Priorities, programs, and a variety of possibilities
From the day we opened our doors in 1986, offering grants to benefit northeast Minnesota has been the bedrock of our work. Since then, in collaboration with many generous funding partners, we have awarded more than 6,500 grants totaling over $53 million and counting.
Along the way, the grant program has expanded and, we hope, improved. Time and feedback have led to changes—revisiting priorities, launching new programs like Maada’ookiing, shifting to more general operating support, and simplifying applications and reporting.
“Effective grantmaking can’t be too prescriptive and force grantees into narrow lanes of what we think they should do,” states Michelle Ufford, Director of Grantmaking. “At the same time, we can’t be all things to all people and spread limited resources broadly yet too thinly to do much good. There’s a sweet spot we try to hit.”
Here is a snapshot of Northland Foundation’s Grant Program today and the different opportunities currently available to grantseekers.
Ongoing grant opportunities
Northland currently offers three regular avenues throughout the year to access grant funds. Funding is awarded either three or four times annually, depending on the program. You can dig deeper into each opportunity in the Grants section of our website.
Quarterly Grants to Nonprofits or Government Entities
On a quarterly basis, the Northland Foundation awards grants of $10,000 and up to nonprofit organizations and government entities such as school districts and Tribal nations within our region. Quarterly application deadlines are January 5, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Aimed at nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, school districts, Tribal nations, and local governmental agencies. Most grants to nonprofits that are based in our region offer general operating support; other types of grantees including those headquartered outside the region but doing work here receive program-restricted funding for specific activities.
Organizations apply using our online grant portal. Deadlines are January 5, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Approved grants are dispersed around 90 days after each deadline. Contact our Director of Grantmaking, Michelle Ufford with questions.
Maada’ookiing Grants to Native American Individuals or Groups
In many Native American traditions, the act of giving is recognized as a mutual act that benefits the entire community. Maada’ookiing (Ojibwemowin for “the distribution”) began in May 2021 to help support grassroots, Native-led community building that strengthens Native culture and communities. An advisory board of Native American representatives meets 3x per year to recommend grants up to $2,500 each.
Available to individuals or groups who are Tribal citizens, descendants, or have kinship ties or affiliation for work taking place in Northland Foundation’s geographic service area. Types of projects eligible for funding include sharing cultural activities, strengthening access to language, supporting youth, and more.
Applicants use an online application portal found on our website. Deadlines are February 15, May 15, and September 15. Awarded grants are dispersed about two months after the deadline. For questions, contact Program Officer, Cayla Bellanger DeGroat.
Youth In Philanthropy Grants to Children-and-Youth Led Projects
The Youth In Philanthropy Program is a unique advisory board made up of middle and high school students from around the region, guided by adult mentors, who gain hands-on experience with philanthropy and volunteer service at a young age. The “YIP” board meets 3x per year to recommend for funding grants up to $1,000 each to projects led by children and youth with help from adult advisors.
The proposed project for funding must be planned and carried out by young people, and the grant itself written by children/youth, with support from an adult advisor. A fiscal agent is required e.g. school/school district, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H, or other nonprofit.
The application and budget template are fillable pdf forms found on our website. Deadlines are January 1, April 1, and October 1. Grants are dispersed about two months after each deadline. Contact Senior Program Officer, Jan Amys with questions.
Special, time-limited grant opportunities
Time-limited funding opportunities may also be available. These are grants that come and go, often (but not always) based on funding from outside sources. Depending on the grant, applications may be open to nonprofit organizations, individuals or small groups, or businesses or community development entities. Keep an eye on the Special Grants page of our website to stay abreast of unique funding opportunities.
Right now, several special grants are on offer. Two opportunities are designed help start, expand, or sustain child care operations in Greater St. Louis County, and the third is the state-funded Border County Economic Relief Program grants for Minnesota businesses in counties bordering Canada who lost revenues due to recent border andBWCA closures.
Grants, done well, get the right resources into the hands of changemakers doing the work of moving their communities forward. There is a continuous process of assessing and adjusting to make sure grant practices hit the mark, as best we can. Your feedback is always welcome. Stay in touch!
Funding Notes
State funding renewed for the Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care Project in Northeast Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has awarded the Northland Foundation a $297,000 grant to expand outreach, engagement, training, and support for “informal” Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers in the region over the next 18 months.
DHS funding will help Northland and our local partners across the region bolster outreach to FFN caregivers – grandparents and other family members, neighbors, and friends who regularly provide care for young children. Partners host local “Play & Learn” small-group sessions that offer peer support, training, and a place to gain information and resources that help support the healthy development of young children.
