Quarterly and child care grants awarded January-March

In the first three months of 2025, the Northland Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $549,610 through its Quarterly Grant program including nine special grants to help expand and sustain licensed child care programs in the region. Quarterly grants are typically grants of $10,000 or more to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal Nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions.

Nearly half of the funds went toward basic needs: food security and access; housing and homeless services; health and wellness including mental health; and more. Another $147,000 of recent grants are contributing to out-of-school time programming for children and youth.

“After school, weekends, summer months, times when kids are not in the classroom, are opportunities for positive activities.”

Michelle Ufford

Michelle Ufford, Director of Grantmaking, added: “We support programming that fosters development, learning, and overall well-being for all kids, especially those most at risk of ‘falling through the cracks’ or living in communities where resources are thinner.”

Find more details for all January – March grants here.

Youth In Philanthropy awards 14 grants in April

In April, the Northland Foundation’s 2023-24 Youth In Philanthropy Board met for the final time this school year.

The young people on the board awarded 14 grants totaling $13,045. Students from Aitkin, Barnum, Cloquet, Duluth, Hermantown, Superior, and Two Harbors served on this year’s board, as well as five adult mentors.

“The youth and adult representatives put in hours of effort to prepare for and participate at each board meeting,” stated Jan Amys, a Senior Program Officer at the Northland Foundation, who has helped implement the program for more than 17 years. “It’s so rewarding to witness how the students grow in knowledge and confidence as they learn about philanthropy, volunteerism, and the region beyond their own communities.”

Applications must be written by, and projects carried out by, children and youth with adult advisor support. Grants range up to $1000 each for school and community projects. The next deadline to submit a Youth In Philanthropy grant application is October 1, 2024.

The Youth In Philanthropy Program receives funding support from the Scott and Holly Martin Family Foundation, members of the Northland Foundation’s Emeritus Trustee Group, and the Northland Foundation.

Find the complete list of spring/summer 2024 Youth In Philanthropy grants here.

Seven Native American individuals receive spring Maada’ookiing grants totaling $17,500

The most recent round of Maada’ookiing grants were awarded in May to seven individuals to help support a wide array of Native-led activities happening at the grassroots or community level throughout the region.

The Maada’ookiing Advisory Board also recently voted to increase the dollar amount of Maada’ookiing grants to up to $5,000 each. Previously, grants were capped at $2,500. They also opted to allow past grantees to apply for additional funds within the same year.

The grants are offered to Tribal citizens, descendants, or those who have kinship ties or affiliation to Native American communities within the foundation’s geographic region. and support a wide range of projects or activities.

Eligible individuals or small groups may apply any time using the portal found on the foundation’s website. The deadline to be considered for the next funding round is September 15, 2024.

Find Spring 2024 Maada’ookiing grantees and their projects here, and access the most recent Maada’ookiing newsletter here.