Northland Foundation: Quarterly Grants

The Northland Foundation offers quarterly grants aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations in Northeast Minnesota and nearby Native nations. These grants provide flexible funding for general operations or specific programs that address community needs such as health, housing, and education. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, and local governments. The foundation prioritizes projects that promote equity, community engagement, and sustainable impact, ensuring that resources reach underserved populations.

Note: Before applying for a quarterly grant, please send a brief email to the Program Coordinator. Include 1) organization name, 2) a brief description of the proposal, communities, or populations to be served, and 3) anticipated amount of request. Grant program staff may want to connect with you to learn more about your proposed plans before you apply.
Applications that meet eligibility criteria are reviewed by our grant committee, which meets 3-4 weeks following each quarterly deadline. Applications that move forward after this review will receive a site visit. Those that do not move on will be notified after the committee meets. For proposals that receive funding, applicants will be notified approximately 90 days after the application deadline.
Mission & Values
Integrity. Be solid partners: ethical, reliable, and transparent. Keep the mission and values at the forefront.
Respect. Honor different cultures, traditions, and beliefs. Trust communities to know their own challenges and strengths.
Empowerment. Help ensure people and communities can use their voice and power to shape their own lives for the better.
Inclusiveness. Actively work to reach and reflect the diversity of the people and communities served. Be intentional to break down barriers and bring people together.
What We Fund
Quarterly grants can be used for general operating support and are flexible to help grantees meet their funding needs. General operating grants are only available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are headquartered and have a staffing presence in our geographic region. Grants may also be used for capacity-building efforts that strengthen the organization or improve service delivery.
Program restricted grants are available for nonprofit organizations that 1) have operations or are headquartered outside our region or 2) are governmental organizations, such as school districts, colleges or universities, or Tribal nations. Program-restricted grants can only be used to support a specific program and associated activities that take place in our service area.
Grant Priorities
The most successful proposals will clearly address one or more of the following five priorities.
Basic Needs
Services and programming that address human needs essential to overall wellbeing. Proposals can address one or more of the following basic needs categories.
Food SecuritySupport for food access programming such as meal services, food banks and food shelves, and child hunger programs (summer meal programs, backpack programs, school-based pantries, etc.).
Affordable HousingSupport for affordable housing programs or services that help increase opportunities for people to access quality affordable housing.Proposals should be for general operating or program support, not construction costs. Examples are programs that provide downpayment assistance, home ownership programming, and landlord/tenant rights education.Homeless ServicesSupport for services to people experiencing homelessness such as support for shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or warming shelters.
AgingProviding services to help older adults age in place, such as caregiver support, grocery services, or meal services.
Health and WellbeingPrograms that support the health, wellness, and mental wellbeing of people who otherwise would not have access to these services. Examples are free health clinics, oral health care programs, and mental health services.
Other Basic NeedsServices to people with disabilities, workforce programs, legal services, etc.
Belonging
Resources and opportunities are often limited based on place (where someone lives), race (skin color or cultural background), and class (economic status). Belonging seeks to support projects and initiatives designed to help everyone, especially those who are under-served or underrepresented in traditional power structures, to gain full and fair access to essentials like quality housing, education, and employment, and generally thrive. This may include broad, community-wide efforts or a specific focus on belonging within our existing priority areas.
Domestic and Sexual Violence
Prevention and intervention efforts in relation to domestic abuse and family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, such as shelter, advocacy, legal, and other supports or visitation programs that provide a place for safe and supervised parental visits.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Early care and education quality and access, parenting education, and supports. Note: the quarterly grant program does not include support for child care start-ups or child care operating expenses, but sometimes there is funding available for these activities through Special Grant Opportunities.
Out-of-School Time
Structured, consistent, and accessible out-of-school time educational programming and activities for broad groups of children and youth delivered by an organization whose primary focus is to serve youth/youth development.
Strategic Approaches that are Encouraged
High-impact programs and projects build in certain strategic approaches that can improve outcomes. We encourage including one or more of the following approaches in work considered for funding
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Actively working to reach and fully reflect the diversity of communities served, facilitate inclusion, and counter systemic inequity.
Multi-Generational
Considering the needs of multiple generations when addressing an issue. For example, programs for children may include components for parents and guardians.
Collaboration
Bringing other partners into a program or project in order to tap others’ expertise, expand geographic or demographic reach, and/or improve outcomes.
Systems Change
Seeking to change public policy and increase the civic engagement of under-represented populations.

Eligibility

Quarterly grants are aimed at the following types of entities, which may receive general operating or program-restricted grants.Nonprofit 501(c)3 organizationsGroups using a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) statusEducational institutions/school districtsTribal nations*Local governmental agenciesNote: applicants that are 1) governmental organizations such as school districts, colleges or universities, or Tribal Nations, or 2)  nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that are headquartered or have operations outside of our geographic region may only receive program-restricted grants to support a specific program and the associated activities.Who We FundActivities must serve people in our service area , led by organizations that ideally have a presence here. Organizations without a physical location or staffing presence in the region are discouraged from applying.LocationEligible applicants must be looking for funding that will engage, serve, or positively impact the people in our region. Applicant organizations are seeking funds to do work within the following areas.Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and/or St. Louis.Tribal nations of Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake District 1, and/or Mille Lacs District 2.We may consider projects that use the arts as a mechanism for work that more closely aligns with our priority areas.

Ineligibility

Ineligible organizations or activities typically include:Work taking place outside our geographic region and organizations seeking to do work in our region that do not have any physical location or staffing presence within our region.
Capital campaigns or fundraising and requests primarily seeking support for capital projects.
Requests specifically for the purchase of equipment without an associated programmatic component that aligns with our priorities.
Fees, scholarships, or subsidies for student activities, including sports.
One-time experiences, such as camps, trips, conferences, and events.
Programs principally focused on the arts.Individuals or for-profit businesses, except for Maada’ookiing grants to individuals or special initiatives involving for-profit businesses.
Sectarian religious programs.
Replacement of traditional government services or public funding that has been cut.
Lobbying or political activities.