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In the second quarter of 2024, the Northland Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $657,900 through its quarterly grant program.
Quarterly grants are generally grants of $10,000 or more made to nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions/ school districts, as well as to licensed child care programs.
Support for efforts to improve food security and funds to strengthen child care access in the region made up a large portion of grants last quarter.
“Our region will be stronger, both socially and economically, when everyone feels they have the power to participate fully in community life and are in no way left out or held back,” stated Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation President. “Welcoming Community gives rural people space to talk openly and tools to build understanding and unity instead of divisiveness, and we are pleased to support that work.”
The Northland Foundation works within the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis, and the Native nations Zagaakwaandagowininiwag (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), Gichi Onigaming (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe-District I) and Misi-zaaga’igani Anishinaabeg (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe District II).
Basic Needs Grants in support of services and programming that address human needs essential to overall wellbeing, such as food security, housing, aging, homeless services, and more included:
• $30,000 to support the Tower Area Food Shelf’s mission to provide emergency food assistance for the communities of Tower, Embarrass, Soudan, and the Bois Forte reservation.
• $20,000 for Waawaate Programs to support community- focused programming around traditional Indigenous food systems, practices, knowledge, and values.
• $50,000 to United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, Chisholm to support the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s mission to improve people’s lives and strengthen families in the community.
Greater St. Louis County Child Care Workforce Grants to support licensed child care programs to implement creative staff recruitment and retention strategies, in partnership with St. Louis County included:
• Happy Days Preschool, Inc., Ely: $10,000 Out-Of-School-Time Services Grants supporting structured, consistent, and accessible out-of-school time educational programming and activities for broad groups of children and youth included:
• $11,500 for Ely Public Schools to support summer skills programming for students rising to kindergarten at Ely Public Schools.
• $25,000 to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finlandg to provide general operating support for youth outdoor education at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.
