http%3a%2f%2fwww.nwaf.org%2fcontent%2fGrants.xmlStay up to day with our grants announcements by signing up with this feed<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (Dec. 21, 2011) - &nbsp;It may be hard to imagine that in an age of online banking the FDIC says one in four families don&rsquo;t have the money&nbsp; to open a bank account or tap basic financial services.<a href="#_edn1">[i]</a> Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s grant to the Mission Asset Fund is designed to &lsquo;bank the unbanked&rsquo; by replicating an innovative peer lending program. It provides low-income families the chance to get a loan, build credit scores, and become full banking consumers. The Foundation&rsquo;s $200,000 award to Mission Asset Fund is meant to provide an alternative to payday loans, predatory lending, and check cashing services with high fees that make it difficult to build wealth. It is among $2.25 million in grants the Foundation announced in the fourth quarter of 2011 to further strategies of increasing assets and wealth, building leadership and capacity, and improving public policy to reduce poverty.</p> <p>&ldquo;When families are struggling to get ahead, the last thing they need is excessive bank fees that rob them of their chance to build assets,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO. &ldquo;The grants we have made are aimed at making prosperity possible for low-income people by providing access to banking, financial education, job training, leadership development, and improved public policies.&rdquo;</p> <p>Grants to support financial education:</p> <ul> <li><strong>CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development) </strong>of Washington, D.C., received $500,000 over two years to strengthen the ability of asset- and wealth-building organizations that work with low-income families. Grant dollars will be used to foster collaboration in the Assets and Opportunity Network, a national movement of advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and others working to expand the reach and deepen the impact of asset-based strategies. </li> <li><strong>Iowa Caregivers Association</strong> of Des Moines, Iowa, received $215,000 over two years to work with its national partner, PHI, to provide asset-building programs for low-income direct care workers.</li> <li><strong>Build Wealth MN</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn., received $75,000 for a two-year financial education program that teaches families budgeting and savings, and matches them with basic financial products, services, programs, and affordable housing resources.</li> </ul> <p>Grants to provide vocational training:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Rural Learning Center</strong> of Howard, S.D., received $100,000 for the Green Jobs training project to prepare low- and moderate-income workers for careers as wind turbine installers and energy technicians in the emerging renewable energy industry.</li> <li><strong>Spectrum Resource Program</strong> of Des Moines, Iowa, received $60,000 for the Phoenix Project, which provides entry level job training for ex-offenders ages 18 &ndash; 21. </li> </ul> <p>The following grants further the Foundation&rsquo;s strategy of engaging leadership and building organizational ability:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Headwaters Foundations for Justice</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn., received $75,000 to engage leaders in the Twin Cities African American Leadership Forum</li> <li><strong>Urban League of Portland </strong>of Portland, Ore., received $36,267 to support efforts of the Portland African American Leadership Forum.</li> <li><strong>Native Americans in Philanthropy</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn., received $150,000 to develop leadership and organizational ability through engagement and knowledge sharing that will help build vibrant Native American communities in urban, rural and tribal areas.</li> <li><strong>Take Action Minnesota Education Fund </strong>of St. Paul, Minn., received $50,000 for organizing community leaders who will advocate for policies that reduce poverty.</li> </ul> <p>The Foundation made two grants to advance the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative affiliates, which conduct rigorous, independent research and analysis on policies, particularly those that impact low- and moderate-income working families:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Montana Budget and Policy Center </strong>of Helena, Mont., received $200,000. </li> <li><strong>South Dakota Voices for Children </strong>of Sioux Falls, S.D., received $175,000 for the South Dakota Budget &amp; Policy Project. The Foundation also made a grant of $25,000 to support two statewide coalitions that advocate for policies that promote asset-building among low-income families.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For a detailed list of Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s fourth quarter grants, visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/content/fourthqgrants11">www.nwaf.org/content/fourthqgrants11</a>.</p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by people, organizations and communities to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Foundation&rsquo;s service region includes urban, rural and American Indian reservation communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align="center">###</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr size="1" /> <p><a href="#_ednref1">[i]</a> FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. January 2009. http://www.fdic.gov/householdsurvey/</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Northwest%20Area%20Foundation%20Announces%20$2.25%20Million%20in%20GrantsWed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST<p>Our Foundation adopted a poverty-reduction focus in 1998. Since then, we have devoted more than $200 million to this mission throughout our service region.</p> <p>We provide grants to proven and promising organizations that benefit low-income populations, and organizations serving them, in rural, urban, American Indian and reservation communities throughout the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state service region.</p> <p>Our grants align with our strategic plan, and more specifically, with three interconnected, mutually reinforcing outcomes:</p> <ul> <li>&bull; Increased assets and wealth among people with low incomes.</li> <li>&bull; Increased capacity and leadership to reduce poverty.</li> <li>&bull; Improved public policy solutions to reduce poverty.</li> </ul> <p>We will evaluate success based on the results achieved by grantees, knowing that impact depends on their work. Effectiveness measures will be tailored to the specific activities undertaken by grantees and the Foundation.</p> <p><em>The Foundation&rsquo;s grants budget is significantly constrained due to existing grant commitments and challenging market conditions. As a result, the work described in our strategic plan will be phased in gradually over several years.</em></p> <p><em>In 2012, the Foundation will&nbsp;issue targeted invitations for proposals to organizations doing proven or promising work in the focus areas described (above). We anticipate that most of our funding decisions will be shaped through this process. Therefore, we cannot accept unsolicited proposals at this time.</em></p> <p>Your ideas, comments and questions about reducing poverty and building sustainable prosperity are important to us. You can contact the Foundation at grants@nwaf.org, or call us at 888-904-9828.</p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/GrantsTue, 13 Dec 2011 14:26:25 CST<p>On February 4, 2010, the Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s board of directors approved six grants designed to encourage substantial investments from other funders also intent on reducing poverty long term.&nbsp; This strategic focus on building assets and wealth is one of three the Foundation believes are critical to reducing poverty and building sustainable prosperity.&nbsp; The others are building capacity and leadership, and improving public policy solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>Totaling $665,000, these grants will support grantees&rsquo; efforts within the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state service region:&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>City of St. Paul: Employment Opportunities in Energy Construction and Deconstruction, $75,000&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /></em></strong>The City of St. Paul is partnering with Neighborhood Energy Connection, Better Futures Enterprises and Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation (TCLISC) in a nine-month pilot program to train low-income, disadvantaged, bilingual and bicultural workers as energy auditors, insulation installers and deconstruction workers.&nbsp; This initiative could trigger up to $2.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal stimulus money and housing block grants to expand access to jobs in the green energy industry.&nbsp; &nbsp;This effort will target bilingual and bicultural people with low incomes who are unemployed or underemployed and build their skills for jobs in energy conservation and deconstruction &ndash;recycling building materials rather than demolishing them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Iowa Credit Union Foundation Inc. (ICUF): Credit Union Family Partnership Individual Development Account Program, $165,000<br /></em></strong>Based in Des Moines, The Iowa Credit Union Foundation Inc. (ICUF) is the philanthropic branch of the Iowa Credit Union League, which seeks to build financial security and reduce poverty.&nbsp; ICUF&rsquo;s Credit Union Family Partnership Individual Development Account Program is a statewide initiative of ICUF to encourage personal savings, through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).&nbsp; The goal for this 18-month grant is to spur additional investment of state and federal funds that will expand by 45 the number of credit unions providing financial education training and matching dollars for the IDAs. &nbsp;&nbsp;Aimed at families earning less than $40,000 per year for a family of four or those that qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, IDAs can be used to buy a home, start a business or pay for education.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A portion of the grant will be designated for credit unions outreach to Latino communities.<strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><strong><em>Rural Dynamics, Inc:&nbsp; Assets for Montana, $150,000<br /></em></strong>Rural Dynamics Inc. (RDI), based in Great Falls, Mont., provides programs and develops partnerships that foster economic independence.&nbsp; This grant is designed to expand the work of RDI in Montana through many different strategies to building prosperity:<strong><em></em></strong></p> <ul> <li>Develop a network of nonprofit organizations that promote policy and legislation that will increase knowledge and awareness of asset-building strategies.