Year in Review

As you read through the following highlights of fiscal year 2005-2006, look closely – there’s more than meets the eye. Behind each number, each milestone achieved, are the people who power our region’s nonprofit organizations and businesses. It is through their accomplishments that the Northland Foundation continues to build upon 20 years of supporting, strengthening, and sustaining northeastern Minnesota.

• Awarded 203 grants totaling $1,027,789 to nonprofit organizations in the region.
• Provided more than $400,000 in funding to help strengthen families through early childhood opportunities, parent education, and access to support services.
• Supported young people throughout the region with $300,000 directed toward children and youth activities and out-of-school time programming.
• Encouraged self-reliance for individuals and families by providing nearly $150,000 to resources offering job training; decent, affordable housing; and community support services.
• Invested $2,877,100 for the start-up and expansion of 21 businesses in northeastern Minnesota through the Business Finance Program.
• Received a top “AA1” rating for the Business Finance Program from the Opportunities Finance Network’s Community Development Financial Institution Assessment & Rating Program (CARs). This national program rates the financial strengthen and performance of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
• Increased the Business Finance Program portfolio to a record level of $9.9 million with 100 active loans.
• Extended our long-standing relationship with The McKnight Foundation. McKnight has committed up to $7.2 million over the next five years to support the Northland Foundation's core programs, expand regional leadership roles, and respond to emerging needs through new initiatives.
• Integrated the funding resources of the Grant Program and Business Finance Program to help entrepreneurial nonprofits advance their missions and reach their business goals through social enterprise initiatives.        
• Initiated the development of a 20 unit assisted living facility in McGregor. This business venture is a social enterprise of the Northland Foundation, which closely aligns with our Aging with Independence priority and interests in economic development and affordable housing.
• Received a $3 million, three-year grant from The McKnight Foundation to support the expansion of the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative, which is directed by the Northland Foundation in partnership with the five other Minnesota Initiative Foundations. 
• Continued partnerships with the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation; the Sheltering Arms Foundation; the Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation for Education, Public Health, and Social Justice; the Buuck Family Foundation—a supporting organization of the Minneapolis Foundation; and the Mardag Foundation to support the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative.
• Launched two new early childhood coalitions: Hibbing and the Quad Cities Area. These coalitions join Carlton County, Hermantown/Proctor, Itasca Area, Aitkin County, Mesabi East School District, and Koochiching County in a campaign to ensure Minnesota’s youngest citizens thrive and have a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding.
• Implemented the Early Childhood Screening Project in 28 northeastern Minnesota school districts, as a joint effort of the Northland Foundation’s Regional Alliance of Early Childhood Coalitions. Two key project components were designed to help young children and their families get ready for school: 1) Learning Toolkit Backpacks, filled with a variety of items which are given to children and their families during early childhood screening sessions; and 2) The Getting School Ready In Minnesota Guide, which is a resource for parents, family members, caregivers, and teachers of children who be attending kindergarten in Minnesota.  Over 85,000 of the guides have been disseminated throughout the state.
• Hosted the Key Leaders Summit on Early Care and Education, bringing together 250 regional leaders from northeastern Minnesota’s 32 school districts to inspire action in support of Pre-K children as they are readied for success in school. Participants included: superintendents, school board members, principals, business leaders, city councilors, law enforcement officials, and representatives from health care, social services, the faith community, and early care and education. 
• Renewed a 15-year partnership with St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic Health System to provide $25,000 in funding for the Grant and KIDS PLUS Programs.
• Revitalized seven KIDS PLUS Communities to expand youth and adult involvement in local coalitions.  As a result, these coalitions have designed new strategies and programs to engage young people in positive opportunities during out-of-school time.  Funding for this initiative was provided by the Emma B. Howe Memorial Foundation, a supporting organization of the Minneapolis Foundation.
• Continued to support the 26 KIDS PLUS Communities through the Regional Alliance which offers information-sharing, training, and networking opportunities for youth development professionals.
• Awarded $18,964 in KIDS PLUS Youth In Philanthropy grants to 24 youth-led projects across the region. With continued funding support from Minnesota Power, this program engages young people (grades 7-12) and adult mentors on a regional grantmaking board and provides resources for projects planned and carried out by youth.
• Offered Youth In Philanthropy training to 160 students, along with their adult mentors, through three regional youth grantwriting and project development workshops. 
• Provided year-long leadership training to 75 ninth-grade students, with the support of 30 adult mentors, through the Duluth and Superior KIDS PLUS Leadership Academies. These programs help young people develop lifelong leadership and civic engagement skills.
• Partnered with the Valspar Foundation’s Minnesota Beautiful Program for the ninth consecutive year to offer paint and coating products to northeastern Minnesota organizations. More than 400 gallons of paint were distributed to 12 organizations for community beautification projects. 
• Unveiled a new Northland Foundation logo to better reflect our mission. 
• Celebrated 20 years of supporting, strengthening, and sustaining the people, businesses, and communities of Northeast Minnesota.