August 11, 2025 (Bemidji, MN) – More than $1.5 million was granted or loaned out into the region from April through June through the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. This three-month timeframe comprises the fourth quarter of NMF’s fiscal year.
Dollars released by NMF included more than $842,000 in loans to small business owners, $360,000 through NMF’s mission-driven grants programs, and more than $300,000 in grants through NMF’s family of funds.
Additionally, the Northwest Small Business Development Center, for which NMF serves as host, provided 495 hours of no-cost business consulting hours to 126 clients throughout the region.
The Northwest Minnesota region served by NMF includes two tribal nations (Red Lake Nation and White Earth Nation) and 12 counties (Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau).
BUSINESS LOANS
Sixteen loans were approved for 16 small businesses, totaling $842,445.
Those loans supported:
- 6 businesses in Beltrami County, including one forgivable child care loan, totaling $524,500
- 3 businesses in Clearwater County, including one forgivable child care loan, totaling $46,000
- 2 businesses in Hubbard County, including one forgivable child care loan, totaling $14,000.
- 1 business in Lake of the Woods County, for $155,945.
- 1 forgivable child care loan in Pennington County for $10,000.
- 2 businesses in Polk County, totaling $82,000.
- 1 forgivable child care loan in Roseau County for $10,000.
MISSION-DRIVEN GRANTS
Through mission-driven grants, NMF approved 30 grants totaling $360,350.
These grants included:
- $100,000 to support a youth work program with Red Lake Nation.
- More than $90,000 to 10 recipients through NMF’s Thriving Together program, which aims to build stronger communities and foster belonging through connection, creativity, and shared leadership.
- More than $68,000 to support capacity-building through training, outreach, and workforce development at nine different nonprofits.
- $36,000 was granted out to seven recipients to support programs and services for those living through homelessness or at-risk of homelessness.
- $35,000 to the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging to support a comprehensive needs assessment to identify gaps in aging programs and services across Northwest Minnesota.
- $30,000 to two child care providers for facility improvements and expansion efforts.
FAMILY OF FUNDS
Local funds issued 88 grants, totaling $300,351 in this quarter.
Disbursements included:
- 2 grants, $82,743, from environmental and recreation funds.
- 13 grants, $68,347, from donor-advised funds, benefitting nonprofits that fit the donors’ interests.
- 22 grants, $62,700, from community service funds, benefiting local efforts such as senior living, animal shelters, service organizations, churches, and homeless shelters.
- 28 grants, $50,381, from education funds, dedicated to supporting a specific school district.
- 20 grants, $31,030, from community funds dedicated to their specific community.
- 2 grants, $3,650, from a health care fund.
- 1 grant, $1,500, from an economic development fund.