</li> <li>&nbsp;Increase the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which returns millions of dollars every year to low income families and communities thereby helping them build personal wealth and assets.&nbsp; </li> <li>Expand access to tools to identify benefits for families working their way out of poverty and on to prosperity.</li> <li>Offer online financial education courses for Native Americans and people living in rural Montana</li> <li>Promote family savings, through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).&nbsp; This grant will release additional state and federal matching funds to augment the savings accounts of families with low incomes.&nbsp; IDA savings can be used for buying a home, paying for education or starting a business.&nbsp; </li> </ul> <p><strong><em>Local Initiatives Support Corporation: National Rural Program - Rural LISC, $100,000<br /></em></strong>The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), based in Washington, D.C., provides information and financial assistance to community development corporations (CDCs), which invest in low-income communities by developing residential and commercial property and supporting business development.<strong><em></em></strong></p> <p>This grant provides CDCs working in rural Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and South Dakota access to Rural LISC&rsquo;s network of best practices, operating support, financial expertise, federal loans and grants and jobs creation and retention programs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The award will strengthen rural CDC&rsquo;s ability to better address workforce development, financial services for the rural poor and the creation of healthy/green housing and economic development while leveraging additional state and federal dollars.</p> <p><strong><em>Latino Economic Development Center:&nbsp; Building Latino Financial Capacity, $100,000&nbsp; <br /></em></strong>Based in Minneapolis, the Latino Economic Development Center is a community economic development organization that works with Latinos and immigrants in Minneapolis/St. Paul and in rural Minnesota.<strong><em></em></strong></p> <p>Grant funding will strengthen bilingual training and business support services and increase access to capital for low income Latinos and immigrants in Minnesota.&nbsp; The award will support additional capital for start-up businesses throughout Minnesota, financial education classes and will attract outside investments to potentially expand the Latino Small Business Loan Fund.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Partners for Prosperity New Beginnings for Eastern Idaho Inc., fiscal sponsor</em></strong><em> <strong>of Latino Economic and Development (LEAD), Center $75,000<br /></strong></em>Based in Blackfoot, Idaho, LEAD works with a growing Latino and immigrant community in rural Idaho.&nbsp; &nbsp;LEAD was created with the help of its fiscal sponsor, Partners for Prosperity New Beginnings for Eastern Idaho Inc., in response to challenges the Latino community had in accessing services from mainstream financial institutions.&nbsp; <strong><em></em></strong></p> <p>This 15-month program will strengthen LEAD&rsquo;s ability to provide financial education to low income Latino and immigrant families, provide training and assistance to start-up businesses, improve access to credit, expand partnerships that will increase microloans to Latino small businesses and develop networking opportunities.</p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/FebGrantsWed, 07 Dec 2011 15:48:58 CST<p><em>Effort to build Native economies focuses on creating local businesses</em><br /><br />ST. PAUL, Minn. (Oct. 13, 2011) Northwest Area Foundation has launched a Native American Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, an innovative effort to increase the number and strength of reservation-based Native businesses. Supported by $1.59 million in grants, this two-year undertaking aims to bolster Native financial institutions that would spawn new businesses and new jobs that, over time, build stronger communities. Native social entrepreneurship not only uses business principles to build wealth, but also to formulate solutions to social issues. <br /><br />&ldquo;Historically, less than one-half of one percent of philanthropic dollars is invested in Native American programs, and studies indicate that number is decreasing. This initiative seeks to invest in Native communities&rsquo; ability to reduce poverty and build prosperity. We hope other funders will see this as an opportunity for investment and impact,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation. <br /><br />Native social entrepreneurship is one of several investment pathways identified during Foundation-sponsored roundtable discussions with Native and philanthropic leaders. Together they developed a bold and multifaceted vision for thriving Native communities describing ways funders might support efforts in healthcare, education, economic development, community revitalization and more. <br /><br />&ldquo;Native social entrepreneurship offers great hope for social change that reduces poverty. Currently, most Native American reservations have little to no locally-based businesses. When nearly all money is spent outside Native communities, there are few opportunities to create jobs, earn a living, and build prosperous families,&rdquo; added Walker.<br /><strong><br />Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN)</strong> of Tigard, Ore. will lead the two-year initiative. The Foundation awarded ONABEN a $491,627 grant to support an educational cohort in which the participating Native organizations will meet regularly to learn and share best practices. The goal is to increase their ability to improve entrepreneurship in their communities. Training and assistance will focus on strengthening their operations and prospects for long-term sustainability and on applying entrepreneurial principles to social issues in the broader community. Participants will test innovative asset-based strategies and expand services that create assets and wealth.<br /><br />Six additional grants have been awarded to Native nonprofits participating in the cohort. Many of these organizations are community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that support new businesses with loans, business plan development, marketing assistance, and financial projections. In addition, they will receive funds to implement pilot programs that build assets and wealth.<br /><br /><strong>Four Bands Community Fund Inc</strong>. of Eagle Butte, S.D. will receive up to $100,000 over two years to create a green business development curriculum, including green business training and entrepreneurship outreach services. Four Bands will work in partnership with Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures.<br /><strong><br />Hunkpati Investments Inc</strong>. of Fort Thompson, S.D. will receive up to $200,000 for its fledgling Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which seeks to stimulate economic growth on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian reservation. Located in one of the most impoverished regions in the nation, Hunkpati Investments will pilot a youth financial initiative offering financial education, job training, matched savings accounts, and hands-on business experience.<br /><br /><strong>Lakota Funds</strong> of Kyle, S.D. will receive up to $200,000 to support a pilot project for a children&rsquo;s matched savings program known as Children&rsquo;s Development Accounts (CDA). The program will offer financial education that embraces partnerships with area schools, churches, and other community organizations. If successful, the CDAs will be introduced on other Native American reservations.<br /><br /><strong>Northwest Native Development Fund (NNDF)</strong> of Nespelem, Wash. will receive up to $200,000 to implement its Growing into Our Footprint project which will expand business training, outreach, tax preparation assistance, and access to loans. This initiative will promote matched savings programs and use of the Earned Income Tax Credit.<br /><br /><strong>Taala Fund</strong> of Taholah, Wash. will receive up to $200,000 for the Quinault Asset Building initiative, which introduces youth to financial management and business principles in order to pave pathways to future prosperity.&nbsp; The grant provides resources for the Taala Fund, a CDFI, to provide asset-building services such as training, assistance, and microloans.<br /><br /><strong>Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation</strong> &ndash; Business Service Center of Pendleton, Ore. will receive up to $200,000 to provide business and financial education as early as elementary school. The curriculum will include a hands-on summer internship for middle school and high school students to prepare them for the emerging economy on the Umatilla reservation.</p> <p>For a detailed list of Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s third quarter grants, visit www.nwaf.org/content/thirdqgrants. To listen to a podcast on Native social entrepreneurship, visit http://www.nwaf.org/Media/AudioVideoGallery.</p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by people, organizations and communities to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Foundation&rsquo;s service region includes urban, rural and American Indian reservation communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934. For more information, please visit www.nwaf.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br /></p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Effort%20to%20build%20Native%20economies%20focuses%20on%20creating%20local%20businessesThu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CST<p>The Following is a list of yearly grants made since the Foundation began grantmaking as outlined in the NWAF Strategic Plan approved in October of 2008.</p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/YearlyGrantsListWed, 15 Jun 2011 15:33:56 CST<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 11, 2011) &ndash; Some low-income, working families are eligible for tax credit money from the Internal Revenue Service, but many aren&rsquo;t aware of it.&nbsp; Northwest Area Foundation awarded a grant so the two in 10 families that currently don&rsquo;t claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will collect that refund. Some may be eligible to receive up to $5,657 for tax year 2010 depending on family size. The Foundation&rsquo;s grant of $125,000 to AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM) will support free tax preparation services in 2011 and 2012 to help connect struggling families to tax refunds, money that may boost personal assets above the poverty line. AAM also partners with banks and credit unions to offer financial services, like free savings accounts and low-cost prepaid debit cards, which are available to families regardless of their banking or credit history. These products are aimed at creating more savings, less debt and better credit.