In our 31st year, the Northland Foundation moved to build on our strengths to respond with purpose and direction to critical community needs. Following are some key activities of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.
Made 189 grants totaling $1,468,428 to community and nonprofit organizations serving this region.
Closed 23 loans totaling $2,562,141 to 17 business expansions and 6 start-ups, supporting 463 jobs created/saved.
Revisited our Organizational Values and identified four guiding themes: Integrity, Respect, Empowerment, and Inclusiveness.
Awarded $260,000 through our Social Enterprise Initiative and provided technical assistance and training to 9 nonprofits.
Established Emerging Entrepreneur Loans for businesses owned by minorities, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and people with low incomes.
Joined youth and older adults together in 3 new and 13 existing AGE to age sites for friendship and community-building.
Increased efforts to bolster early care and education and rural access to child care with our Parent Aware Pathways Initiative, grants for child care expansion and administering state Early Learning Scholarships.
Amplified community engagement, hosting 70 convenings reaching 2,220 people on early childhood, youth development, poverty, aging, intergenerational, social enterprise, and more.
Launched a new 3-year phase of the Rural Aging Initiative promoting creative approaches to helping older adults, especially those in poverty, to live well.
Raised $4,094,786 – 93% of it from outside the region – to fund grantmaking, business lending, KIDS PLUS programs, and special initiatives in northeastern Minnesota.
Connected 61 high school students and 16 adult mentors through our Minnesota Power Foundation Youth In Philanthropy Board and KIDS PLUS Twin Ports Youth Leadership Academy.