Northland Foundation and sister foundations receive Responsive Philanthropy Award

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) presented the Responsive Philanthropy Award to the Northland Foundation and our five fellow Minnesota Initiative Foundations on October 7th at the MCN annual conference.

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is an association with over 2,000 members whose votes determine which Minnesota foundations and corporate giving programs receive this special recognition. Award criteria include:

• Being responsive to citizen initiatives;

• Recognizing public policy issues and long-term strategies to fight problems; and

• Committing substantial resources to disadvantaged people and Minnesota communities through a process of dialogue and partnership.

A video was also produced by MCN to highlight the collaborative spirit that is a hallmark of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations, which were created by The McKnight Foundation in 1986 to activate a locally driven response to the mining, farming and community crises that were devastating Greater Minnesota. Each of the six foundations has developed uniquely over the years, in cooperation with local citizens, to address key issues in their respective rural regions.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by fellow Minnesota nonprofits for the qualities that the Northland Foundation strives to bring to all its work—to be approachable, flexible, and nimble in response to northeastern Minnesota needs,” said Northland Foundation President, Tony Sertich.