<br /><br />This support to AAM is among 50 grants totaling $1.83 million the Foundation made between October 15, 2010 and March 31, 2011. The grants support efforts to increase wealth among people with low incomes, develop leadership skills, and to shape public policy. These efforts are critical to reducing poverty long term.<br /><br />&ldquo;The best path out of poverty is to increase household income, so families can get beyond the paycheck-to-paycheck struggle and start building long-term assets. We are investing in programs to create living wage jobs, increase financial security, support small businesses, and improve policies that are barriers to prosperity,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.<br /><br />Among the other grants are:<br /><strong><br />&bull;Enterprise Cascadia (formerly ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia</strong>) of Ilwaco, Wash. received $125,000 for the Community Power Works Community Power Works program in Seattle that offers energy-saving home improvements and creates living wage jobs in the budding green energy sector. Enterprise Cascadia will establish a lending pool to enable disadvantaged and start-up businesses to participate in weatherization contracts offered through the city of Seattle.<br /><strong>&bull;CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development)</strong> of Washington, D.C. received $250,000 for the Building Financial Assets in the Northwest project to promote small business development, provide business assistance, and advance policies that will help low-income businesses succeed. <br /><strong>&bull;Native Americans in Philanthropy</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn. received $100,000 on behalf of the <strong>Native Youth Leadership Alliance</strong> to support the Tribal College Students Project, a program that develops student leaders with skills to initiate economic development in their Native communities.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><strong>&bull;Mountain States Group, Inc.</strong> of Boise, Idaho received $100,000 to establish and support the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) in Idaho. The SFAI is committed to in-depth analysis that will inform the development of tax and budget policy, with a focus on the needs of low- and moderate-income families.</p> <p>For a complete list of Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s grants, visit www.nwaf.org/content/firstqgrants.<br /><br />The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by people, organizations and communities to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Foundation&rsquo;s service region includes urban, rural and American Indian reservation communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934. For more information, please visit www.nwaf.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br /><br /></p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Some%20low-income%20familiesWed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 CST<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (December 7, 2010) Efforts to overcome poverty are taking a decidedly green turn, supported by Northwest Area Foundation grants. The Foundation has announced five grants totaling $550,000 to nonprofit organizations that work to build assets and leadership abilities among Native Americans. They are among $1.79 million in awards the Foundation approved. Funded initiatives span Tribal classrooms in South Dakota to green jobs training in Oregon.<br /><br /></p> <p>Amid the rolling prairies of South Dakota, Native tribes have realized their next generation needs tools to break the cycle of poverty. One strategy is to offer financial education as early as elementary school. A grant of $100,000 to Four Bands Community Fund will help make that a reality on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Four Bands is developing the Making Waves curriculum and will market it to other South Dakota tribes so they, too, can introduce it in their schools.<br /><br />Nearly 2,000 miles away in Portland, Ore., a $125,000 grant to the Native American Youth &amp; Family Center (NAYA) focuses on developing green jobs and small businesses. NAYA will form partnerships to establish career development services and a job training center focused on green energy opportunities. A new Family Center Marketplace will offer small entrepreneurs a place to test business plans before launching their ventures.<br /><br />&ldquo;These grants reflect the commitment we have to increasing prosperity among Native Americans living on and off the reservation. We&rsquo;re supporting projects designed to build personal assets through new jobs and strong communities,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Foundation.<em>&nbsp; <br /><br /></em>The $550,000 granted will support workforce development, asset-building and community leadership.<br /><br /><strong>For workforce development and small-business strategies - $250,000 </strong>was awarded to two nonprofits:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Montana Community Development Corporation</strong> of Missoula, Mont. received $125,000 to expand jobs creation and economic development in eastern Montana and on five Native American reservations.</li> <li><strong>Native American Youth &amp; Family Center (NAYA)</strong> of Portland, Ore. received $125,000 to support the Green Job Training &amp; Small Business Development project. </li> </ul> <p><strong>To combine asset-building with community development - $200,000</strong> was awarded to two nonprofits:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Four Bands Community Fund </strong>of Eagle Butte, S.D. received $100,000 to introduce the Making Waves youth financial education in Tribal schools.</li> <li><strong>Oregon Native American Business &amp; Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) </strong>of Tigard, Ore. received $100,000 to continue its work increasing family assets, the Indian Entrepreneurship Development System, and partnerships to create new sources of Native capital.</li> </ul> <p><strong>To build leadership to reduce poverty - $100,000 </strong>was awarded to one organization:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Native Youth Leadership Alliance</strong> of Pine Ridge Reservation received $100,000 through a grant to its fiscal sponsor, <strong>Native Americans in Philanthropy, </strong>to assist in launching a leadership development and advocacy program for Native American college students in South Dakota, Washington and Montana.</li> </ul> <p>The Foundation also supports efforts to improve public policy that affects low-income families. For a description of all the grants, visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org">www.nwaf.org</a>.<br /><br />The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in eight states to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934.</p> <p>The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p align="center">###</p> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/$550,000%20Awarded%20to%20Nonprofit%20Organizations%20that%20Serve%20Native%20American%20InterestsTue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (December 7, 2010) Efforts to overcome poverty are taking a decidedly green turn, supported by Northwest Area Foundation grants. The Foundation has announced four grants totaling $375,800 for reducing poverty and building prosperity among low-income Latino families. They are among $1.79 million in awards the Foundation approved this quarter. Funded initiatives span farm fields in southern Minnesota to green jobs initiatives in Idaho.</p> <p>The largest investment will fund training for low-income business owners, a key component to building assets and wealth. A $140,800 grant to the Main Street Project of Minneapolis, Minn. will bolster the Rural Enterprise Center Agripreneur Training Program. This innovative way of creating prosperity offers Latinos culturally-relevant training in small-scale farming. Families expand their enterprises through access to community garden plots for growing vegetables and land for raising poultry.<br /><br />Nearly 2,000 miles away in Boise, Idaho, a $125,000 grant to the Mountain States Group and its microenterprise program, META, will support the Growing Green Business Initiative. The award will provide green jobs training and for low-income refugees and Latinos. Those who want to start or expand a green business will be able to tap into a small revolving loan fund to finance their ventures.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />&ldquo;Finding a job or starting a business is challenging in any economy. It can be especially difficult for Latino families who are trying to integrate their background and skills in a new culture. These grants will leverage new opportunities by creating jobs in promising new industries,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Foundation.&nbsp;<br /><br />The Foundation awarded $60,000 to Hacienda Community Development Corporation of Portland, Ore. to combine asset building with community development. The grant will provide disadvantaged Latinos access to small business loans, financial education, leadership development, and GED classes through the Plaza Comunitaria adult education program.<br /><br />The Foundation made a grant of $50,000 to the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation for $50,000 for the CAPACES Leadership Institute. CAPACES is a unique partnership between nine nonprofit organizations that provides leadership training across a diverse sector of Latinos. The grant will help support a new Latino-based leadership curriculum and a building in which the Institute will be housed.<br /><br />The Foundation also supports efforts to improve public policy to benefit people with low incomes<em>. </em>Visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a> for a description on all the grants.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/$375,800%20will%20support%20programs%20to%20increase%20prosperity%20among%20LatinosTue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CST<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (November 4, 2010) Efforts to overcome poverty are taking a decidedly green turn, supported by Northwest Area Foundation grants. The Foundation has announced 35 grants totaling $1.79 million. Funded initiatives span farm fields in southern Minnesota to green jobs training in Oregon.<br /><br />The largest investment will support training for low-income entrepreneurs, a key approach for building assets and wealth. The Foundation&rsquo;s $140,800 grant to the Main Street Project of Minneapolis, Minn. will bolster the Rural Enterprise Center Agripreneur Training Program. An innovative way of creating prosperity, it offers Latinos culturally-relevant training in a system of small-scale sustainable farming. Families increase assets through access to community garden plots for growing vegetables and to land for raising poultry.