During January through April 2021, 65 grants totaling $1,006,280 were awarded to benefit the people and communities within the seven counties of northeastern Minnesota and the Native nations that share this geography.
“Community-based services like home health care, assisted living, chore service, and respite care struggled to find enough paid staff and volunteers even before the pandemic.
“It’s an ongoing trend that northeastern Minnesota, especially, needs to address.” —Erik Torch, Director of Grantmaking
The two largest grants were made through the $3 million Integrated Rural Community Aging Program to help expand the workforce providing care for older adults. The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and the Applied Learning Institute received $100,000 and $95,000 respectively. Both grantees are using the funding to implement innovative, multi-year projects designed to attract, train, and retain more people to careers that provide care to the region’s fast-aging population.
“These two grantees will build on existing programs and try some new directions to help grow the labor pool. We are excited to see their projects unfold,” said Erik Torch, Director of Grantmaking.
The middle and high school students on the KIDS PLUS Youth In Philanthropy Board awarded three $1,000 grants during their final meeting of the which is held in April. This experiential learning program is made possible by funding from the Scott and Holly Martin Family Foundation, as well as donations from members of the Northland Foundation’s Emeritus Trustee Group.
You can review ALL RECENT GRANTS HERE including grantees, project details, and dollar amounts.