also helped United Way programming that feeds hungry children, such as the Buddy Backpack Program and Meet Up & Chow Down.

“We’ve partnered with Northland Foundation on a lot of other programs, and they understand our work. It it felt really good to know they cared about the situation we were in and gave us that added boost,” said Valentini.

One hundred thousand dollars can go a long way. In the hands of the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, it can help the entire Iron Range rise together.