Our Grantmaking Approach
Northwest Area Foundation makes grants in three targeted funding areas that we believe help create opportunities for prosperity for low-income people: building assets and wealth, building capacity and leadership, and improving public policy. We work to engage the most vulnerable populations in these efforts, including Native Americans, immigrants, people of color and the isolated poor.
The Foundation only considers grant proposals submitted by organizations invited to apply. We request proposals from proven and promising organizations able to deliver innovative programs within the Foundation’s service region: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Because of economic constraints and long-term grant commitments, we cannot accept unsolicited proposals at this time. We recognize, however, that we need to remain alert to promising work in our areas of interest, even when funds are not immediately available. We therefore welcome letters of inquiry from organizations engaged in work that is aligned with the priorities described below. You may send letters electronically to grants@nwaf.org.
Our grantmaking focuses on three strategies for long-term change:
Asset and Wealth Building
Increasing personal assets and building family wealth is one of the most effective ways to move low-income people and communities toward prosperity. We support efforts that:
• Provide direct and indirect support to effectively integrate economic development with asset- and wealth-building practices.
• Expand and develop local and regional partnerships that employ workforce development and small business strategies, including green opportunities.
Capacity and Leadership
Making lasting change depends on the active participation of people and organizations with skills, experience and knowledge. Grants support efforts to increase the civic, social, political, and economic life of communities throughout our region, with emphasis in small rural and reservation communities. We fund efforts that:
• Increase local and regional capacity among asset- and wealth-building practitioners of color.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen coalitions and networks in the region.
In the current and next fiscal year, the Foundation is addressing this outcome through existing grants to organizations and initiatives in rural, urban and American Indian reservation communities.
Public Policy
People and communities in poverty often find that existing laws and regulations create barriers to getting ahead. The Foundation believes one of the most powerful ways to eliminate those barriers is to improve public policy. We support efforts that:
• Promote civic engagement to advocate for public policy by leveraging existing work and supporting regional networks and asset coalitions.
• Expand and develop the capacity of State Fiscal Analysis Initiative(SFAI) affiliates to monitor and advocate on behalf of policies and pledges initiated at the state level. The SFAI is a network of nonpartisan organizations in 30 states that work on policy analysis and responsible tax and budget policies, particularly as they relate to low- and moderate-income families.
Leveraged Impact
The Foundation works across all three outcome areas to increase the impact of its grant dollars. We support:
• Collaborating with peer funders
• Conducting research and hosting meetings, forums and convenings that advance poverty-reduction strategies.
• Advocating for and communicating about long-term prosperity building for low-income populations
Your ideas, comments and questions about reducing poverty and building sustainable prosperity are important to us. You can email the Foundation at grants@nwaf.org, or call us at 888-904-9828.
