Northland Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11,315,585 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive grants)
• Decision Time: Approximately 90 days from application deadline
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000+ (Quarterly Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Seven counties in northeastern Minnesota and five Native nations
• Total Assets: $115,113,281 (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 202 W Superior Street, Suite 610, Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: 218-723-4040 or 800-433-4045

Email:

• General inquiries: info@northlandfdn.org
• Grant inquiries: grants@northlandfdn.org

Website: https://northlandfdn.org/

Pre-application contact encouraged: Before applying for a quarterly grant, applicants should email grants@northlandfdn.org with their organization name, a brief description of the proposal, communities or populations to be served, and anticipated amount of request.

Overview

Founded in 1986 by The McKnight Foundation, the Northland Foundation is a publicly supported, place-based foundation serving northeastern Minnesota. With total assets of $115.1 million and annual grant distributions of $11.3 million (2024), the Foundation's mission is to support Northeast Minnesota people and communities working toward a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. Since inception, the Foundation has raised $163 million, distributed $64 million in grant funds, and invested $79 million in local businesses. The Foundation operates through three intersecting strategic focus areas: Children & Youth, Individual & Community Wellbeing, and Economy & Jobs. Beyond grantmaking, the Foundation also provides business lending, consulting services, and manages special initiatives including early learning scholarships and community aging programs. Recent strategic emphasis includes capacity-building grants to strengthen nonprofit organizations and multi-year initiatives in housing and Indigenous-led programming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Quarterly Grants - $10,000 minimum, awards made four times annually

• General operating support (preferred approach)
• Program-restricted grants
• Application via online portal
• Fixed quarterly deadlines

Maada'ookiing Grants - Up to $5,000

• For Native American individuals (not organizations or Tribal governments)
• Cultural strengthening, youth support, language preservation, community engagement
• Three annual deadlines: February 15, May 15, September 15
• Guided by Native American Advisory Board

Youth In Philanthropy Grants - Up to $1,000

• For projects planned and led by 7th-12th grade students
• Three annual deadlines: January 1, April 1, October 1
• Requires adult advisor and fiscal agent

Special Grant Opportunities - Variable amounts

• Child care expansion grants (funded through Minnesota DEED)
• Housing development programs (three-year initiative starting July 2025)
• Time-limited initiatives addressing specific regional needs

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on five key priorities within their strategic framework:

1. Basic Needs - Food security, affordable housing, homeless services, health services essential to overall wellbeing
2. Belonging - Programs addressing inequities and promoting inclusion
3. Domestic and Sexual Violence - Prevention and support services
4. Early Childhood Care and Education - Programs supporting young children and families
5. Out-of-School Time - Youth programming and development opportunities

Strategic Approaches Valued

The Foundation particularly values proposals that demonstrate:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Actively reaching and reflecting community diversity, facilitating inclusion, and countering systemic inequities rooted in geography, race/ethnicity, or income
• Collaboration - Working with partners from different sectors, particularly with affected community members ("about us, not without us")
• Multi-Generational - Considering needs of multiple generations when addressing issues
• Systems Change - Promoting civic engagement and opportunities to understand, participate in, and influence decisions, especially among under-represented groups

What They Don't Fund

• Capital campaigns
• Equipment without programmatic context
• Individual scholarships
• One-time events
• Arts-focused programs (as primary purpose)
• Religious or political activities
• Individual basic needs support (except through Maada'ookiing for specific cultural purposes)
• Business enterprise costs

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Tony Sertich - President & CEO Sertich has stated: "Stepping into this role is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to continue doing what I love to do in exciting, new ways."

Michelle Ufford - Vice President of Grantmaking On grantmaking philosophy, Ufford has advised: "Effective grantmaking can't be too prescriptive and force grantees into narrow lanes of what we think they should do. At the same time, we can't be all things to all people and spread limited resources broadly yet too thinly to do much good."

