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.
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 ofall 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.
Quarterly and Youth In Philanthropy Grants
During the last quarter of 2021, the Northland Foundation’s Grant Program made two dozen funding awards totaling $505,000 to nonprofit organizations, schools, and Native nations.
Several of the largest grants will support services for survivors of domestic violence, as well as programming that aims to prevent violence affecting Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color.
In addition, three major grants of $50,000 each were made through the foundation’s Integrated Rural Community Aging Program. The grants, in partnership with the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage nations, support programs that help elders age in place in their homes and communities.
“Domestic violence and aging services are both longtime Northland Foundation priorities,” stated Director of Grantmaking, Erik Torch, “and the stress and social isolation driven by the pandemic have only increased the call for programming in these areas.
“Grantees across the region are creatively addressing these big needs, under tough circumstances, and we are happy to help support their work.”
In late January, another eight grants totaling $4,360 were made by the 15 students and five adult mentors serving on the Northland Foundation’s 2021-2022 Youth In Philanthropy Board. The young people on the board meet and review grant applications three times per year: October, January, and April. They are empowered to award grants of up to $1,000 each to support children-and-youth-driven school and community projects in the region. Now in its 20th year, this unique leadership learning program receives generous funding support from Northland’s Emeritus Trustee Group.
During the 3rd quarter of 2022, the Northland Foundation awarded 30 quarterly grants totaling $796,000 to support people and communities for a thriving region. Seven grants were made in partnership with State of Minnesota funding to expand child care in the region, with $95,000 in total going to child care entities in Cloquet, Duluth, Ely, Finland, and Grand Marais.
A number of grants went toward school and community based out-of-school time programs, including $50,000 toward the creation of a tech hub to provide learning and enrichment opportunities for students in the Deer River area and $100,000 for children and youth programming in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood. A large percentage of children and youth in both these communities live in low-income households.
Basic needs supports comprised a significant share of grants funded last quarter, as well, with $300,000 awarded to increase affordable and emergency housing, medical care, food, winter clothing and other essentials.
“Supporting high quality, safe and nurturing programming for youth after school is a critical need and one that the Northland Foundation places a high priority on. We are honored to support this important work that helps youth develop to their fullest potential,” stated Director of Grantmaking, Erik Torch.
In addition, the students serving on the 2022-2023 Youth In Philanthropy Boardawarded three grants in October totaling $2,500 to support regional school and community projects planned and developed by children and youth.
Find detaila including grantee name, location, and dollar amount at the links below.
During April, May, and June, the Northland Foundation made 21 quarterly grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and Native nations as well as 25 Tech Boost initiative grants made to small businesses which underwent technology audits.
The two largest grants were part of a special funding opportunity to support systems change work in the region, offered through a competitive application process. Two organizations received multi-year grants of $150,000: CHUM to help house and serve individuals that have experienced homelessness, and Northspan, to support implementation of the Welcoming Community program in northeast Minnesota sites.
The Northland Foundation also awarded nearly $90,000 to help increase child care access in the region, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Child care businesses in Ely, Duluth, Hibbing, and International Falls received grant funding.
In addition, the students serving on the Youth In Philanthropy Boardawarded 11 grants totaling $6,965 in their final round of the school year, and six Maada’ookiing grants totaling $14,300 were awarded in June to Indigenous individuals in support of grassroots work to strengthen Indigenous community and support Tribal sovereignty.
Find details for all grants awarded between April and June including grantee name, location, and dollar amount at the links below.
Northland Foundation awards 90 grants January through April
Quarterly, Maada’ookiing, and Youth In Philanthropy
Between January 1 and March 31, 2022, the Northland Foundation awarded 37 quarterly grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and Native nations and another 35 special grants to small businesses, rounding out to 72 grants totaling $445,239.
Two of the larger grants went to organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. The American Indian Community Housing Organization received $50,000 to help support its Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin permanent supportive housing and other programs. TheFamily Freedom Center will utilize a $35,000 grant to help deliver programs for youth and elders, create a community garden, and offer entrepreneurship training for Black people in the Duluth area.
Another nearly$124,000 was awarded in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education, on behalf of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. The grants are targeted to services and programs addressing social-emotional health, online and distance learning, after-school enrichment, and other supports for young children affected by the impacts of the pandemic. Thanks to multiple rounds of state funding, the Foundation now has awarded 82 Emergency Early Childhood Wrap-around Care Grants totaling $657,016 over the last 18 months to benefit Northeast Minnesota children
In addition to the quarterly grants, another seven grants totaling $17,000 were approved in March by the Maada’ookiing Board to support an array of exciting projects by Indigenous individuals.
In April, the Northland Foundation’s Youth In Philanthropy Board met for its final time this school year. The young people on the board approved 11 grants totaling $6,965 to bolster school and community projects led by children and youth in the region.
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 details of all January – March grantshere. Also, please note: the next deadline to apply for a quarterly grant (typically October 1) has been pushed out to November 1, 2024.
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 grantshere.
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 projectshere.
Access the most recent Maada’ookiing newsletter here.
