NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bethany Wesley, Communications Director
email: bethanyw@nwmf.org
October 29, 2024 (Bemidji, MN) – More than $1.1 million was loaned or granted out into the region from July through September through the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. This three-month timeframe comprises the first quarter of NMF’s fiscal year.
Dollars released by NMF included more than $518,000 through NMF’s mission-driven grants programs, $400,000 awarded by local funds within NMF’s family of funds, and $215,000 through loans to small business owners.
Additionally, the Northwest Small Business Development Center, for which NMF serves as host, provided 663 hours of no-cost business consulting hours to 157 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).
MISSION-DRIVEN GRANTS
Through mission-driven grants, NMF approved 20 grants totaling $518,250.
Grants approved include:
- 12 grants totaling $350,000 to support nonprofits addressing crucial needs.
- A $95,000 grant to White Earth Nation’s Natural Resource Division to support an internship program; nine youth are currently learning culturally relevant skills as well as resource protection and development skills.
- A $47,500 grant to support Red Lake Nation’s Ombimindwaa Gidinawemaaganinaadog (“Lifting Up Our Relatives”) program to expand outdoor recreation options for families.
- A $10,000 grant to Wilder Foundation to support MN Compass data collection.
- A $9,500 grant to the Northwest Minnesota Juvenile Center to support a farm program and sustainable gardening course.
- A $3,250 grant to the Crookston Housing Economic Development Authority to expand their community research.
- 3 grants totaling $3,000 in recognition of NMF awardees; each honoree selected one nonprofit to receive a $1,000 donation.
FAMILY OF FUNDS
Through 130 grants approved by local funds, $400,412 was dispersed into Northwest Minnesota. NMF houses more than 450 funds within its family of funds.
Grants dispersed included:
- 40 grants, totaling $112,984, through community funds.
- 14 grants, $76,915, through education funds, dedicated to supporting a specific school district.
- 27 grants, $72,000, from donor-advised funds, benefitting nonprofits that fit the donors’ interests.
- 17 grants, $52,291, through community service funds, benefiting local efforts such as senior living, animal shelters, service organizations, churches, and homeless shelters.
- 6 grants, $41,560, through environmental and recreation funds.
- 25 grants, $34,662, from cultural funds, supporting local music, theater, and arts projects.
- 1 grant, $10,000, through a health care fund.
BUSINESS LOANS
Six loans were approved for six businesses, totaling $215,000.
These loans included:
2 forgivable child care loans were approved for providers in Clearwater and Marshall counties.
2 loans supported businesses in Beltrami and Hubbard counties.
2 loans were approved with funding from the Small Business Administration, both located in Beltrami County.
