Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Learn more about the ways we’re working in the community.
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 …
June 22, 2026 (BEMIDJI, MN ) – The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has awarded $150,000 through its latest round of Building Better Lives Grants, supporting community-led projects that strengthen families, improve wellbeing, expand access to essential resources, and build stronger communities across northwest Minnesota. This funding round attracted 30 applications requesting nearly $380,000 in support. Fourteen …
Many child care providers often lack funds for major repairs, and when they close, it immediately impacts employers and families, prompting the creation of the NMF Child Care Retain Forgivable Loan.
Through its Child Care Finance Program, NMF has now reached a milestone of more than $1 million invested in providers across Northwest Minnesota.
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is hosting a workshop series for small business owners to help them prepare for the process of selling or transitioning their business.
In partnership with the McKnight Foundation, NMF is now offering rapid response funding through Good Neighbor Grants to help nonprofits meet urgent needs this winter.
The Bemidji 31 Education Foundation Fund has announced its fall 2025 grant award recipients. The education fund awards annual grants to ISD 31 teachers and classrooms through a competitive application and review process.
The Larry Diffley Memorial Aviation Scholarship Fund, a fund in the family of funds at Northwest Minnesota Foundation, is seeking qualified applicants to apply for the 2025-26 scholarship round.
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is now accepting grant applications through its new Building Better Lives grant program, designed to address complex problems and enhance regional wellbeing by focusing on engagement, collaboration, equity, and sustainability.