</p> <p>Nearly 2,000 miles away in Portland, Ore., a $125,000 grant to the Native American Youth &amp; Family Center (NAYA) focuses on developing green jobs and small businesses. NAYA will form partnerships to establish career development services and a job training center for green energy opportunities. A new Family Center Marketplace will offer small entrepreneurs a place to test business plans before launching their ventures.</p> <p>&ldquo;These grants will leverage new opportunities by creating jobs in industry, including green opportunities. We&rsquo;re supporting projects designed to open avenues for low-income workers to get in on the ground floor and take advantage of emerging industries and new careers,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Foundation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Besides increasing assets and wealth, the Foundation supports building leadership and improving public policy. The following are highlights of the grants made.<br /><br /><strong>To implement workforce development and small business strategies - $640,800 </strong>was awarded to five nonprofits:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Main Street Project</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn. received $140,800 for the Rural Enterprise Center Rural Agripreneur Training Program.</li> <li><strong>Mountain States Group</strong> of Boise, Idaho and its microenterprise program, META, received $125,000 for the Growing Green Businesses&nbsp;project to offer assistance, training, and small loans to low-income green entrepreneurs, with a focus on refugees and Latinos in southwest Idaho.</li> <li><strong>Montana Community Development Corporation</strong> of Missoula, Mont. received $125,000 to expand job creation and economic development in eastern Montana and on five Native American<br />reservations.</li> <li><strong>Native American Youth &amp; Family Center (NAYA)</strong> of Portland, Ore. received $125,000 to support the Green Job Training &amp; Small Business Development project.&nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Enterprise Cascadia</strong> of Ilwaco, Wash. received $125,000 to support a lending pool to assist women, minority, and low-income contractors in bidding for weatherization jobs and contracts through the Seattle Community Power Works project.</li> </ul> <p><strong>To combine asset-building and economic development - $332,853</strong> was awarded to five nonprofits:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Four Bands Community Fund </strong>of Eagle Butte, S.D. received $100,000 to integrate the Making Waves youth financial training within the curriculum of Tribal schools.</li> <li><strong>Hacienda Community Development Corporation</strong> of Portland, Ore. received $60,000 to provide Latinos access to small business loans, financial education, leadership development, and completion of GED classes through the Plaza Comunitaria adult education program.</li> <li><strong>Washington State Microenterprise Association </strong>of Federal Way, Wash. received $72,853 to link asset and wealth development tools, including low-income tax credits and individual savings accounts, with small business training and assistance.</li> <li><strong>First Children&rsquo;s Finance</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn. received $100,000 to strengthen childcare businesses and the quality of childcare in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa to benefit low- and moderate-income workers.</li> <li><strong>Oregon Native American Business &amp; Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) </strong>of Tigard, Ore. received $100,000 to continue its work increasing family assets, the Indian Entrepreneurship Development System, and partnerships to create new sources of Native capital.</li> </ul> <p><strong>To build leadership for reducing poverty - $150,000 </strong>has been allocated to the following organizations:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Native Youth Leadership Alliance</strong> of Pine Ridge Reservation received $100,000 through a grant to its fiscal sponsor, <strong>Native Americans in Philanthropy, </strong>to assist in launching a leadership development and advocacy program for Native American college students in South Dakota, Washington and Montana.</li> <li><strong>Farmworkers Housing Development Corporation </strong>of Woodburn, Ore. received $50,000 to support the CAPACES Leadership Institute capital campaign. The money will be used to develop curriculum and construct a building to house the Institute. This unique partnership between nine nonprofit organizations provides leadership training across a diverse sector of Latinos.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>To improve public policy solutions - $50,000</strong> was awarded to one organization:</p> <ul> <li><strong>The Statewide Poverty Action Network </strong>of Seattle, Wash. received $50,000 through its fiscal sponsor, Solid Ground. The grant will support the Grassroots Activism and Advocacy project to establish and train statewide coalitions. They will advocate for policies that increase assets and wealth for people with low incomes.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>To increase impact on poverty reduction -</strong> <strong>$125,000</strong> has been allocated to two nonprofit organizations:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Headwaters Foundation for Justice</strong> of Minneapolis, Minn. received $75,000 for the African American Leadership Forum to address critical challenges facing the Twin Cities African American community. &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees</strong> of Sebastopol, Calif. received $50,000 to engage Foundations within the Northwest region in conversations about economic integration of immigrant families.</li> </ul> <p>For a complete list of the grants included in this announcement, visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.</p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in eight states to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934.</p> <p>The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p align="center">###</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Grants%20totaling%20$1.79%20million%20will%20promote%20access%20to%20prosperity%20for%20low-income%20peopleThu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 CST<p style="text-align: left;"><em>Grants will boost poverty reduction strategies guided by seven state universities <br /></em>ST. PAUL, Minn. &nbsp;(July 26, 2010) &nbsp;The Northwest Area Foundation has awarded grants totaling $1.9 million to seven state universities to expand work of Horizons &ndash; an 18-month leadership development program for rural towns with populations of 5,000 or fewer and with poverty rates of at least 10 percent. These grants will bolster poverty-reduction work within 260 communities in seven states that have completed Horizons. The funds will support work such as financial literacy education for youth and adults, business training, leadership development, public policy engagement and building awareness and use of tax credits for low-income families.&nbsp; Grant dollars will also be used to further community action plans, leverage public and private funding and to identify resources communities can tap into to sustain their work. The universities&rsquo; extension services will provide coaching, training, and resources.<br /><br />&ldquo;Horizons has been a powerful call to action for people passionate about making change in their rural communities.&nbsp; We want to build on the momentum that nearly 300 towns have generated in just a year-and-a-half.&nbsp; These funds will help move their ideas to the next level of impact,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.<br /><br />Grants were made to the following intermediary organizations:</p> <p><strong>Regents of the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho - $200,000</strong> will fund asset- and wealth-building strategies in 34 communities.&nbsp;&nbsp; Activities include financial literacy education for youth and adults, small business training, tax clinics, grant-seeking workshops and networking at a statewide rural conference.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - $200,000 </strong>was awarded to<strong> </strong>increase understanding of financial management, leadership, public speaking and public policy skills in 25 communities and to increase understanding of poverty among University graduate students.&nbsp; <strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Washington State University, Spokane, Washington - $300,000 </strong>was awarded to<strong> </strong>build partnerships in 40 communities that will increase leadership and effectiveness, expand asset- and wealth- creation programs, and build expertise in public policy work. Funding will provide intensive trainings in asset- and wealth-building strategies, such as savings accounts and tax credits for low income people, microenterprise development, affordable housing and transportation.&nbsp; <strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Iowa State University Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa - $300,000<a href="CustomNewsReleaseEdit.aspx#_ftn1">[1]</a> </strong>was awarded to provide continued coaching, assistance and resources to the Horizons Steering Committees, the groups that guide Horizons in 35 communities.&nbsp; Funding will support asset- and wealth-creation opportunities, tax preparation training, and financial management training.&nbsp; Statewide convenings on financial literacy issues, leadership and public policy will<strong> </strong>promote civic engagement.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana - $300,000 </strong>was awarded to promote financial education, business training, leadership development and civic engagement in 35 communities.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota - $300,000 </strong>was awarded to support work in 42 communities such as youth and family financial literacy trainings, regional microenterprise trainings and strategies to promote community gardens and farmers markets.</p> <p><strong>South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota - $300,000 </strong>was awarded to fund advanced education and technical trainings in 36 communities within four key areas:&nbsp; entrepreneurship, development of local food systems, family financial management, business training and mentorships, and leadership training.</p> <p>All 260 communities will convene for monthly webinars with their counterparts across the seven states to build connections, develop awareness of others&rsquo; work, learn about potential collaborative efforts and increase knowledge about successful asset- and wealth-building strategies. &nbsp;They will gather periodically within their own states for networking and information sharing.<em>&nbsp;</em></p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill&rsquo;s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis.