Recent grants awarded
The latest Quarterly and Youth In Philanthropy grants
22 Quarterly grants support food security, aging, out-of-school-time programs, and more
The Northland Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $687,000 through its Quarterly Grant program during October through December of 2025. Quarterly grants from the foundation are generally made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal nations, and local governmental entities such as school districts.
Included among the recent grants were $100,000 awarded within the “Aging” focus area of the foundation’s Basic Needs priority area. The funding will support organizations in Cook, Aitkin, St. Louis, and Koochiching Counties providing services to help older adults and their family caregivers age well in their homes and communities.
Another two grants totaling $100,000 were made thanks to support from the McKnight Foundation’s Good Neighbor Grants program. In December, McKnight directed $1 million to 14 organizations statewide, including $100,000 each to the Northland Foundation and the other five Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This unexpected funding came with one stipulation: that it would support food and other direct assistance in our rural region, within the month. Northland in turn awarded $50,000 each to the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota and to Second Harvest Northland.
“McKnight’s Good Neighbor grant support is deeply appreciated. We were able to quickly deploy this generous funding to two trusted, longtime grantees who are on the front lines of food distribution in our rural northeastern Minnesota communities and working to keep up with increased need for their services,” stated Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation President.
Find the list of all October through December, 2025, Quarterly grants HERE. The next deadline to apply for a quarterly grant is May 1, 2026.
Winter 2026 Youth In Philanthropy grants for children-and-youth led projects
The Northland Foundation and the young people serving on its Youth In Philanthropy Program Board awarded 11 grants totaling $8,395 in their winter 2026 funding round. The grants will support a wide variety of projects within the geographic area of northeastern Minnesota served by the foundation.
Middle and high school students appointed to serve on the Youth In Philanthropy Board make real-world grantmaking decisions with guidance from volunteer adult mentors. This year’s board includes students from Cherry, Duluth, East Range (Mesabi East), Hermantown, Superior, and Two Harbors.
Grants range up to $1000 each for school and community projects within northeast Minnesota communities or the border community of Superior, Wisconsin. Children and youth must complete the grant application and carry out the project with the support of an adult advisor.
There are three grant rounds per year: October, January, and April. Learn more and apply on our website.
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 list of Winter 2026 Youth In Philanthropy grants HERE. The final application deadline for this school year is April 1.
Maada’ookiing grant applications due by May 15
A reminder to Native American individuals and groups: The next deadline to apply for a Maada’ookiing grant is May 15, 2026.
Maada’ookiing (“the distribution” in Ojibwe) is a Native American-led program of the Northland Foundation. Grant funding up to $5,000 is 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. Maada’ookiing grants are considered and approved by the Maada’ookiing Advisory Board.
Find information about the program and application on the Northland Foundation’s website under Grant Funding at https://northlandfdn.org/grant-funding/maadaookiing-grants/.