REGIONAL– The Northland Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $687,000 through its Quarterly Grant program during October through December of 2025. Quarterly grants from the foundation are generally made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal nations, and local governmental entities such as school districts.
Included among the recent grants were $100,000 awarded within the “Aging” focus area of the foundation’s Basic Needs priority area. The funding will support organizations in Cook, Aitkin, and St. Louis and Koochiching counties, providing services to help older adults and their family caregivers age well in their homes and communities.
Another two grants totaling $100,000 were made thanks to support from the McKnight Foundation’s Good Neighbor Grants program. In December, McKnight directed $1 million to 14 organizations statewide, including $100,000 each to the Northland Foundation and the other five Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This unexpected funding came with one stipulation: that it would support food and other direct assistance in our rural region, within the month. Northland, in turn, awarded $50,000 each to the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota and to Second Harvest Northland.
“McKnight’s Good Neighbor grant support is deeply appreciated. We were able to quickly deploy this generous funding to two trusted, longtime grantees who are on the front lines of food distribution in our rural northeastern Minnesota communities and working to keep up with increased need for their services,” stated Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation President.

Quarterly grants awarded Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, in our area
 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.
 United Way of Northeastern Minnesota, Chisholm: $50,000 - To support programming and initiatives that enhance youth opportunity, community health, resilience, and financial stability for families in northeastern Minnesota.
   Second Harvest Northland, Duluth: $50,000 - To support food access and distribution for families experiencing food insecurity in northeastern 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. 
 Mesabi East Schools ISD 2711, Aurora: $12,000 - To support collaborative, nature-based afterschool programming for youth and families in northern St. Louis County.
 Ely Historic State Theatre, Ely: $10,000 - To support creativity-focused afterschool programming for youth in Ely, Tower, and Babbitt.