Late 2010 and Early 2011 Grants
Northwest Area Foundation made 50 grants between October 15, 2010 and March 31, 2011 totaling $1,838,942. The grants will support the outcomes the Foundation has determined are essential to reaching its mission of reducing poverty: increasing assets and wealth, developing community leadership, and improving public policy that affects low-income workers. The Foundation made investments that had the highest potential for impact and that trigger addition outside funding of programs within its eight-state region of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Asset & Wealth Creation
A total of $711,667 went to programs that will help low-income families build financial security such as increasing access to credit, jobs, job training and small business development. The following nonprofits received grants:
AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM) of St. Paul, Minn. received $125,000 to provide financial products and services that will help low-income families build long-term financial security. The grant will fund free tax preparation services resulting in more low-earning families boosting their refunds through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Grant term: June 2011 – May 2012
Enterprise Cascadia (formerly ShoreBank Enterprise Group Pacific) of Ilwaco, Wash. received $125,000 for the Community Power Works project that will put living wage jobs within the reach of low-earning, disadvantaged workers and businesses. The city of Seattle plans to hire up to 300 people to weatherize as many as 2,000 homes. Grant dollars will support a lending program that will enable low-income and start-up businesses to participate in contracts and land jobs created through the weatherization project.
Grant term: 12/2010 – 11/2011
Northwest Community Ventures, Inc. of Minot, N.D. received $6,667 for the Wilson Health Planning Cooperative. The money will be used to gather information to build a health system that reduces the disparity of care in the region among people of different income and ethnic groups.
Grant term: 2/2011 – 1/2012
Philanthropy Northwest of Seattle, Wash. received $15,000 for annual dues and to support the PRI Makers Institute, an intensive three-day training on program-related investments for foundation leaders and staff.
Grant term: 10/2010 – 11/2011
Local Initiatives Support Corporation of St. Paul Minn. received $50,000 on behalf of Nexus Community Partners. The grant will support the Twin Cities Network for Financial Success, a partnership that seeks to provide wealth-building opportunities and access to credit and capital for people with low incomes.
Grant term: 1/2011 – 1/2012
First Peoples Fund of Rapid City, S.D. received $40,000 for the American Indian Creative Economy Market Study Project, which will determine the market and business development needs of Native American artists in western South Dakota who are selling their wares.
Grant term: 1/2011 – 1/2012
CFED (Corporation for Enterprise Development) of Washington, D.C. received $250,000 for the Building Financial Assets in the Northwest initiative. The money will be used to expand awareness about asset- and wealth-building opportunities, promote small business development, provide business assistance, and advance policies that will help start-up businesses succeed.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Stairstep Foundation of Minneapolis, Minn. received $50,000 for the Economic Development Initiative in which faith-based organizations work to increase employment and economic opportunities for disadvantaged workers.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
A Minnesota Without Poverty of Minneapolis, Minn. received a $50,000 challenge grant to expand the 2020 Enough for All project. Grant dollars will fund efforts to engage the public’s support in broadening access to economic well-being with a focus on developing small business partnerships and improving wealth-creation policies.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Building Capacity & Leadership
A total of $230,000 in grants went to develop community leadership in minority, rural and reservation communities. The following nonprofit organizations received grants:
The Paul J. Aicher Foundation of East Hartford, Conn. received $30,000 for the Building Assets and Prosperity project. The grant will fund a supplemental report to the Thriving Communities dialogue guide, which has been used in the Horizons program to develop leadership in small, rural towns.
Grant term: 11/2010 -10/2011
Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) of Minneapolis, Minn. received $50,000 for the Building Assets and Workforce in the African American Community initiative. MUL will develop a comprehensive workforce and asset-development project to support its new strategic plan and financial literacy center.
Grant term: 1/2011 – 1/2012
Central Area Youth Association of Seattle, Wash. received $50,000 to support the work of the African American Leadership Forum to strengthen collaboration, understanding, and partnerships that promote social and economic well being within communities of color.
Grant term: 2/2011 - 2/2012
Native Americans in Philanthropy of Minneapolis, Minn. received $100,000 on behalf of the Native Youth Leadership Alliance. The grant will support the Tribal College Students Project, a leadership program in which tribal college students initiate projects in their Native communities.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Public Policy
Grants totaling $575,000 were awarded to efforts to shape public policies aimed at helping low-income families build long-term wealth. The following nonprofit organizations received grants:
Ohio State University Foundation of Columbus, Ohio received $50,000 to write a report on the accomplishments of African American Leadership Forums in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; Des Moines, Iowa and Seattle, Wash.
Grant term: 10/2010 – 10/2012
Jewish Community Action (JCA) of St. Paul, Minn. received $30,000 to support the Foreclosure Prevention and Wealth Creation project. Working with local partners, JCA will advocate for changes within state agencies and banks that increase protections for homeowners and renters. Together they will develop foreclosure prevention initiatives such as counseling for families struggling to keep their homes.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Summit Academy OIC of Minneapolis, Minn. received $75,000 to support the HIRE Minnesota Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations that advocates for policies that ensure low-income, disadvantaged and minority workers have access to jobs created through public investments. The Coalition’s work has created opportunities for additional training and placement in jobs like construction that offer living wages.
