Press Release | March 11, 2025
Northland Foundation announces 4th quarter grants, more than $500,000 awarded
During the final three months of 2024, the Northland Foundation awarded $585,000 in 21 grants through its Quarterly Grant program.
Grants totaling $95,000 were made to four child care businesses located in the communities of Hoyt Lakes, Duluth, and Tamarack. The Northland Foundation has been working in the realm of child care quality and access for more than a decade.
Within the last year, the foundation has twice been awarded State of Minnesota funds to help address a shortage of care that has been a persistent challenge affecting families and employers across northeast Minnesota and statewide.
Northland received $400,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) last summer. So far, the state-legislated funds have boosted 12 child care start-up, retention, and expansion projects in the region including the four grants last quarter.
DEED recently announced an additional $240,000 targeted for northeast Minnesota child care projects which Northland will apply toward 8 to 10 shovel-ready projects.
“Without child care, our economy doesn’t work. While we are not going to completely solve our region’s child care shortfall with this funding, we must continue to chip away at it,” said Northland Foundation President, Tony Sertich. “We are grateful that people throughout the state are paying attention to child care and that legislators are prioritizing this as an issue.”
All Northland Foundation Quarterly Grants awarded October 1 – December 31, 2024 are listed below.
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.
Life House Inc, Duluth: $30,000
To provide general operating support for wrap-around programming to assist Duluth youth at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Divine Konnections, Duluth: $50,000
For expanded supportive housing services for teen moms and caregivers in the Duluth community.
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, Saint Paul: $20,000
To support delivery of comprehensive services to veterans identified as at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Koochiching Aging Options, International Falls: $25,000
To provide services to older adults and caregivers to help them maintain independence and age in place.
ANGELS of McGregor, McGregor: $20,000
To provide essential services and support to promote the health and independence of seniors in Aitkin County.
North Shore Health Care Foundation, Grand Marais: $30,000
To support basic healthcare needs and integrative services for youth and adults in Cook County.
Community Action Duluth, Duluth: $25,000
To provide general operating support for programs that work directly with community members in southern St. Louis County to support their goals of empowering themselves financially.
True North Goodwill, Duluth: $25,000
To support wrap-around case management and assistance to reduce barriers and facilitate sustainable employment for formerly incarcerated individuals in the Duluth community.
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.
Voices for Ethnic and Multicultural Awareness, Chisholm: $30,000
To support the expanded multicultural center services that provide a safe and inclusive space for Native American, Black, and other people of color living across Iron Range communities.
Ignite Empower Transform, Duluth: $35,000
To support financial empowerment of families who are Native American, Black, or other people of color living in Duluth and surrounding areas.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE INTERVENTION/PREVENTION Grants for prevention and intervention such as shelter, advocacy, legal, and other supports in relation to domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Violence Prevention Center, Grand Marais: $30,000
To support victim advocacy services and improved organizational capacity for violence prevention work in Cook County.
Advocates Against Domestic Abuse d/b/a HOPE, Aitkin: $50,000
To support community advocacy, direct services, and education for those experiencing domestic violence in Aitkin County.
First Witness Child Advocacy Center, Duluth: $35,000
To support ongoing child advocacy services and child abuse prevention education school programming in Lake and Carlton counties.
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION Grants for early care and education quality and access, parenting education and supports.
ServeMinnesota, Minneapolis: $20,000
To provide support for the placement of Early Learning Corps tutors in pre-K classrooms in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, and St. Louis counties.
Northeast Minnesota Child Care Expansion: $155,000
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.
Tamarack Learning Center Child Care, Tamarack: $50,000
Young Minds Learning Center, Duluth: $20,000
Lakeside Early Learning, Duluth: $20,000
Danielle Jarvala, Hoyt Lakes: $5,000
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.
Hartley Nature Center, Duluth: $15,000
To support operating costs for inclusive outdoor out-of-school programming for youth in the Duluth community.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids and Greenway, Grand Rapids: $30,000
To support out-of-school time enrichment programming for youth in the Grand Rapids and Greenway school districts.
Valley Youth Centers, Duluth: $20,000
To provide out-of-school time programming for youth in West Duluth.