“We are thrilled to receive funding to continue to support FFN caregivers,” said Zane Bail, Northland Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer. “We will be working with our existing 10 partners, as well as bringing on two new ones, to provide more opportunities for these important caregivers to enhance their skills, connect with peers, and learn about the benefits of becoming a Legal Non-Licensed provider.”
Medica Foundation Funding Supports Early Care and Education Efforts
The Northland Foundation has received a $5,000 Rural Health Grant from the Medica Foundation.
Resources from the Medica Foundation will support professional development opportunities focused on early care and education topics, such as fostering social-emotional well-being of young children and their parents/caregivers; supporting inclusive and culturally response environments and services for young children and families; and offering strategies for providing trauma-informed care.
“We are so pleased to continue our longtime partnership with the Medica Foundation,” stated Tony Sertich, President of the Northland Foundation, “which will help us continue to support the health and well-being of young children and families living in rural northeast Minnesota.”
Business Services News
Low-interest Construction and Rehab loans now available
The Northland Foundation is rolling out a pilot program, along with significant loan capital, to boost commercial construction and rehabilitation on main streets throughout the region.
Northland has $5 million to deploy over the next two years. Gap financing will support projects within our service area, ideally in partnership with a bank loan. The program is primarily aimed at small businesses with $1 million or less in revenue. Loans will top out at $500,000 with interest ranging from 3% to 5%. Amortization can stretch over 20 years.
Some of the criteria for consideration include increases to property values, planned or potential job creation, improved energy efficiency, and maintaining economic vitality in rural communities. We are most interested in coming alongside other lenders but, under certain circumstances, could be the sole lender.
To learn more about Business Services and financing tools available, email Amanda or Michael.
Recently Awarded Grants
Grants Summary
JULY – SEPTEMBER QUARTERLY GRANTS In the third quarter of 2023, the Northland Foundation staff and Board of Trustees awarded 35 grants totaling $603,500 to nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, as well as government entities such as school districts and Tribal nations. Click for quarterly grants details.
OCTOBER YOUTH IN PHILANTHROPY GRANTS In October, the young people and adult mentors serving on the Youth In Philanthropy Advisory Board met and approved seven grants totaling $7,419. Grants range up to $1000 each for school and community projects that are planned and developed by children and youth, with support from adult advisors. Click for Youth In Philanthropy grants details.
FALL MAADA’OOKIING GRANTS The Native American representatives serving on the Maada’ookiing Advisory Board met this Fall and approved seven grants totaling $16,529 for Native American individual or group projects. Grants range up to $2,500 each. Click for Maada’ookiing grants details.
Special grant opportunities for border county businesses and child care businesses
Visit our Special Grants page for details and to apply for any current time-limited opportunities.
Border County Economic Relief Program Grants for businesses located in counties that border Canada, or on Tribal lands within the same geographic boundaries, whose revenues declined 10% or more between 2019 and 2021 due to closures of the border and/or the BWCA; apply by January 12.
Greater St. Louis County Child Care Sustainability Grants to licensed family- and center-based child care to help pay for critical needs that allow them to sustain services.
Greater St. Louis County Child Care Start-up and Expansion Grants to help child care businesses start and expand in the region, including special funding for Greater St. Louis County child care.
More than one-third of quarterly grants invested in sustaining or expanding child care
From July through September 2023, the Northland Foundation awarded 35 quarterly grants totaling $603,500. More than one-third of all grant funds last quarter – more than $200,000 – were directed toward helping sustain and expand licensed child care in the region.
The Northland Foundation has prioritized early care and education for more than 20 years with training and education, partnership development, funding, advocacy, and rallying around the topic. During the past year alone, Northland has, in collaboration with government partners, invested nearly $800,000 to assist with stabilization and expansion of existing child care and start-up of new child care businesses. Northland has also administered millions of dollars in Minnesota Early Learning Scholarships to help families in the region pay for high-quality care and led programming to support “informal providers” who regularly care for the children of family members, friends, and neighbors.
Need, however, continues to outpace efforts to increase child care access. According to the 2023 Child Care Needs Summary report newly released by First Children’s Finance, the current child care shortfall in northeast Minnesota is 4,223 slots – a loss of 500 slots since June 2022 when the shortfall was reported at just over 3,700.
Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation President, has been closely involved with the child care issue at the local, regional, and state levels.
“The State of Minnesota took strong positive steps this year to help stabilize child care, and we can’t take our foot off the gas now. Northland will keep doing what we can alongside public and private partners,” said Sertich.
“That said, from all our work on child care, it is clear that a quick-and-easy fix does not exist especially in relation to infants and toddlers,” continued Sertich. “There is no silver bullet. It will take broad community engagement, the courage to try new and different approaches, and significant public investment to reach long-term solutions that work for families, early care and education providers, and employers.”
Find details of all July-September quarterly grants here.