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
OneAmerica of Seattle, Wash. received $20,000 for the Building Prosperity Through Integration initiative. OneAmerica will develop research to determine policy barriers that prevent immigrants, and others whose second language, is English from thriving.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 2/2012
Four grants were made to support the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI) within the Foundation’s eight-state region. The SFAI is a network of 31 organizations throughout the United States that conducts intense policy analysis in order to develop budget and tax policies. Coordinated by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities of Washington, D.C., the SFAI focuses on the needs of low- and moderate-income families. Awards went to the following SFAI affiliates:
Consensus Council, Inc. of Bismarck, N. D. received $100,000 to support the work of the North Dakota Economic Policy Project.
Grant term: 12/2010 – 11/2011
South Dakota Voices for Children of Sioux Falls, S.D. received $100,000 to strengthen the ability of the South Dakota Budget and Policy Project.
Grant term: 11/2010 – 10/2011
Montana Budget and Policy Center of Helena, Mont. received $50,000 to support the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative in Montana.
Grant term: 11/2010 – 10/2011
Mountain States Group Inc. of Boise, Idaho received $100,000 to support the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative in Idaho.
Grant term: 4/2011 – 3/2012
General
Grants totaling $322,275 were awarded to support annual memberships, convenings, community forums, events, and the Foundation’s employee matching gift program. The following nonprofits received awards:
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees of Sebastopol, Calif. received $50,000 to generate conversations with foundations about ways funders can work to reduce poverty through expanding economic opportunity and building assets for low-income immigrant families.
Grant term: 12/2010 - 11/2011
The Minneapolis Foundation of Minneapolis, Minn. received $5,000 to update the Minnesota’s Bottom Line report that offers viable suggestions for reducing the Minnesota state budget deficit.
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Public Interest Projects, Inc., of New York, N.Y. received $100,000 to support the Four Freedoms Fund, a national funders collaborative that works to ensure immigrants, and organizations that represent them, participate in the national debate on immigration issues.
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice of Minneapolis, Minn. received $12,000 to support research on issues impacting race relations and the widening inequality in communities of color in the Foundation’s eight-state region of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Grant term: 2/2011 – 3/2011
Sponsorships:
College Success Foundation of Issaquah, Wash. received $1,000
Sponsorship of the 10th Anniversary Celebration
Grant term: 11/2010 - 11/2011
Citizens League of St. Paul, Minn. received $500
Sponsorship of the 2010 annual meeting and civic celebration
Grant term: 12/2010 – 1/2011
State of Minnesota – Council on Black Minnesotans of St. Paul, Minn. received $1,200 to support the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration.
Grant term: 1/2011 – 1/2012
Micro Grants of Minneapolis, Minn. received $1,000
Sponsorship of the “Celebrating 5 Years” event
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
YWCA of Minneapolis received $5,000
Sponsorship of the YWCA 15thh Annual Circle of Women Luncheon
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Minnesota Council on Foundations of Minneapolis, Minn. received $1,000
Sponsorship of Annual Meeting 2011
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Minnesota Council on Foundations of Minneapolis, Minn. received $4,000
Sponsorship of the Diversity and Inclusion in Philanthropy forum
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity of Minneapolis, Minn. received $2,500
Sponsorship of the 2011 Hard Hat Gala – 25th Anniversary
Grant term: 3/2011 – 3/2012
Matching Grants:
Open Arms of Minnesota, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn. received $250 for an employee volunteer matching grant
Grant term: 12/2010 – 12/2011
Native American Youth and Family Center of Portland, Ore. received $10,000 for a matching grant for new donors at the 2010 Paddle Raise- the 7th Annual Community Celebration.
Grant term: 10/2010 – 3/2010
NWAF Employee Matching Gift Program of St. Paul, Minn. received $5,385.33 for matching charitable donations of employees.
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Annual Memberships:
Asian American- Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy of San Francisco, Calif.
Annual Membership
$2,500
Grant term: 2/2011 -2/2012
Association of Black Foundation Executives, Inc. of New York, N.Y.
Annual Membership
$2,500
Grant term: 2/2011 -2/2012
Council on Foundations Inc. of Arlington, Va.
Annual Membership
$39,500
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees of Sebastapol, Calif.
Annual Membership
$5,000
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations of Washington, D.C.
Annual Membership
$5,750
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington of Portland, Ore.
Annual Membership
$2,975
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Grant Managers Network, Inc. of Metairie, La.
Annual Membership
$2,000
Grant term: 2/2011 -2/2012
Hispanics in Philanthropy of San Francisco, Calif.
Annual Membership
$3,000
Grant term: 2/2011 -2/2012
Independent Sector of Washington, D.C.
Annual Membership
$12,500
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2012
Iowa CouncilFoundations of Des Moines, Iowa
Annual Membership
$1,000
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Minnesota Council on Foundations of Minneapolis, Minn.
Annual Membership
$24,500
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy of Washington, D.C.
Annual Membership
$5,000
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Native Americans in Philanthropy of Minneapolis, Minn.
Annual Membership
$4,000
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
Neighborhood Funders Group of Washington, D.C.
Annual Membership
$1,600
Grant term: 2/2011 – 2/2012