&nbsp; For more information about the Foundation&rsquo;s grantmaking approach and the work of grantees across its eight-state region, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ###<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <hr size="1" /> </p> <p><a href="CustomNewsReleaseEdit.aspx#_ftnref1">[1]</a> $76,000 of this grant is from the Northwest Area Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Grants%20will%20boost%20poverty%20reduction%20strategies%20guided%20by%20seven%20state%20universities%20Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CST<p>ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 1, 2010) The Northwest Area Foundation has awarded eight grants totaling $1.59 million to reduce poverty and build prosperity among people with low incomes.&nbsp; The grants will support community action plans to reduce poverty and move toward prosperity in 99 small towns located in seven states within the Foundation&rsquo;s region.&nbsp; The money will also further efforts to improve public policy that impacts people with low incomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Northwest Area Foundation approved the following grants for <strong>building capacity and leadership</strong>:</p> <p>Seven<strong> </strong>grants totaling<strong> $841,500 </strong>were awarded to community foundations to support grants for small towns that have completed the Horizons III leadership program:</p> <p><strong>Minnesota Community Foundation - $102,000<br />Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines - $119,000<br /></strong><em>*This is a donor-advised fund grant from the Northwest Area Fund<br /></em><strong>North Dakota Community Foundation - $127,500<br />South Dakota Community Foundation - $110,500<br />Montana Community Foundation - $127,500<br />Idaho Community Foundation -$127,500<br />Washington State&nbsp;4-H Foundation - $127,500</strong></p> <p>The community foundations will direct the money to 99 small towns in seven states to implement community plans developed in the 18-month Horizons III program.&nbsp;&nbsp; Universities that Northwest Area Foundation works with in each of the seven states coach the communities and assist with action plans that call for services which help low income people thrive, such as daycare, affordable housing, transportation, adult education, job training, youth services, tourism or local farmers markets.&nbsp; Horizons is a leadership development program aimed at reducing poverty in towns with populations of 5,000 or fewer.&nbsp; Each community that completes Horizons receives a $10,000 grant.</p> <p>Northwest Area&nbsp;Foundation made one grant to<strong> improve public policy solutions:</strong></p> <p>$<strong>750,000 </strong>was awarded to The <strong>Seattle Foundation </strong>of Seattle to support <strong>Strategies to Eliminate Poverty (STEP).&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>Through this grant, STEP will provide funding to nonprofits working on public policy solutions to reduce poverty across the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region.&nbsp; This grant will help strengthen and expand State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) affiliates, which work for responsible tax and budget policies for low income people.&nbsp; This award will fund efforts to include immigrants, tribes, people of color, and faith-based groups in statewide poverty reduction policy efforts.&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;We are confident that grants to these proven organizations will make an impact on efforts to help low income families that are struggling to get ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp; Public policy is one of our nation&rsquo;s most effective tools to get to the root of poverty and increase prosperity.&nbsp;&nbsp; Building leadership equips people with the tools to make deep and lasting change that will transform the direction of struggling communities,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Northwest Area Foundation also makes grants to further asset- and wealth-building.&nbsp; The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals by invitation only.&nbsp; For more information about the Foundation&rsquo;s grantmaking approach and the work of grantees across its eight-state region, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill&rsquo;s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.</p> <p align="center">###</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/ST.%20PAUL,%20Minn.%20(June%201,%202010)%20The%20Northwest%20Area%20Foundation%20has%20awardedTue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CST<p><em>Click on search grants on the right navigation bar to find a specific grant</em></p> <p>President- and vice president-approved grants totaling $951,518 were made from April 1, 2009 &ndash; March 31, 2010.&nbsp; Similar to the board-approval process,&nbsp; executive-approved grants are made by invitation only to nonprofit programs that further one of the three outcomes the Foundation has identified as being crucial to reducing poverty and increasing prosperity:&nbsp; building assets and wealth, building leadership and capacity, and improving public policy.&nbsp; Grants were also made to advance the work of other funders to increase economic opportunities or to leverage public policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />The following is a list and description of the executive-approved grants made during the Foundation&rsquo;s Fiscal Year 2010 (April 2009 &ndash; March 31, 2010):</p> <p><strong>Augsburg College </strong>of Minneapolis received $3,912.79 to support the Center for Democracy and Citizenship.</p> <p><strong>Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Inc. </strong>of Bethesda, Maryland received $10,000 to administer scholarships for the <em>Grassroots &amp; Groundwork</em> 2010 conference.</p> <p><strong>The Center for Community Change</strong> of Washington D.C. received $100,000 for community organizing in Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon.&nbsp; Center for Community Change (CCC) will assist low-income people in creating local leadership networks in the Northwest that can tap into national networks which assist in shaping state and federal policy on jobs, wealth creation and asset building.&nbsp; The grant will provide small sub-grants to organizations for participation in community organizing and will fund training about American democracy.&nbsp; In addition, CCC will work with immigrants within the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region moving them toward citizenship and integration.</p> <p><strong>Center for Communication and Development</strong> of Minneapolis received $20,000 to expand programming on KMOJ radio that will benefit people with low incomes.&nbsp; The grant will support two weekly asset- and wealth-creation radio programs over a year&rsquo;s time and will fund technological improvements that will foster greater interaction with its audience.&nbsp; Some of the money will be used to hire a consultant to write a business and fund development plan.</p> <p><strong>CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development) </strong>of Washington, D.C. received $35,000 to support the Asset and Opportunity Policy Campaign.</p> <p><strong>Demos </strong>of New York, received $75,000 for the Public Works project.&nbsp; This grant will fund training for Northwest Area Foundation grantees to increase their understanding of developing effective public policy solutions to reduce poverty and build prosperity.&nbsp; Trainings will focus on advocacy, building coalitions and shaping public campaign communications.&nbsp; Demos will partner STEP (Strategies to Eliminate Poverty), to deliver the public policy advocacy training.&nbsp; STEP is a grantmaking initiative of the Seattle Foundation funded by a grant from Northwest Area Foundation. STEP focuses on improving public policy to benefit people with low incomes within the Foundation&rsquo;s region.</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>Framing Our Community </strong>of Elk City, Idaho received $75,000 to expand small business training and to support a regional network that provides workforce training and economic development opportunities for displaced and low- and moderate-income workers in rural north central Idaho and within the Nez Perce Tribe.&nbsp; This initiative will offer job training to low-income workers in five counties and the Nez Perce reservation where three major businesses have closed or downsized in the past five years, resulting in significant job loss within the region.&nbsp; The grant will fund expansion of the Workforce Training and Economic Development Center small business incubator program.&nbsp; Framing Our Community is projecting to offer up to 90 people small business training, create up to 25 living wage jobs, and offer a limited number of small business micro loans.</p> <p><strong>Fresh Air, Inc. (KFAI Radio) </strong>of Minneapolis received $35,000 to support the &ldquo;Conversations with Al McFarlane&rdquo; radio program.&nbsp; The topics center on economic and community development in low income neighborhoods.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Headwaters Foundation for Justice </strong>of Minneapolis received $75,000 to support the Twin Cities African American Leadership Forum.</p> <p><strong>Idaho Nonprofit Development Center </strong>of Boise, Idaho received $35,000 for a convening of nonprofit organizations and policy- and low income advocates to discuss public policy and fiscal analysis needs for Idaho</p> <p><strong>The Minneapolis Foundation </strong>of Minneapolis received $50,000 to support statewide immigrant funders collaborative.&nbsp; This initiative will focus on advocacy and integration of immigrants in Minnesota. The collaborative is expected to attract additional local and national funding, which will be re-granted to Minnesota organizations and coalitions working on immigrant integration.&nbsp; Other components call for establishing a learning network and for providing sub-grants to support economic improvement, leadership development and advocacy on state and federal levels.</p> <p><strong>Northwest Area Foundation&rsquo;s Matching Gift Program </strong>received $10,000 to match donations employees made to qualifying nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Ohio State University Foundation and Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity </strong>of Columbus, Ohio received $50,000 for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University and to develop opportunity maps for Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.&nbsp; This grant will raise awareness of the structural and community barriers impacting marginalized communities.&nbsp; Opportunity maps are geographical overlays, which will identify patterns of access and opportunities.&nbsp; The maps will provide a detailed analysis of each region&rsquo;s demographics, including race, ethnicity and income, highlighting the impact of policies in overcoming poverty at the neighborhood level.&nbsp; Each map will include an assessment of affordable housing, foreclosures, access to credit, and housing investments associated with federal stimulus money.