Northwest Minnesota Foundation
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public charity and community foundation established in 1986, headquartered in Bemidji, Minnesota. The organization serves as a force and resource for Northwest Minnesota, partnering with donors, grantees, and businesses in collaboration with the community. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Key facts about Northwest Minnesota Foundation
- EIN
- 41-1556013
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,355,621
- Grants made (2025)
- 89
- Average grant
- $26,468
- Median grant
- $15,600
- Total assets
- $110,665,406
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Northwest Minnesota Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Northwest Minnesota Foundation's 89 itemized 2025 grants were Minnesota (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bemidji, MN (17 grants), Park Rapids, MN (10 grants), Warroad, MN (6 grants) and Saint Paul, MN (5 grants). 4% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$110.7M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
-63.8% YoY
Grant Count
89
-51.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-25.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration, and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
Vision: Northwest Minnesota will be a place where communities and people work together to foster opportunity, promote philanthropy, and enrich the lives of all residents.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Development
- Senior Living
- Animal Shelters
- Environmental Conservation and Recreation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $500,000.
Ready to take the next step with Northwest Minnesota Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation serves 12 northwestern Minnesota counties and also funds initiatives in North Dakota and Tennessee. Specific communities served include areas across Bemidji, Polk, Hubbard, and other counties in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 89 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $103,397,318 (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $13,002,983 (2024)
Total Expenses: $12,711,702 (2024)
Staffing: 32 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $110,665,406 | $103,397,318 | $96,817,979 |
| Revenue | $11,071,050 | $13,002,983 | $7,810,635 |
| Expenses | $10,149,806 | $12,711,702 | $8,791,846 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,997,546 | $2,158,429 | $923,652 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
271 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
26 open opportunities from Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Art and Jane Snustad Scholarship
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bemidji 31 Education Foundation Fund
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bemidji Area Arts Endowment
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities Opportunity Center ($200,962), Bemidji Area School District #31 ($156,082), Lifecare Medical Center ($119,816).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TWIN CITIES OPPORTUNITY CENTER MINNEAPOLIS, MN | MINNESOTA ENGAGEMENT ON SHELTER & HOUSING | $200,962 |
| BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT #31 BEMIDJI, MN | BHS FIELD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTRICT ATHLETICS | $156,082 |
| LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER ROSEAU, MN | TO PURCHASE TROPHON2 ULTRASOUND PROBE DISINFECTION DEVICE FO, UPDATE VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPY EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS UTILIZED BY EM, TO PURCHASE TV'S FOR EACH RESIDENT ROOM AT THE LIFECARE ROSE, TO PURCHASE A TRAILER TO PULL BEHIND THE RANGER FOR RESIDENT, FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS A NEW VAN FOR ROSEAU SENIOR LIVING, | $119,816 |
| NORTH STAR NEIGHBORS BEMIDJI, MN | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S OPERATIONS | $102,000 |
| WHITE EARTH NATION WHITE EARTH, MN | WHITE EARTH NATURAL RESOURCE DIVISION YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGR | $95,000 |
| FRIENDS OF ITASCA STATE PARK PARK RAPIDS, MN | PLAYGROUND | $80,743 |
| INTER-COUNTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL INC OKLEE, MN | FINAL PAYMENT FOR BSG YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROJECT | $75,000 |
| WARROAD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISD #690 WARROAD, MN | FINAL DISBURSEMENT OF THE WARROAD FARMERS UNION OIL CO. SCHO, NANCY FISHER, CLAVINOVA, DRAINAGE EXCAVATION OF WARROAD ATHLETIC COMPLEX, JEREMY CULLETON, WHS RETOOLING CTE MANUFACTURING, 3 PROMETHEAN ACTIVITY PANELS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION | $57,481 |
| CITY OF ROSEAU ROSEAU, MN | ROSEAU DAYCARE - FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS | $55,000 |
| WARROAD COMMUNITY CHILDCARE CENTER WARROAD, MN | USE FUNDS WHERE NEEDED MOST | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Karen White - President
- Philip Knutson - Regional Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JASON CARLSON | CHAIR | 4 | — |
| BRUCE REEVES | VICE CHAIR | 4 | — |
| TODD BECKEL | TREASURER (THRU 11/24) | 4 | — |
| CONNIE LINDSTROM | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| CHERI GUNVALSON | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| ALISHA EVERWIND | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| KAITLYN GRENIER | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/24) | 4 | — |
| CHRISTINE IMBRA | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| JILL JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| MIKE LAROQUE | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| KYLE LARSON | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| MICHELLE PAQUIN | DIRECTOR (THRU 11/24) | 4 | — |
| JACK SWANSON | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| KRISTI THORFINNSON | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| DEB ZAK | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| KAREN WHITE | PRESIDENT | 40 | $195,698 |
| SHANNON MARTINUEAU JESME | SENIOR VP OF FINANCE AND ADMIN. | 40 | $139,050 |
| MICHAEL NEUSSER | VP OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $133,432 |
| CORY BOUSHEE | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS | 40 | $106,261 |
| BRENDA BRUGGEMAN | CONTROLLER | 40 | $119,474 |
| DAWN GANJE | SVP OF PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $109,416 |
Contact Information
- Address: 201 3rd Street NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Phone: 218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859
- Website: www.nwmf.org
- Email: info@nwmf.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Northwest Minnesota Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration, and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work. **Vision:** Northwest Minnesota will be a place where communities and people work together to foster opportunity, promote philanthropy, and enrich the lives of all residents. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Development • Senior Living • Animal Shelters
How do I apply for a grant from Northwest Minnesota Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $500,000. **Types of Funding:** • Component, community, and scholarship funds • Donor-advised funds • Endowed funds • Community funds **Recent Activity:** • In fiscal year 2024, the Foundation dispersed $2.1 million through its component, community, and scholarship funds • Awarded $333,000 in cumulative scholarships to 262 scholarship recipients • Granted $1.73 million to support communities and donor giving interests • In the fourth quarter …
Where does Northwest Minnesota Foundation make grants?
The Foundation serves 12 northwestern Minnesota counties and also funds initiatives in North Dakota and Tennessee. Specific communities served include areas across Bemidji, Polk, Hubbard, and other counties in the region.
What size grants does Northwest Minnesota Foundation award?
In 2025, Northwest Minnesota Foundation awarded 89 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Northwest Minnesota Foundation's EIN?
Northwest Minnesota Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1556013. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northwest Minnesota Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.