Senior Staff

• Zane Bail - Senior Vice President, Programs & Development
• Michael Colclough - Vice President, Business Services
• Heather Brouse - Vice President, Finance
• Nichele Canavan - Chief of Staff
• Jan Amys - Senior Program Officer & Child Care Aware Regional Director

Board of Trustees

Officers:

• Sumair Sheikh (Chair) - Executive Director, LISC Duluth
• Mary Harrelson (Vice Chair) - Licensed Psychologist (retired), Grand Portage Reservation
• Jamie Adams (Treasurer) - Economic Development Planner, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Ashley Hall (Secretary) - Development Coordinator, Rainy Lake Medical Center

Trustees:

• Ben Benoit - Project Administrator, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Elena Foshay - Director of Workforce Development, City of Duluth
• Rachel Hedlund - Ely Education & Outreach Manager, Friends of the Boundary Waters
• Tia Marie - Business Owner
• Peter McDermott - Retired
• Dr. Rick Revoir - VP of Advancement, College of St. Scholastica
• Darren Sheldon - Principal, Lakewood Elementary School
• Kristen Vake - Executive Director, Iron Mining Association of Minnesota

The Board represents diverse perspectives from across the seven-county region and five Native nations, with members bringing expertise in education, economic development, community health, Indigenous leadership, and nonprofit management.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Contact (Required): Before applying for a quarterly grant, email grants@northlandfdn.org with:

1. Organization name
2. Brief description of the proposal
3. Communities or populations to be served
4. Anticipated amount of request

Grant program staff may want to connect to learn more about proposed plans before you apply. The Foundation states: "We understand the time and effort it takes to prepare a grant application and want to help avoid wasting anyone's time."

Online Application Portal: The Foundation launched a new online grants portal in May 2025 where applicants can:

• Start a new application
• Continue an application in progress
• Submit reports
• Track grant history

Technical Requirements:

• Use Google Chrome for best portal experience
• Past applicants must reset password
• New applicants must create account

Eligibility Requirements:

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
• Educational institutions/school districts
• Tribal nations
• Local governmental agencies
• Must serve people in the seven-county service area (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis) or five Native nations (Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake District I, Mille Lacs District II)

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Grants:

• Application deadlines: January 5, April 1, July 1, October 1
• Grant committee meets 3-4 weeks after deadline
• Funding notification approximately 90 days after application deadline
• Grant payments made approximately 30 days after award (total ~120 days from application to payment)

Maada'ookiing Grants:

• Application deadlines: February 15, May 15, September 15
• Funding decisions about six weeks after deadline
• Funds dispersed approximately two months after submission deadline

Youth In Philanthropy Grants:

• Application deadlines: January 1, April 1, October 1
• Grants dispersed about two months after deadline

Success Rates

The Foundation describes their grants as "competitive; not all who apply may receive an award." Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed.

Grant Volume Data:

• In 2024: 146 grants awarded totaling $11,315,585 (average ~$77,500)
• Recent quarterly examples:
  • Q1 2025: 21 grants totaling $756,500 (average ~$36,000)
  • Q4 2023: 56 grants totaling $1,962,509 (average ~$35,000)
  • Q3 2022: 30 grants totaling $796,000 (average ~$26,500)

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation allows unsuccessful applicants to reapply. For special grant programs like the Promise Act (business grants), organizations that did not receive funding are explicitly welcome to reapply, though previous recipients may not be eligible depending on the program.

For standard quarterly grants, there are no published restrictions on reapplication timing. Applicants are encouraged to contact grant staff to discuss unsuccessful applications before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Advice

Direct Guidance from the Foundation:

1. Contact Before Applying - The Foundation explicitly states they want to help avoid wasting applicant time and encourages pre-application contact. This is not optional; it's part of their process.

2. General Operating Support Preference - "Nearly all the grants that Northland Foundation awards are for general operating support and are flexible to help grantees meet their funding needs." This is a significant strategic decision by the Foundation.

3. Strategic Approach Alignment - Michelle Ufford's philosophy statement is telling: avoid being "too prescriptive" but also don't spread resources "too thinly." Proposals should demonstrate focused impact while maintaining flexibility.

4. Review Questions in Advance - The Foundation explicitly recommends carefully reviewing application questions before beginning, suggesting well-thought-out responses are valued over rushed applications.