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PolicyLink</strong> of Oakland, California received $50,000 to research predatory investing practices in order to identify and recommend best practices and actions for area organizations.</p> <p><strong>Rebuilding Together &ndash; Twin Cities</strong> of Minneapolis received $3,000 for general operating support.&nbsp; Rebuilding Together brings together volunteers and communities to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners, particularly older adults, the disabled and families with children.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The Saint Paul Foundation</strong> of St. Paul. Minn.&nbsp;received $25,000 for the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. This grant will support forums on issues affecting low income communities located along the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit that is planned between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Forums will address business resources, affordable housing, workforce and economic development and job access.&nbsp; <strong><br /></strong> <p><strong>South Dakota Community Foundation </strong>of Pierre, South Dakota and<strong> Native Americans in Philanthropy </strong>of Minneapolis<strong> </strong>received $10,000 each to support emergency disaster relief for Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. These awards are provided as matching funds solicit donations to aid recovery from a winter ice storm that damaged homes, buildings and the tribe&rsquo;s main water system on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation.</p> <p><strong>Stairstep Foundation</strong> of Minneapolis received $50,000 for economic initiatives for people with low incomes in North Minneapolis. The grant will support public policy advocacy, affordable home ownership opportunities, jobs creation, financial literacy education and neighborhood renovations.&nbsp; It will also support a study to determine whether to establish an African American-led community bank, create a Community Development Corporation, and develop financial education centering on credit and alternatives to predatory lending.</p> <p><strong>University of Minnesota &ndash; Sponsored Projects Administration </strong>of Minneapolis received two grants totaling $58,030 for an Institute on Race and Poverty research report on credit access in the Twin Cities, Portland and Seattle, and to distribute a report on the economic impacts of immigration.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>$171,575 </strong>went to support sponsorship, memberships and conferences for the following organizations:</p> <p>African-American Academy for Accelerated Learning<br />Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy<br />The Aspen Institute Inc.<br />Association of Black Foundation Executives<br />Council on Foundations<br />Food Gatherers<br />Foundation Center<br />Grantmakers for Effective Organizations<br />Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington<br />Grants Managers Network<br />Hispanics in Philanthropy<br />Independent Sector<br />Iowa Council of Foundations<br />Minnesota Council on Foundations<br />National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy<br />National Urban Fellows, Inc.<br />Native American Youth and Family Center<br />Native Americans in Philanthropy<br />Neighborhood Funders Group<br />Open Arms of Minnesota, Inc.<br />Partners for Prosperity New Beginning for Eastern Idaho<br />Philanthropy Northwest<br />State of Minnesota &ndash;Council on Black Minnesotans<br />Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity<br />Way to Grow<br />YWCA of Minneapolis</p> </p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/ExecGrantsFri, 28 May 2010 08:26:56 CST<p><em>Grants aimed at leveraging additional dollars for greater impact on poverty reduction<br /></em>ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 16, &nbsp;2010) - The Northwest Area Foundation has awarded two grants totaling $175,000&nbsp; to promote financial literacy and small business development for Latinos in Minnesota and Idaho, particularly in rural areas where access to credit is limited.&nbsp; The grants to two Latino-led organizations are designed to attract additional outside funding for a greater impact on building assets and wealth, a key element in moving from poverty to prosperity.</p> <p>&ldquo;Latinos immigrants living and working in our region often have to work very hard to overcome language and cultural barriers in order to integrate their skills in the job market.&nbsp; That can make it hard to access the training and credit they need to start or establish a business. It&rsquo;s even more difficult when they live in rural areas that are disconnected from mainstream financial institutions,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.&nbsp; &ldquo;These grants are designed to provide low-income Latinos with access to capital and training that will build sustainable prosperity.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Northwest Area Foundation board of directors approved the two grants at its February 2010 meeting.</p> <p><strong>Latino Economic Development Center, Minneapolis, Minn. - $100,000 <br /></strong>Based in Minneapolis, the Latino Economic Development Center is a community economic development organization that works with Latinos and immigrants in Minneapolis/St. Paul and in rural Minnesota.<br /><br />Grant funding will strengthen bilingual training and business support services and increase access to credit for low-income Latinos and immigrants in Minnesota.&nbsp; The award will support additional capital for start-up businesses throughout the state, financial education classes and will attract outside investments to potentially expand the Latino Small Business Loan Fund.</p> <p><strong>Partners for Prosperity Eastern Idaho, fiscal sponsor for Latino Economic and Development (LEAD)</strong> <strong>Center, Blackfoot, Idaho - $75,000 </strong>&nbsp;<br />Based in Blackfoot, Idaho, LEAD works with a growing Latino and immigrant community in rural Idaho.&nbsp;&nbsp; LEAD was created with the help of its fiscal sponsor, Partners for Prosperity New Beginnings for Eastern Idaho Inc., in response to challenges the Latino community had in accessing services from mainstream financial institutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>This 15-month program will strengthen LEAD&rsquo;s ability to provide financial education to low income Latino and immigrant families, provide training and assistance to start-up businesses, improve access to credit, expand partnerships that will increase micro loans to Latino small businesses, and develop networking opportunities.</p> <p>These two grants are part of approximately $1,000,000 the Foundation has invested over the past two years in efforts to reduce and build prosperity within urban- and rural-Latino communities in eight states.&nbsp; In addition to building assets and wealth, Northwest Area Foundation grants support efforts to build capacity and leadership and improve public policy solutions to help people with low-incomes attain thriving, self-sustaining lives. <strong></strong></p> <p>The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis.&nbsp; For more information about the Foundation&rsquo;s grantmaking approach and the work of grantees across its eight-state region, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill&rsquo;s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.</p> <p align="center">###</p> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/Grants%20aimed%20at%20leveraging%20additional%20dollars%20for%20greater%20impact%20on%20poverty%20reductionTue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CST<p>In October 2009, the Northwest Area Foundation made 14 grants totaling $2.04 million &ndash; the first awards approved under its new grantmaking approach.&nbsp; The Foundation&rsquo;s board of directors approved the organization&rsquo;s new strategic plan a year ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />Over the next several years, the Foundation will guide its grantmaking, and non-grantmaking resources, to advance effective practice in asset and workforce development, as well as in economic development and job training in growth areas, such as the energy sector.&nbsp; The goal is to help nonprofits build their skill and knowledge, and to encourage organized communities able to nurture sustainable grassroots efforts.&nbsp; Grantmaking will also focus on improving public policy.</p> <p>The grantees in this first round were selected because of their programmatic focus, organizational leadership, past achievements, and the ability to support to community-based practitioners within the Foundation&rsquo;s entire eight-state service region.</p> <p>The grant winners are nationally-known and ethnically-diverse organizations that support community-based practitioners focused on asset-building projects, as well as on efforts that help individuals and families build their financial and human assets.&nbsp; Their efforts directly address one or more of the Foundation&rsquo;s three outcomes:</p> <ul> <li>Increased assets and wealth among people with low incomes</li> <li>Increased capacity and leadership to reduce poverty</li> <li>Improved public policy solutions to reduce poverty</li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-size: small;">Grant Details</span></h3> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Increased Assets and Wealth - $1.565 million</strong><strong> </strong></span>to support organizations that integrate economic development with asset- and wealth-building practices, expand local and regional partnerships for workforce development, implement small business strategies, and increase access to green jobs across the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region<strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>These grants are disbursed in two clusters:</p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>1.&nbsp; Organizations integrating economic development and asset building practices -$1.265 million</strong><strong> </strong></span>to intermediary organizations that provide local community organizations with technical assistance, training, networking, leadership and regranting:<strong></strong></p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>CFED - $365,000 <br /></em></strong>This Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization works to expand economic opportunities for all Americans.&nbsp; Grant dollars will fund four projects:</p> <ul style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"> <li>Work with nonprofit organizations to establish matched savings programs within the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region such as Individual Development Accounts that can be used to save for college, purchase a home or start a business.&nbsp; </li> <li>Provide research on asset policies and program strategies to help city leaders in two cities determine the financial stability of their residents</li> <li>Promote the use of the Self Employment Tax Initiative that bolsters small business development through access to the Earned Income Tax Credit for low income workers</li> <li>Encourage innovative practice, products and programs that will increase economic opportunities within the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region, including support for innovators of asset building programs and training in poverty reduction tools such as the Assets &amp; Opportunities Scorecard.