We believe Northwest Minnesota offers boundless opportunities.
We champion ideas that stabilize and strengthen our communities.
Let’s work together
Find the pathway for you. From grants, loans, and scholarships to business consulting and local giving, we’re here to guide and support donors and recipients alike.
Need our help? Let’s talk.
For Donors
We’re here to guide your every step as you leave a legacy that will support generations to come.
For Grantees
With a dedicated focus on keeping Northwest Minnesota strong, every neighbor plays a role in the future of our region.
For Businesses
Making your business strong makes our whole community stronger. Gain mentorship, connections, and resources.
Where we help
Child Care
Seeking innovative, sustainable solutions to unique child care needs in the community.
Children & Families
Supporting Tribal leaders in building youth confidence for the future of our region.
Ending Homelessness
Building better lives in Northwest Minnesota with an improved homelessness response system.
Housing
Leading and supporting collaborative efforts to add housing capacity in the region.
Community Revitalization
Investing in rural communities to help them achieve their full potential.
News & Ideas
Learn more about the ways we’re working in the community.
Everett Wilimek Endowment for Orchestral String Studies Seeks Grant Applicants
The Everett Wilimek Endowment for Orchestral String Studies is pleased to announce that applications for its 2026 grant cycle will be accepted from July 1-31. The Everett Wilimek Endowment is in the family of funds at Northwest Minnesota Foundation. Individuals within a 30-mile radius of Bemidji may apply for funding of up to $1,500. The grants …
Finding a place on the ice in Warroad
In Warroad, hockey is more than a sport. It’s part of how people grow up. It’s part of how the community connects. And for many kids, it’s where they find a sense of belonging. But not every child arrives with skates on their feet. For families new to the community, or those who didn’t grow …
A Place to Plant Roots: How an Affordable Home Empowered a Community Leader
Jennifer Compeau never expected homeownership to feel possible. Like many people across northwest Minnesota, she was working hard to create stability for her family. She was participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program through Northwest Minnesota HRA and the Family Assets for Independence Minnesota (FAME) program while living in Section 8 housing. She dreamed of owning …