Recently Funded Projects

Understanding what the Foundation has recently funded provides insight into priorities:

Q1 2025 Awards (examples):

• Northspan ($100,000) - Expanding Welcoming Community Program
• North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity ($70,000) - Affordable housing development
• 23rd Veteran ($35,000) - General operating support for trauma services and veteran community building
• Itasca County Habitat for Humanity ($30,000) - Sustainable housing programming
• Forward Health Foundation ($25,000) - Community health initiatives

Recent Special Initiatives:

• $1.43 million through seven DEED grants supporting 64 child care start-up, expansion, and retention projects
• $1.175 million through Integrated Rural Community Aging Program
• $323,000 to organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color
• $185,000 in child care expansion grants (two quarters of 2025)

Key Success Factors

Geographic and Cultural Alignment:

• Projects must serve the seven-county region or five Native nations
• Demonstrate understanding of rural northeastern Minnesota context
• For Maada'ookiing grants, authentic connection to Native American communities is essential

Priority Area Fit:

• Clear alignment with one or more of five priorities (Basic Needs, Belonging, Domestic/Sexual Violence, Early Childhood, Out-of-School Time)
• Even better if project incorporates strategic approaches (DEI, collaboration, multi-generational, systems change)

Community-Centered Approach:

• Projects developed "about us, not without us" - involving affected community members
• Collaboration with partners from different sectors
• Civic engagement opportunities, especially for under-represented groups

Organizational Capacity:

• The Foundation offers capacity-building grants (27 grants totaling $208,712 in 2018-2019), indicating they value organizational strength
• General operating support preference suggests they fund organizations they trust

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Pre-application contact is mandatory, not optional - Email grants@northlandfdn.org before applying. This conversation can help shape your proposal and avoid misalignment. The Foundation explicitly wants to help you avoid wasting time on applications that won't be competitive.

2. Request general operating support when appropriate - The Foundation's stated preference is for flexible general operating grants rather than restricted program funding. If your organization would benefit from flexible funding, request it.

3. Geographic specificity matters - You must serve one or more of the seven counties (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis) or five Native nations. Be explicit about which communities you serve.

4. Strategic approaches strengthen applications - Projects demonstrating collaboration (especially with affected communities), DEI commitment, multi-generational impact, or systems change align with the Foundation's values. Include these if authentic to your work.

5. Understand the rural Minnesota context - The Foundation is place-based and deeply committed to northeastern Minnesota. Your application should demonstrate understanding of regional strengths and challenges, not generic urban models.

6. Plan for 90-day decision timeline - From application deadline to funding notification is approximately three months, with payment another month later. Factor this into your project planning and cash flow management.

7. Capacity building is valued - If your organization needs to strengthen systems, add key staff, or develop strategic plans, the Foundation has explicitly funded this type of work. Don't be afraid to request capacity-building support if it will improve your effectiveness.

References

• Northland Foundation official website: https://northlandfdn.org/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Quarterly Grants program page: https://northlandfdn.org/grant-funding/quarterly-grants/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Maada'ookiing Grants program page: https://northlandfdn.org/grant-funding/maadaookiing-grants/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Staff & Board directory: https://northlandfdn.org/about-us/staff-board/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Our Story & Region: https://northlandfdn.org/about-us/our-story-region/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory profile: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=NORT173 (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Cause IQ profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/northland-foundation,411554455/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• "A Quick Overview of Our Grantmaking" - Northland Notes blog: https://northlandfdn.org/notes/a-quick-overview-of-our-grantmaking/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• "Introducing our new Director of Grantmaking" - Northland Notes: https://northlandfdn.org/notes/introducing-michelle-ufford-our-new-director-of-grantmaking/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• "Northland Foundation awards 21 quarterly grants January through March 2025" press release: https://northlandfdn.org/press-release/january-march-2025-grants/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• 2023 Annual Report: https://northlandfdn.org/annual-report/2023-annual-report/highlights/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/northland-foundation (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile "The Northland Foundation: A Regional Minnesota Funder That Goes Beyond Grantmaking": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-8-12-the-northland-foundation-a-regional-minnesota-funder-that-goes-beyond-grantmaking (accessed January 21, 2026)