Northland Foundation awards 21 quarterly grants January through March 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, the Northland Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $756,500 through its Quarterly Grant program. Quarterly grants are generally $10,000 and up made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal Nations, and local governmental entities such as school districts.

Northspan received one of the largest grants–$100,000—to expand the Welcoming Community Program. The program, which takes a cohort of local citizens from rural sites through a months-long community-building process, began in 2022 with Northland Foundation grant support. Cloquet, Cook County, Deer River, and International Falls have participated with learning cohorts already. The recent grant supports bringing Welcoming Community to a fifth community and launch another facet of the program: engaging local elected officials.

“This program gives people in rural places more tools to really explore local cultures, norms, and systems. They dig into where their community is welcoming and inclusive as well as the barriers that hold them back,” said Michelle Ufford, Northland Foundation’s Director of Grantmaking.

“Feedback from past participants is extremely positive,” Ufford continued. “Northland is pleased to help Northspan deliver Welcoming Community in more sites, and now to also establish a brand-new cohort of elected officials who will have a chance to learn side-by-side with their rural Northeast Minnesota peers.”

Northland Foundation Quarterly Grants awarded January 1 – March 30, 2025, are listed below.

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BASIC NEEDS Grants for services and programming that address human needs essential to overall well-being, such as food security, housing, aging, homeless services, and more.

Loaves and Fishes Too, Minneapolis: $10,000
To support nutritious meal programming in Aitkin County.

Itasca County Habitat for Humanity, Grand Rapids: $30,000
To support and expand programming that provides safe, sustainable housing options for families in Itasca County.

North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia: $70,000
To support the development of affordable housing across communities in northern St. Louis County.

Forward Health Foundation, Deer River: $25,000
To support critical community health initiatives in western Itasca County and portions of eastern Cass County.

23rd Veteran, Duluth: $35,000
To provide general operating support for services that address trauma and build community for veterans in St. Louis County.

Ely Community Health Center, Ely: $20,000
To support access to health and dental care for people without insurance in the Ely area.

YWCA of Duluth, Duluth: $50,000
To provide general operating support to YWCA Duluth’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, and freedom for all.

Head of the Lakes United Way, Duluth: $35,000
To provide general operating support for staff training and strategic planning to develop community-led ideas and strategy around new direct service initiatives for children and families in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties.

Green New Deal Housing, Duluth: $25,000
To support employment training programming that gives youth in historically underserved populations the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in green residential construction, an industry-recognized credential, and wraparound support services.

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BELONGING Grants for projects and initiatives designed to help everyone, especially those who are under-served or underrepresented in traditional power structures, to gain full and fair access to essentials like quality housing, education, and employment, and generally thrive.

The Northspan Group, Duluth: $100,000
To support work in rural communities across northeast Minnesota to foster belonging and address structural inequities.

OutFront Minnesota Community Services, Minneapolis: $25,000                        
To support programming that promotes inclusivity for LGBTQ+ communities in St. Louis, Cook, and Itasca Counties.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Duluth: $35,000
To provide support for social groups and inclusive events for LGBTQ+-identified young people in St. Louis County.

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EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION Grants for early care and education quality and access, parenting education and supports.

A Chance To Grow, Minneapolis: $20,000
To support the continued implementation of an innovative learning readiness program for childcare programs that provides tools to support the healthy development of young children.

Northeast Minnesota Child Care Expansion: $160,000
For four projects to expand child care in the region with funding provided by the State of Minnesota with the support of the Northland Foundation.

    Rainy River Rugrats, International Falls: $50,000

    Roots and Wings Early Learning Center, Grand Rapids: $100,000

    Melissa Grooms, Eveleth: $5,000

    Northern Lights Nest, Grand Rapids: $5,000

Ely Public Schools ISD 696, Ely: $11,500
To support a no-cost, pre-Kindergarten summer program to boost skills and Kindergarten readiness for families in the Ely community.

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OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME SERVICES Grants supporting structured, consistent, and accessible out-of-school time educational programming and activities for broad groups of children and youth.

Mentor North, Duluth: $40,000
To support the development and well-being of youth and increase their sense of belonging through a safe, positive mentoring relationship with a caring adult.

Boys and Girls Club of the Northland, Duluth: $35,000
To support afterschool programming for youth ages 6 to 18 in the Duluth area community.

Ely Community Resource, Ely: $30,000
To support afterschool programming for youth in the Ely community.

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