</li> </ul> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>First Nations Development Institute - $100,000</em></strong></p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px">Headquartered in Longmont, Colo., First Nations Development Institute works to strengthen American Indian economies by investing in economic development and asset control strategies.<br />This award will develop the Native-Asset Building Partnership project, a peer mentorship project among several tribes to share what works in self-governance and economic development.&nbsp;&nbsp; Mentoring will focus on the development of tribal code, enterprise, alternative energy and community development financial institutions.</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>First Nations Oweesta</em></strong> <strong><em>- $200,000<br /></em></strong>First Nations Oweesta, Rapid City, S.D., works to develop Native assets and build strong Native communities. This grant will help establish strong Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and asset-building programs within the eight-state region.&nbsp; Oweesta will provide financial training and regranting of funds to CDFIs to promote the use of individual development accounts, earned income tax credit and loan products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>Seattle Economic Development Association (SEDA)/Express Advantage - $100,000<br /></em></strong>SEDA, Seattle, Wash., is a community development financial institution and fiscal sponsor of Express Advantage, the affiliate of the Express Credit Union that serves people with low incomes and who experience cultural barriers when accessing mainstream financial services in King County, Washington. &nbsp;Express Credit Union will build partnerships with nonprofit organizations to establish new ways to increase access to capital among people with low incomes and reduce the need for payday and predatory lenders. &nbsp;Financial education case workers will be based at partner nonprofits, making it easier to reach the unbanked with access to credit, individual development accounts, small business loans, car loans and other lending products.&nbsp;</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) - $300,000 <br /></em></strong>NALCAB, San Antonio, Texas, is the national voice for Latino-led community development corporations and community-based organizations that focus on asset building.&nbsp;&nbsp; Its mission is to build financial and human assets as well as real estate and technology resources for Latino families, communities and organizations.&nbsp;</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px">This grant will allow NALCAB and its partners to offer training in resource development, federal grant writing, organizational leadership and board and staff development.&nbsp; NALCAB will provide $95,000 in small sub-grants to community-development and asset-building organizations within the eight-state region for strengthening organization capabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px"><strong><em>Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) - $200,000<br /></em></strong>ONABEN, Tigard, Ore., seeks to create a better quality of life for Native Americans by promoting ownership and management of successful businesses.</p> <p style="PADDING-LEFT: 30px">The award is designated to provide technical assistance and training for urban- or reservation-based Native economic development projects in up to ten sites in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana.&nbsp; Grant dollars will also fund a &ldquo;train the trainer&rdquo; Indian entrepreneurship development system and a family asset-building system.</p> <p><strong>2.&nbsp; Asset and Wealth Building &ndash; linking workforce and small business development - $300,000<br /></strong>This support will create a link between Emerge Community Development, the Neighborhood Development Center and Summit Academy OIC to increase employment opportunities and small business development for people with low incomes in North Minneapolis. &nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>Grants under this category include:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Emerge Community Development - $75,000</em></strong><br />Emerge Community Development, Minneapolis, Minn., works with people who face challenges in housing and employment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This award will provide funds to develop a pilot training program for weatherization jobs, so workers with low-incomes have better access to positions in the green jobs industry, particularly employment opportunities that have been created through federal economic stimulus dollars.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Neighborhood Development Center Inc. (NDC)-$150,00</em></strong>0<br />NDC, Minneapolis., Minn., offers training, assistance and loans for small businesses in urban Minneapolis neighborhoods with high potential and high need for economic development.&nbsp; The grant money will be used to provide small business loans, entrepreneurial training, technical assistance, contractor training and support for the Business Resource Center</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Summit Academy OIC - $75,000</em></strong><br />Summit Academy OIC (SAOIC), Minneapolis, Minn., &nbsp;is a nonprofit educational and vocational training center that empowers adults and prepares youth from economically depressed areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul to become educated, employed, contributing members of their community.&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The award is for advocacy efforts to ensure that people with low-incomes are able to take advantage of workforce and entrepreneurial opportunities created through funding for green enterprises through the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.&nbsp; The grant will assist SAOIC in strengthening its HIRE Minnesota coalition, which is working to ensure that public investments in infrastructure and renewable energy help lift people out of poverty, reduce racial disparities and contribute to healthier communities.</p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Strengthening Capacity and Leadership - $100,000 </span></strong>- Grants within this category fund opportunities to strengthen community organizing networks in the region:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project: Homegrown Prosperity Project - $100,000<br /></em></strong>Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), Billings, Mont., is a regional network of seven grassroots community organizations that provides training and coordination on issues-related work.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The grant to the Homegrown Prosperity Project will promote small-scale renewable energy projects, create green jobs, and develop leadership and advocate for renewable energy in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. Through this effort, WORC will leverage federal incentives and create green jobs and businesses which benefit people with low incomes.&nbsp; Project examples include a micro-biodiesel pilot program and retrofitting energy-efficient schools to reduce energy costs.</p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Improved Public Policy Solutions - $375,000 </span>-</strong>&nbsp; Grantees in this section were chosen based on their ability to develop and strengthen the organizational effectiveness of State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) affiliates in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho, emphasizing the development of policy analysis.&nbsp; SFAI affiliates advocate for responsible tax and budget policies, with a focus on the needs of low- and moderate-income families.&nbsp; Awards in this category are also made to promote civic engagement by advocating for public policy through the support of regional networks and asset coalitions.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>1. &nbsp;Expand the capacity of State Fiscal Analysis Initiative affiliates - $275,000 </strong>will go to three organizations:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Consensus Council, Inc. - $100,000</em></strong><br />The North Dakota Consensus Council, Inc., Bismarck, N.D., brings together leaders and citizens to build public policy agreements.&nbsp; This award will provide funding to develop and strengthen an SFAI affiliate for North Dakota.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Rural Dynamics, Inc. - $75,000<br /></em></strong>Rural Dynamics, Inc., Great Falls, Mont., provides programs and develops partnerships to help youth, individuals and families achieve economic independence.&nbsp; The award will be used to strengthen and expand the capacity of the Montana Budget and Policy Center, a newly established <br />SFAI affiliate in Montana.<strong><em></em></strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>South Dakota Voices for Children - $100,000</em></strong><br />South Dakota Voices for Children, Sioux Falls, S.D., is a statewide organization that works to improve the lives of children through program and policy advocacy.&nbsp; The grant will provide funding to develop and strengthen an SFAI affiliate for South Dakota.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>2.&nbsp; Civic Engagement - $100,000</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><em>Northwest Federation of Community Organizations:&nbsp; Community Action, Research, and Training (CART) project - $100,000<br /></em></strong>The Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, Seattle, Wash., is a regional network of four community organizations that exits to advance a progressive agenda by executing campaigns for economic, racial and social equity and by building strong affiliates.&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The grant for the Community Action, Research, and Training (CART) Project will fund training and poverty-related policy research, two Jobs Gaps reports and a Racial Justice Report Card.&nbsp; CART will develop, train and engage grassroots leaders from low-income neighborhoods in four states, building coalitions that will address public policy solutions aimed at reducing poverty and promoting asset and wealth building.</p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/NewGrantsThu, 18 Feb 2010 09:11:56 CST<p style="text-align: left;"><em>Grants will support proven approaches that build assets and wealth, strengthen capacity and leadership and improve public policy </em></p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>ST. PAUL, Minn. (November 19, 2009) &nbsp;The Northwest Area Foundation has awarded 14 grants totaling $2.04 million to nationally-known and ethnically-diverse organizations with proven track records of success offering approaches that reduce poverty by building prosperity across its eight-state region.