Northland Foundation

The grant program provides financial and technical resources to tax-exempt nonprofits and public entities such as school districts within our 7-county region. Our priority areas are: 1) children, youth and families; 2) individual and community wellbeing; and 3) maada'ookiing, to support grassroots efforts to strengthen indigenous communities. The Northland Foundation also acts as an intermediary grantor where mission and priorities align. In fiscal year 2024, Northland awarded 264 grants totaling $7.6 million and distributed $3.7 million in Minnesota early learning scholarships on behalf of the state.

The business services program offers technical assistance and flexible financing to assist with business start-up and expansion within our 7-county region, in order to bolster the regional economy and promote job creation - critical components of thriving communities. Financing is often in the form of gap lending made in partnership with banks or other development lenders. Borrowers may be for-profit or nonprofit entities. In fiscal year 2024, Northland closed 15 loans totaling $4.1 million which helped create leverage of $25.5 million in other investments. Northland Foundation hosts the regional small business development center (sbdc). The sbdc's mission is to "help entrepreneurs and businesses grow and succeed" by providing technical assistance and one-on-one consulting services to small and medium sized businesses at no cost to the client. The regional center is located in duluth; there are also five other satellite offices spread across the region. The regional footprint of the sbdc matches the Northland Foundation footprint.

The kids plus program has been improving the well-being of children and youth since 1992. From birth to adulthood. Kids plus provides: 1) early childhood efforts encompassing early care and education, infant and early childhood mental health, and increased access to high-quality child care; 2) youth programs including leadership development and philanthropy engagement and learning; and 3) intergenerational programs connecting young people with adults 55+. In fiscal year 2024, kids plus engaged 1,566 people in 57 trainings and convenings, and its programs served people of all ages across the region.