The Northland Foundation is a regional community foundation based in Duluth, Minnesota, established in 1986 by The McKnight Foundation. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 23 employees and serves a seven-county region in northeastern Minnesota.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$360K
+15.9% YoY
Grant Count
36
-12.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+32.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Northland Foundation provides financial and technical resources to tax-exempt nonprofits and public entities, including school districts, within its seven-county service region. The foundation prioritizes three primary areas:
- Children, Youth and Families — Supporting programs and initiatives that benefit young people and family systems
- Individual and Community Wellbeing — Advancing health, economic opportunity, and quality of life
- Maada'ookiing — Supporting grassroots efforts to strengthen Indigenous communities
The foundation also serves as an intermediary grantor where mission and priorities align.
Grantmaking
In fiscal year 2024, the Northland Foundation awarded 264 grants totaling $7.6 million to nonprofits and public entities. The foundation distributed an additional $3.7 million in Minnesota early learning scholarships on behalf of the state.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Northland Foundation serves a seven-county region in northeastern Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $119,701,176
- Total Revenues: $16,195,946
- Total Expenses: $16,956,916
- Staff: 23 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,190,166 | $2,343,762 | $2,676,966 |
| Revenue | $211,949 | $-11,960 | $60,787 |
| Expenses | $365,542 | $321,244 | $247,019 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $363,510 | $318,177 | $242,883 |
| Net Investment Income | $210,533 | $55,424 | $58,756 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,269 | $153,755 | $163,353 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHEELOCK WHITNEY III | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Northland Foundation regularly announces quarterly grant distributions. In the third quarter of 2024 (July-September), the foundation awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to nonprofits. The fourth quarter also saw more than $500,000 awarded to nonprofits in the region.
Northland Foundation makes grants in our area - The TimberjayThe Youth In Philanthropy Board continues to support youth-led initiatives, with winter 2026 grants totaling $8,395 to support projects led by children and youth across the region.
Northland Foundation\u2019s Youth\_In\_Philanthropy Board awards 11 grants\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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