&nbsp; This is the first set of grants made under the Foundation&rsquo;s new strategic plan approved by the board of directors in October 2008.</p> <p>&nbsp;&ldquo;We believe the best way to reduce poverty is to ensure fair access to meaningful opportunity,&rdquo; said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation.&nbsp; &ldquo;That change begins with making sure people can build their financial assets, but it also means building on the human potential that resides in every low-income community.&nbsp; These grants support a diverse array of outstanding organizations that are hard at work unlocking that potential.&rdquo;</p> <p>&nbsp;The awards will further one or more of three outcomes critical to the Foundation&rsquo;s mission:</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Asset and wealth building - $1.565 million </strong>was<strong> </strong>awarded<strong> </strong>to nationally recognized nonprofits that can support organizations that integrate economic development with asset- and wealth-building practices and expand regional partnerships for workforce development, small business strategies and green jobs development across the Foundation&rsquo;s eight-state region<strong>.&nbsp; </strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>$1.265 million </strong>was granted<strong> </strong>to a cluster of intermediary organizations that provide local community organizations with technical assistance, training, networking, leadership, and support for small grants. Grants include: <ul> <li><strong><a href="http://www.cfed.org/">CFED</a> </strong>of Washington D.C. &nbsp;- $365,000</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nalcab.org/">National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders</a> </strong>of San Antonio, Texas &nbsp;- $300,000 </li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.onaben.org/">Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network </a></strong>of Tigard, Ore.<strong> </strong>&nbsp;- $200,000</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.oweesta.org/">First Nations Oweesta </a></strong>of Rapid City, S.D. - $200,000</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.firstnations.org/default2.asp?id=69">First Nations Development Institute </a></strong>of Longmont, Colo.-&nbsp;$100,000</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.seattleccd.com/about.htm">Seattle Economic Development Association</a> </strong>of<strong> </strong>Seattle, Wash., fiscal sponsor of <strong>Express Advantage</strong> - $100,000</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>$300,000</strong> will support partnerships among workforce and small business development initiatives in Minneapolis.&nbsp; &nbsp;Grants were awarded to <a href="http://www.emerge-mn.org/commdev.html"><strong>Emerge Community Development</strong> </a>and <strong><a href="http://www.saoic.org/Home.html">Summit Academy OIC</a>, </strong>for training in the new green jobs industry and to increase access to jobs created through federal stimulus dollars.&nbsp; A grant to the <strong><a href="http://www.ndc-mn.org/">Neighborhood Development Center</a> </strong>will provide training, technical assistance and micro lending for start-up and expanding micro businesses.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Improving public policy solutions - $375,000</strong> was awarded to the following organizations:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.nwfco.org/"><strong>Northwest Federation of Community Organizations</strong> </a>&nbsp;of Seattle, Wash., - $100,000, to conduct research and increase civic engagement of low-income, immigrants and communities of color by training and engaging leaders who will build coalitions to address public policy issues that impact poverty reduction and prosperity building initiatives.</li> <li><strong>$275,000</strong> was awarded to assist in the expansion or start-up phase of State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) affiliates in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. SFAI affiliates are nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations that conduct rigorous policy analysis in order to advocate for responsible tax and budget policies, particularly as they impact people with low- and moderate- incomes. &nbsp;Grants to lead these efforts were awarded to: <ul> <li><strong><a href="http://www.agree.org/">Consensus Council, Inc.</a></strong>&nbsp; of Bismarck, &nbsp;N.D. - $100,000</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.ruraldynamics.org/">Rural Dynamics, Inc.</a></strong> of Great Falls, Mont. - $75,000</li> <li><a href="http://www.sdvoicesforchildren.org/"><strong>South Dakota Voices for Children</strong> </a>of Sioux Falls, S.D. - &nbsp;$100,000</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Strengthening capacity and leadership - $100,000 </strong>was awarded to <strong><a href="http://www.worc.org/">Western Organization of Resource Councils </a></strong>of Billings, Mont, to develop leadership and advocacy in the small-scale renewable energy industry that will leverage federal incentives and create green jobs and businesses which benefit people with low incomes.&nbsp; Project examples include a micro-biodiesel pilot program and retrofitting energy-efficient schools to reduce energy costs.</p> <p>The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis.&nbsp; For more information about the Foundation&rsquo;s grantmaking approach and the work of grantees across its eight-state region, please visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill&rsquo;s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">###</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/NWAF%20Announces%20Grants%20for%20Prosperity%20Building%20November%202009Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST<p>We are privileged to support the work of proven and promising organizations focused on reducing poverty and building sustainable prosperity among people with low incomes. Grantees all across our eight-state region are advancing innovative and tested approaches in rural, urban and American Indian reservation communities. These are but a sample of their efforts to help build assets and wealth, capacity and leadership, and improve public policy for reducing poverty.</p> <p><br /><br /></p>http://www.nwaf.org//Content/GrantsAtWorkTue, 29 Sep 2009 09:22:44 CST<p>Jan. 2, 2009<strong>&nbsp; -</strong> The St. Paul-based Northwest Area Foundation has awarded NorthWay Community Trust a three-year, $1.75 million grant to support three initiatives: Twin Cities Center for Arts and Technology, a center for building a skilled, competent workforce in North Minneapolis; Northside Achievement Zone, a model for organizing community members around the healthy development of children; and the Main Street Corridor Project, a program to prepare North Minneapolis residents for small business ownership. NorthWay is a Minneapolis community-based nonprofit organization focused on reducing poverty.<br /><br />This grant marks a decision by NorthWay and the Northwest Area Foundation to change the relationship between the two organizations. For the last five years, they participated in a partnership agreement to implement a community-developed, 10-year poverty reduction strategy. That relationship has now moved to a more targeted one whereby Foundation support will assist Northway&rsquo;s efforts to develop the three projects in North Minneapolis.<br /><br />The Foundation&rsquo;s approach aligns with its new strategic plan, which seeks to reduce poverty in three outcome areas: increasing assets and wealth, building capacity and leadership, and improving public policy solutions.&nbsp; &ldquo;The three projects supported by our latest grant to NorthWay have great potential for lasting poverty reduction and prosperity building in North Minneapolis,&rdquo; said Gary Cunningham, Northwest Area Foundation vice president of programs and chief program officer.&nbsp;&nbsp; With this newest grant to Northway, the Foundation has invested over $6.75 million in North Minneapolis in the last five years.&nbsp;<br /><br />&ldquo;Since the beginning, we have worked to address systemic problems, develop long-term solutions, and operate across sectors, organizations, programs and traditional neighborhood boundaries in order to fundamentally change the entire Northside community,&rdquo; said Wesley Walker, Executive Director of NorthWay Community Trust. &ldquo;At the same time, we were founded on the belief that change was essential if we wanted to achieve the community-developed vision of reducing poverty and increasing wealth in our 13 North Minneapolis neighborhoods.&rdquo;<br /><br />NorthWay Community Trust brings together citizens, service providers and government agencies in collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life for North Minneapolis residents.&nbsp; Although it will discontinue making partnership investments, Northway will maintain its role as a community convener, and will create, support, sustain, and assess community collaboratives.<br /><br />&ldquo;We are committed to making significant long-term investments in North Minneapolis to reduce poverty over time,&rdquo; said Cunningham.&nbsp; &ldquo;Our reframed relationship with NorthWay provides both organizations with the flexibility and accountability needed to target our efforts for greater impact,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; In tandem with NorthWay, the Northwest Area Foundation is tapping into more of the talent, experience and energy that exist among nonprofits and other change agents in North Minneapolis.&nbsp; &ldquo;We are exploring relationships with organizations and funders to focus on pressing issues such as the mortgage foreclosure crisis, early childhood development, micro- and small-business development, and strengthening the social service infrastructure,&rdquo; said Cunningham.<br /><br />Northway Community Trust is a nonprofit community support organization leading efforts to expand economic opportunity, strengthen the social fabric and improve life circumstances for North Minneapolis residents.&nbsp; Its purpose is to foster collaborations and advocate for systemic change in order to reduce poverty and increase wealth in North Minneapolis.<br /><br />The mission of Northwest Area Foundation is to support efforts by the people, organizations and communities of its eight-state region to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The region comprises the states once served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Hill&rsquo;s son, Louis W. Hill, established the foundation in 1934.&nbsp;&nbsp; For additional information about the Foundation, visit <a href="http://www.nwaf.org/">www.nwaf.org</a>, or call 651-224-9635.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">-End-</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.nwaf.org//NewsReleases/St.%20Paul,%20and%20Minneapolis,%20MN,%20Jan.%202,%202009%20–%20The%20St.%20Paul-based%20Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 CST