Northwest Area Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Northwest Area Foundation's work fits organisations serving Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington or Oregon, with a focus on racial, social and economic justice, Native Americans, communities of colour, immigrants and refugees, and rural communities.
- It does not accept unsolicited requests: it builds relationships with organisations over time before inviting them to submit a proposal, so there is no open application to send cold.
- A realistic request would sit within its typical range, as about 8 in 10 of its 435 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $250,000, with a median grant of $100,000; a larger award such as its $750,000 grant to New Venture Fund, an organisation that regrants to other organisations, is exceptional.
- The process is relationship-led rather than a competition judged on a single proposal: 66% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded before, so expect this to take time and sustained contact rather than a quick decision.
- The best approach is to check your work against its stated priorities and geographic focus, then work on building a relationship with the Foundation so that, over time, you may be invited to submit a proposal.
Overview
Northwest Area Foundation is a US private foundation based in ST Paul, MN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Northwest Area Foundation supports organisations that work with communities to reimagine and restructure unjust systems, advancing racial, social and economic justice so communities can thrive on their own terms. Its priority communities are Native Americans, communities of colour, immigrants and refugees, and people in rural areas. It supports changemakers who lead with courage, wisdom and vision, working in deep connection with the land and communities they serve. Its service region includes Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and 76 Native nations. The Foundation seeks organisations with a track record of success or promising approaches and builds relationships with them over time before inviting them to submit a funding proposal. Its funding priorities also include increasing good jobs and financial capability in the region.
Themes
- Racial justice
- Social justice
- Economic justice
- Native Americans
- Communities of color
- Immigrants and refugees
- Rural communities
Geographic Focus
Minnesota; Iowa; North Dakota; South Dakota; Montana; Idaho; Washington; Oregon.
How to apply
The Foundation builds relationships with organisations whose work aligns with its funding priorities and who have a track record of success or promising approaches. It invites them to submit a funding proposal based on that relationship.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 66% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 435 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation seeks organisations whose work increases good jobs and financial capability in its region.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 18%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to organisations Northwest Area Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 12% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 148 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Native American Youth and Family Center · General operating support$700,0002024 tax year
- Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs · Federal indian boarding school initiative.$500,0002024 tax year
- Nexus Community Partners · General operating support for capacity building$500,0002024 tax year
- Headwaters Foundation for Justice · Grantmaking for indigenous, black and ecosystem-building support$500,0002024 tax year
- The Directors Council · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Social Justice Fund Northwest · Abundantly resourcing bipoc & grassroots organizing$450,0002024 tax year
- Working Partnerships Incorporated · Workers confluence fund flexible program support$450,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kashi Yoshikawa — Non-Director Committee Member
- Maria Valandra — Director
- Georgina Slade — Director
- Amy Sings In The Timber — Director
- Michelle Osborne — Director
- Salome Mwangi — Director
- Joyce Lee — Director
- Libby Hlavka — Director
- Joe Eltobgi — Director
- Wayne Ducheneaux — Director
- Duane Carter — Director
- Juel Burnette — Director
- Elisabeth Buck — Director
- Laura Alvarez Schrag — Director
- Ramya Rauf — Cfo / VP-Finance & Admin
- Kevin Walker — President / Secretary
- Melissa Pelland — Non-Director Committee Member
- Angela Gorder — Non-Director Committee Member
- Rebecca Klevan — Non-Director Committee Member
- Jennifer Williams — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $24,501,705 | $16,039,609 | $484,132,143 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $28,960,151 | $17,292,497 | $528,546,911 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $35,404,523 | $18,241,029 | $547,574,363 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Northwest Area Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- ST Paul, MN
- nwaf.org
Applying to Northwest Area Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- ST Paul, MN
- nwaf.org