Press Release | August 12, 2025
Northland Foundation awards 23 quarterly grants April through June 2025
In April through June of 2025, the Northland Foundation awarded $680,000 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.
Six of the 23 grants awarded went toward out-of-school-time activities and programs for children and youth across the region. The $185,000 in funding is helping grantees provide summertime and after-school supports for thousands of children and youth, from Itasca, Koochiching, and northern St. Louis Counties, as well as the sovereign Bois Forte Band of Chippewa nation.
“After-school and summer services for kids are something rural and underfunded school districts and small communities just don’t have the budget to cover on their own,” said Michelle Ufford, Vice President of Grantmaking.
“We know kids thrive when they can participate in healthy, enriching activities beyond the classroom, and those experiences have a long-term positive effect on their development,” Ufford added. “Out-of-school-time is an area where relatively modest funding can make an outsized impact to sustain these important programs.”
Northland Foundation Quarterly Grants awarded April 1 – June 30, 2025, 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.
Healthy Alliances Matter for All, Duluth: $25,000
To support a community giving food garden project that enhances food security, cultural healing, and well-being in Duluth.
Waawaate Programs, Ely: $20,000
To support Bois Forte Band of Chippewa food sovereignty programming.
Center City Housing Corporation, Duluth: $25,000
To support housing and support services for families experiencing homelessness in the Duluth community.
Damiano of Duluth, Duluth: $30,000
To support programming and services for unhoused and low-income community members in the Central Hillside neighborhood of Duluth.
The Salvation Army Duluth, Duluth: $30,000
To support the operation of a new permanent supportive housing facility in the Duluth Heights neighborhood.
Care Partners of Cook County, Grand Marais: $45,000
To support basic-needs services and community engagement for older adults in Cook County.
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Grand Marais: $30,000
To support access to oral health care services and education for children, youth, and older adults in Cook County and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, Chisholm: $50,000
To support programming and initiatives that enhance youth opportunity, community health, resilience, and financial stability for families in northeast Minnesota.
Well Being Development, Ely: $45,000
To support services for Ely community members impacted by mental illness and substance use challenges.
United Way of 1000 Lakes, Grand Rapids: $35,000
To support work that strengthens volunteer engagement and partnerships that promote the health and well-being of children and families in Itasca County.
Justice North, Duluth: $30,000
To support critical, no-cost legal services in Koochiching, Itasca, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Carlton, and Aitkin counties, and to the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal nations.
Minnesota Diversified Industries, Minneapolis: $30,000
To support programming that helps people with disabilities in northeast Minnesota overcome societal barriers to employment.
Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, Duluth: $10,000
To support services and resources that enhance health and well-being for children and families in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Duluth.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE INTERVENTION/PREVENTION Grants supporting prevention and intervention such as shelter, advocacy, legal, and other supports in relation to domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Friends Against Abuse, International Falls: $30,000
To support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crime in Koochiching County.
OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS Grants in support of economic and community well-being for a more thriving region.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Saint Paul: $15,000
To support nonprofit leadership and capacity building resources in northeast Minnesota.
McGregor KIDS PLUS Something Cool, Inc., McGregor: $40,000
To provide supportive programming and resources for economically stressed youth and families in Aitkin County.
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION Support for programming focused on prenatal to age 5 that nurtures the whole child, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Amber’s Daycare, International Falls: $5,000
In support of child care program expansion with funding provided by the State of Minnesota, with support from the Northland Foundation.
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.
Volunteers in Education, Virginia: $20,000
To support volunteer tutoring services for students in rural northeast Minnesota.
Boys and Girls Club of the Northland, Duluth: $35,000
To support programming that provides a safe, supportive, out-of-school environment for school-aged youth in the Hibbing community.
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Nett Lake: $25,000
To support the Bois Forte Boys and Girls Club including bolstering food security for participating children and youth.
Friends of the Finland Community, Finland: $30,000
To support youth and family programming and services in the Finland community.
Smart North, Minneapolis: $50,000
To support after-school programming with a focus on technology skills and digital literacy for Grand Rapids and Deer River youth.
International Falls Schools ISD # 361, International Falls: $25,000
To support summer and after-school childcare programming for elementary-aged students in Koochiching County.