About the Northland Foundation
Created in 1986 by The McKnight Foundation, the Northland Foundation is a regional foundation serving the communities of northeastern Minnesota. Unlike the typical concept of a "foundation" — which is a charitable organization that makes grants to programs from their endowment — the Northland Foundation is unique. We serve our region through:
- a grantmaking program that provides resources to nonprofit organizations in the region;
- an operating program, KIDS PLUS, that is dedicated to improving the well-being of children and youth; and
- a business finance program that provides financing to assist small and medium-size businesses.
Like many nonprofit organizations, we raise money to support these program areas. Resources for the Northland Foundation's diverse initiatives are provided through public and private partnerships at the local, state, and national levels. It is our privilege to partner with organizations dedicated to improving northeastern Minnesota's economic vitality and social responsiveness.
Since 1986, the Northland Foundation has:
- Awarded more than 2,300 grants totaling over $18 million to nonprofit organizations in the region.
- Invested $35 million in 375 local and regional businesses and leveraged over $225 million in other investments to help create and retain 5,700 jobs in northeastern Minnesota.
- Generated more than $20 million in resources to provide training, technical assistance, and support to communities across the region through the Foundation’s operating program, KIDS PLUS.
- Created a permanent endowment which provides resources to support projects and programs now and for generations to come.
- Secured nearly $93 million in resources, 95 percent of which was generated from sources outside this region, to address and respond to critical issues facing families, businesses, and communities in northeastern Minnesota.
