Northeast MN and Tribal Nation Lands – 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 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal Nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions/school districts, as well as to licensed child care programs.
Once again, 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.
A significant grant of $50,000 was awarded within the foundation’s “Belonging” priority. The funding will help Northspan expand its Welcoming Community initiative. This program engages rural community members to better understand the effects of structural inequities, share their different lived experiences, explore common ground, and build trust.
“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).
All Quarterly Grants awarded April 1 – June 30, 2024, are listed.
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.
Union Gospel Mission, Duluth: $35,000
To support food, shelter, and supportive services programming for unhoused individuals in Duluth.
Tower Area Food Shelf, Tower: $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.
Two Harbors Area Food Shelf, Two Harbors: $20,000
To support the Two Harbors Area Food Shelf’s mission to provide emergency food assistance in Lake County.
Waawaate Programs, Ely: $20,000
To support community-focused programming around traditional Indigenous food systems, practices, knowledge, and values.
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, Chisholm: $50,000
To support the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s mission to improve people’s lives and strengthen families in the community.
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Inc., Grand Marais: $20,000
To support access to oral health care services and education for children, youth, and older adults.
BELONGING Support for projects and initiatives designed to help everyone, especially those who are under-served or underrepresented in traditional power structures, to gain full and fair access to essentials like quality housing, education, and employment, and generally thrive.
The Northspan Group, Duluth: $50,000
To support work in rural communities across northeast Minnesota to foster belonging and address structural inequities.
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE INTERVENTION/PREVENTION Grants supporting prevention and intervention such as shelter, advocacy, legal, and other supports in relation to domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women, Duluth: $30,000
To support programming that provides multi-generational support, safety, space to heal, advocacy, and empowerment for women, children, and all survivors of domestic violence.
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION Support for early care and education quality and access, parenting education and supports.
Prenatal to Grade 3 Grants, Northeast Minnesota: $10,000
To support planning and activities that strengthen the learning continuum from early childhood to 3rd grade made available to school districts that attended the Northland Foundation’s 2024 Early Childhood Summit.
Cloquet Public Schools ISD 094, Cloquet: $1,000
Duluth Early Childhood Family Education, Duluth: $4,000
Mesabi East Schools ISD 2711, Aurora: $1,000
Rock Ridge Public Schools ISD 2909, Virginia: $1,000
S Koochiching-Rainy River School District ISD 363, Northome: $1,000
Aitkin Public Schools ISD 001, Aitkin: $1,000
Esko Public Schools ISD 099, Esko: $1,000
Greater St. Louis County Child Care Priority Project Grants
To provide for identified priority child care projects as directed by the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners.
Care With Amanda, LLC, d/b/a Milestones Daycare Center, Virginia: $180,000
Greater St. Louis County Child Care Workforce Grants
To suppport licensed child care programs to implement creative staff recruitment and retention strategies, in partnership with St. Louis County.
Brandie’s Little Bear Learning Center, Eveleth: $10,000
Iron Range Learning and Development Center, Virginia: $10,000
Happy Days Preschool, Inc., Ely: $10,000
Greater St. Louis County Sustainability Grants
In partnership with St. Louis County, to assist licensed child care programs located in Greater St. Louis County that experienced an unanticipated repair, upgrade, or equipment replacement required to maintain services.
Iron Range Learning and Development Center, Virginia: $13,400
Amanda’s Daycare, Alborn: $3,000
Lora Klancher, Cook: $5,000
Iron Range Tykes Learning Center, Mountain Iron: $15,000
Children of Grace Childcare and Education Center, Hibbing: $25,000
Greater St. Louis County Start-up and Expansion Grants
To support the initial start-up of two licensed family child care programs in partnership with St. Louis County.
ShyAnn’s Family Child Care, Chisholm: $5,000
Precious Care Daycare, Eveleth: $5,000
Happy Feet Daycare, Chisholm: $5,000
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/OTHER Grants in support of economic and community well-being for a more thriving region.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Saint Paul: $20,000
To support programming to strengthen the nonprofit sector in northeast Minnesota.
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.
Ely Public Schools - ISD #696, Ely: $11,500
To support summer skills programming for students rising to Kindergarten at Ely Public Schools.
Smart North, Minneapolis: $25,000
To support afterschool programming with a focus on technology skills and digital literacy for Grand Rapids youth grades 6-12.
Smart North, Minneapolis: $25,000
To support afterschool programming with a focus on technology skills and digital literacy for Deer River youth grades 6-12.
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland, $25,000
To provide general operating support for youth outdoor education at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.
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