Northland Foundation

The foundation's programs focus on improving the well-being of children and youth from birth to adulthood. Programs provide: 1) early childhood efforts encompassing early care and education, infant/early childhood mental health, early learning scholarship outreach, and increased access to high-quality child care; 2) youth programs including leadership development and philanthropy engagement; and 3) intergenerational programs connecting young people with adults 55+. In fiscal year 2025, programs engaged 1,358 people in 58 trainings and convenings, supported 134 child care providers and 940 children through early learning scholarships administration; and engaged people of all ages in the region.

The business services program offers technical assistance and flexible financing to assist with business start-up and expansion within our 7-county region, in order to bolster the regional economy and promote job creation - critical components of thriving communities. Financing is often in the form of gap lending made in partnership with banks or other development lenders. Borrowers may be for-profit or nonprofit entities. In fiscal year 2025, northland closed 17 loans totaling $3 million which helped create leverage of $21.6 million in other investments. Northland foundation hosts the regional small business development center (sbdc). The sbdc's mission is to "help entrepreneurs and businesses grow and succeed" by providing technical assistance and one-on-one consulting services to small and medium sized businesses at no cost to the client. The regional center is located in duluth; there are also five other satellite offices spread across the region. The regional footprint of the sbdc matches the northland foundation footprint.