25 Years of Building on a Strong Foundation

Exciting, challenging, rewarding, constantly changing… for 25 years the Northland Foundation has had the privilege of serving the people of northeastern Minnesota.

Northland was created in 1986 by The McKnight Foundation, which reached out to community stakeholders from the Arrowhead Region and across the state to determine how to best meet Greater Minnesota’s most pressing human and social needs. Thanks to McKnight’s keen insight and collaboration with local leaders, a new model of philanthropy—one designed by rural Minnesotans, for rural Minnesotans —was established. Also thanks to McKnight, we were given the flexibility to determine our own best course and adapt to our region’s changing circumstances.

Being so rooted in partnerships and community input, it is only fitting that the Northland Foundation grew over the next quarter century thanks to the help of literally thousands of partners. Relationships with fellow foundations; government entities; national, state, regional and local leaders; communities, and dedicated individuals have made all the difference.

Since 1986, the Northland Foundation has awarded 3,200 grants to nonprofits totaling $24 million, loaned $45 million to nearly 450 businesses, secured $25 million to support our KIDS PLUS Program which has directly impacted 53 communities, developed three assisted living facilities in small, rural communities and grown a permanent endowment that will serve the region for decades to come.

We’ve come a long way, yet our work continues. It is more important than ever that we work together to build on the progress that has been made. This anniversary is a great opportunity to thank countless friends and partners in northeastern Minnesota and beyond, and recharge for the next 25 years of building on this strong foundation.