Northwest Area Foundation
Northwest Area Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Established in 1934, it supports organizations working with communities across its region to advance racial, social, and economic justice, with priority communities including Native Americans, communities of color, immigrants and refugees, and people in rural areas.
Northwest Area Foundation at a glance
In short: Northwest Area Foundation gave $18.2M across 149 grants in 2024 (avg $122K), top state Minnesota. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,241,029
- +5.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 149
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $122,423
- +2.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $547,574,363
- +3.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (37 of 143, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Northwest Area Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation generally makes grants by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests. It says it seeks to build relationships with organizations aligned with its priorities and invites them to submit proposals. Its stated grantmaking cycle is about six months from invitation to grant payment.
- Contact
Mailing address: 60 Plato Boulevard East 400, St Paul, MN 55107
Phone: (651) 224-9635
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Northwest Area Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Native American Youth and Family Center ($701K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
817 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 310 grants of 817 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation serves Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, as well as 76 Native nations sharing that geography. In its 2024 grantmaking, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Minnesota (28%), Oregon (16%), Washington (14%), South Dakota (10%), and Iowa (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 149 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Northwest Area Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 37 of 143 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $118K; repeat grants $131K. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16.0M (2022) to $18.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 149 grants totaling $18.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Native American Youth and Family Center Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $700,000 |
| Headwaters Foundation for Justice Minneapolis, MN | Grantmaking for Indigenous, Black and Ecosystem-Building Support | $500,000 |
| Nexus Community Partners St. Paul, MN | General Operating Support for Capacity Building | $500,000 |
| Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Washington, DC | Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. | $500,000 |
| The Directors Council Des Moines, IA | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation Porcupine, SD | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Social Justice Fund Northwest Seattle, WA | Abundantly Resourcing BIPOC & Grassroots Organizing | $450,000 |
| Working Partnerships Incorporated Minneapolis, MN | Workers Confluence Fund Flexible Program Support | $450,000 |
| Oweesta Corporation Longmont, CO | Empowering native economic growth: general operating support for cdfi advancement | $400,000 |
| Sage Foundation Inc Fort Yates, ND | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Northwest Area Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $547,574,363 | $40,550,547 | $35,404,523 | $18,241,029 | 149 | $27,916,131 | $39,160,248 | $30,007,048 |
| 2023 | $528,546,911 | $18,866,245 | $28,960,151 | $17,292,497 | 145 | $27,339,621 | $36,340,119 | $25,379,772 |
| 2022 | $484,132,143 | $11,576,857 | $24,501,705 | $16,039,609 | 148 | $21,834,910 | — | $24,321,018 |
| 2021 | $565,953,353 | $54,713,221 | $34,395,996 | $18,247,529 | 160 | $23,971,080 | $50,222,081 | $26,390,709 |
| 2020 | $512,755,007 | $38,144,816 | $33,878,797 | $18,897,248 | 215 | — | $39,394,374 | $21,428,236 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Northwest Area Foundation reported a distributable amount of $30.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to stand alongside changemakers in its region and fund work that leads to racial, social, and economic justice. Its website says it supports organizations working to reimagine and restructure unjust systems, break down systemic barriers to economic prosperity, and advance community self-determination.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Native American Youth and Family Center says it enriches the lives of Native youth and families through education, community involvement, and culturally specific programming. Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation describes its purpose as building up tribal communities and protecting tribal lands. Nexus Community Partners says it supports community-building initiatives that expand community wealth and foster social and human capital. Other grantees describe work in community-led equity and justice, grassroots social change, and services for working people.
The Foundation also reports making investments from its endowment to address gaps in capital and advance its social goals. Its 2024 filing describes financing programs involving community development financial institutions and access to financing for Native Americans, entrepreneurs of color, and community development projects.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 149 grants totaling $18,241,029. Grants ranged from $550 to $700,000, with a median of $100,000. Among the largest grants were $700,000 to Native American Youth and Family Center for general operating support; $500,000 each to Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Nexus Community Partners, The Directors Council, and Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation; and $450,000 each to Social Justice Fund Northwest and Working Partnerships Incorporated.
The Foundation’s grant listings show that it also makes grants below $10,000, though those are not included in the listed grants of $10,000 or more.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these directors: Laura Alvarez Schrag, Elisabeth Buck, Juel Burnette, Duane Carter, Wayne Ducheneaux, Joe Eltobgi, Libby Hlavka, Joyce Lee, Salome Mwangi, and Michelle Osborne.
Northwest Area Foundation is led by Kevin Walker, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 18 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kevin Walker
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$442K (2020) → $558K (2024)
Duane Carter
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Elisabeth Buck
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$21K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Georgina Slade
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $19K (2024)
Jennifer Williams
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $19K (2024)
Joyce Lee
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Kashi Yoshikawa
Non-Director Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Libby Hlavka
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Maria Valandra
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$21K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Michelle Osborne
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $22K (2024)
Rebecca Klevan
Non-Director Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Joe Eltobgi
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $17K (2024)
Juel Burnette
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $19K (2024)
Wayne Ducheneaux
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$15K (2022) → $17K (2024)
Laura Alvarez Schrag
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$16K (2023) → $18K (2024)
Salome Mwangi
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$15K (2023) → $17K (2024)
Amy Sings In The Timber
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$15K (2024)
Melissa Pelland
Non-Director Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Gorder
Non-Director Committee Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ramya Rauf
CFO, Vp-Finance & Administrator
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$231K (2022) → $259K (2024)
Former officers (9)
- Former: Cherie Buckner-Webb (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Larry Snyder (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lynda Bourque Moss (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jim Laducer (2022) — Director
- Former: Angie Gorder (2020–2021) — Non-Director Committee Member
- Former: James Laducer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Milosava Acamovic (2020–2021) — Vice President of Finance, Administrator & CFO
- Former: Zach Ducheneaux (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rodney Jordan (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $558K, to Kevin Walker (President/Secretary). 18 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Area Foundation
How much does Northwest Area Foundation give each year?
Northwest Area Foundation gave $18.2M across 149 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17.3M across 145 grants.
What is Northwest Area Foundation's typical grant size?
Northwest Area Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $122,423, across 149 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Northwest Area Foundation that year got $118K on average.
Where does Northwest Area Foundation give grants?
Northwest Area Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oregon (16%) and Washington (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, MN (17 grants), Minneapolis, MN (16 grants), Portland, OR (13 grants) and Seattle, WA (11 grants).
Does Northwest Area Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Northwest Area Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (77 of 149) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024 Membership Dues" (19 grants), "Sponsorship" (5 grants) and "2024 Employee Discretionary Grant" (5 grants).
Who are Northwest Area Foundation's largest grantees?
Northwest Area Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Native American Youth and Family Center ($701,000 across 2 grants), Headwaters Foundation for Justice ($500,000) and Nexus Community Partners ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Northwest Area Foundation?
Northwest Area Foundation reported $547.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $27.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Northwest Area Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to stand alongside changemakers in its region and fund work that leads to racial, social, and economic justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northwest Area Foundation?
The Foundation generally makes grants by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Northwest Area Foundation's EIN?
Northwest Area Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0719221. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Northwest Area Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Northwest Area Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/northwest-area-foundation-morg_f98273cc9d4245fe9847b994acb3eb42
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410719221_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Northwest Area Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/northwest-area-foundation-morg_f98273cc9d4245fe9847b994acb3eb42},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Northwest Area Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Northwest Area Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?