April – June Quarterly & Maada’ookiing Grants
Spring 2024 Maada’ookiing Grants
Two individuals and projects received Maada’ookiing grant funding in June 2024. Maada’ookiing (“the distribution” in Ojibwe) is a Native American-led program of the Northland Foundation. Grants of up to $5,000 each are offered three times per year to Tribal citizens, descendants, or those who have kinship ties or affiliation to Native American communities within the foundation’s geographic region. The Maada’ookiing Advisory Board reviewed and approved two grants in late June.
Ivy Vainio was awarded a $2,500 grant for her development of an oral history radio podcast about Carl Gawboy (Bois Forte Ojibwe) and Wendy Savage (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) to share with Native and non-Native communities about the upbringings, art careers, and more about these two respected Ojibwe artists. “First Light: Carl Gawboy, Wendy Savage & the Ojibwe Art Expo” three-part podcast series will air on The North 103.3 FM in November 2024 and will be posted on their website.
Sarah Agaton Howes received a $2,500 grant in support of Auntie’s Table, an inclusive, accessible space and regular gathering for Native American makers and aspiring makers to be together, learn, share, and build community. Howes initiated Auntie’s Table in January 2024. In addition to moccasin-making, the gatherings also focus on building connections, reciprocity – giving and receiving gifts, and making for loved ones.
Find out more about these two recent Maada’ookiing grantees and their projects HERE. Thanks to Sarah and Ivy for providing photos and details about their projects.
April through June Quarterly grants
In the second quarter of 2024, the Northland Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $657,900 through its Quarterly Grant program. Quarterly grants are generally grants of $10,000 or more made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions/school districts, as well as to licensed child care programs.
Efforts to improve food security and funds to strengthen child care access in the region made up a large portion of the funding. A significant grant of $50,000 was awarded within the foundation’s “Belonging” priority to will help Northspan expand its Welcoming Community initiative. This program engages rural community members to better understand the effects of structural inequities, share their different lived experiences, explore common ground, and build trust.
“Welcoming Community gives rural people space to talk openly and tools to build understanding and unity instead of divisiveness, and we are happy to support that work.”” stated Northland Foundation President, Tony Sertich.
Find details of all April through June Quarterly grants HERE. Please note: the fall deadline to apply for a quarterly grant (typically October 1) has been extended to November 1, 2024. The next following deadline will be January 5, 2025.