DURING the last quarter, Northland Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $1,242,487 during to nonprofit organizations, school districts, Tribal Nations, and other community partners.
The majority of funds awarded were made as part of the Northland Foundation’s Integrated Rural Community Aging Program (IRCAP). IRCAP is a three-year, multi-strategy aging initiative the foundation is leading. A total of $450,000 was awarded to several of the eight Community Planning and Care Integration coalitions that have been established in northeastern Minnesota in partnership between the Northland Foundation, aging services organizations, and the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging.
The grants awarded will help coalitions members, over the next two years, to create well-connected programs and services that support older adults and their family caregivers in their rural communities. For example, Ely Area coalition plans include reducing food insecurity, improving access to in-home services, promoting information on available senior services, and increasing social connections.
An additional $440,000 in IRCAP grants were awarded to AGE to age sites in the region. The funds will help communities deliver programming that joins children and youth with adults 55+ and the ages-in-between for friendship, learning, and community building, and to act as information hubs on supports and services available for older adults and their caregivers.
Support for organizations meeting basic needs during the pandemic is an ongoing focus, as well—housing, food, safety, and access to medical and mental health care. All grants awarded between July 1 and September 30, 2020 are listed below.
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
Duluth Early Childhood Family Education, Duluth $5,000
To help provide parenting and mental health supports for at-risk families.
Lake Superior School District – ISD #381, Two Harbors $10,000
To support the expansion of quality child care in Lake County.
Duluth Community School Collaborative, Duluth $5,000
To support full-service community schools programming in the Duluth School District.
American Indian Community Housing Organization, Duluth $30,000
To support culturally grounded programming for youth and families in AICHO’s permanent supportive housing.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Virginia $25,000
To provide in-school support and enrichment for LGBTQ youth and allies, promote diversity and inclusion through outreach and education, and offer one-on-one support for LGBTQ youth.
South Koochiching-Rainy River School District – ISD #363, Northome $4,147
To support adopting hybrid and distance learning methods for the 2020-2021 school year.
Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Inc., Grand Marais $10,000
To provide dental care and oral health education for Cook County residents 0-26 years old, and pregnant women, regardless of ability to pay.
University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth Campus, Duluth $5,000
To support the creation of a community-based, culturally grounded virtual therapy project serving Bois Forte’s you
INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, Saint Paul $15,000
To provide supportive services to veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in northeast Minnesota.
Center City Housing Corporation, Duluth $25,000
To provide enrichment programming for youth experiencing homelessness.
The Salvation Army, Duluth $20,000
To support the free meal program for the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth.
Minisinaakwaang Leadership Academy, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe-District II $10,000
To provide meals and delivery services for students at risk of hunger.
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Grand Rapids $10,000
To support programming to reduce food insecurity among children.
Fathers Rise Together, Duluth $30,000
To support planning efforts to establish a center for the African Heritage community in the Duluth area.
Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, Duluth $15,000
To provide services that increase the safety for victims of domestic violence.
Advocates Against Domestic Abuse dba HOPE (Healing Opportunity Provided Equally), Aitkin $25,000
To provide safe housing and supportive services to victims of domestic violence in the Aitkin County area.
Men As Peacemakers, Duluth $30,000
To support youth programming that facilitates the growth and wellbeing of youth of color and prevents race- and gender-based violence.
Family Pathways, North Branch $10,000
To provide services that increase the safety for victims of domestic violence in Carlton County.
Ely Community Health Center, Ely $11,000
To support programming to provide access to health care services for the uninsured.
Project Care Free Clinic, Hibbing $20,000
To support programming to provide access to health care services for the uninsured.
INTEGRATED RURAL COMMUNITY AGING PROGRAM: Community Planning and Care Integration
Northwoods Partners, Ely $140,000
To support efforts to improve access, awareness, and availability of services and supports that help Ely Area older adults and their family caregivers age successfully in their homes and communities.
Community Partners – Two Harbors Living at Home/Block Nurse Program, Two Harbors $155,000
To support efforts to improve access, awareness, and availability of services and supports that help Two Harbors Area older adults and their family caregivers age successfully in their homes and communities.
ElderCircle, Grand Rapids $135,000
To support efforts to improve access, awareness, and availability of services and supports that help Itasca County and Northern St. Louis County older adults and their family caregivers age successfully in their homes and communities.
Koochiching Aging Options, International Falls $20,000
To provide services to older adults and caregivers to help them maintain independence and age in plac
INTEGRATED RURAL COMMUNITY AGING PROGRAM – AGE to age implementation
Aitkin Public Schools – ISD #001, Aitkin $55,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Aitkin AGE to age and Reading Pals Programs.
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Nett Lake $40,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Bois Forte AGE to age Program.
Cloquet Public Schools-ISD #094, Cloquet $40,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Cloquet AGE to age Program.
Moose Lake Schools – ISD #097, Moose Lake $55,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Moose Lake AGE to age and Reading Pals Programs.
Ely Community Resource, Inc., Ely $55,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Ely AGE to age and Reading Pals Programs.
Proctor Public Schools – ISD #704, Proctor $70,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Proctor/Hermantown AGE to age and Reading Pals Programs.
Hibbing Age to Age, Hibbing $40,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Hibbing AGE to age Program.
McGregor KIDS PLUS/Something Cool, Inc., McGregor $55,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the McGregor Area AGE to age and Reading Pals Programs.
Oshki Ogimaag Charter School, Grand Portage $30,000
To provide multi-year support for intergenerational activities through the Grand Portage AGE to age Program.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY VITALITY
Southwest Regional Development Commission (fiscal sponsor), Slayton $10,000
To support a statewide effort to improve and expand broadband access in Greater Minnesota.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Washington $1,390
To support annual membership to GEO which focuses on helping grantmakers to improve their philanthropy practices.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Saint Paul $950
Membership support for programs and activities in northeastern Minnesota.
COVID RESPONSE
Duluth National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Duluth $15,000
To support a needs assessment to improve outreach, education, and access to health services for Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in the Duluth area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emergency Child Care Grant Program, Northeast Minnesota $10,000
To support licensed child care providers serving emergency and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judi’s Daycare, Carlton $1,000
Jody’s Daycare, Duluth $1,000
Debra Aqui, Duluth $1,000
Rasmusson Romper Room, Aurora $1,000
Iron Range Tykes Learning Center, Mountain Iron $3,000
Little Adventures Daycare, Cloquet $1,000
Melinda Gulbranson, Duluth $1,000
Kids 1st Daycare, International Falls $1,000