Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Northland Foundation

EIN 41-1554455 · Duluth, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION SUPPORTS NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WORKING TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS THEY BELONG AND CAN THRIVE.

Income
$14.0 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 46%
Employees
23
Volunteers
278
Highest pay
$247,205, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $6.5 million spent. THE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES TO TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFITS AND PUBLIC ENTITIES WITHIN THE NORTHEAST MINNESOTA REGION. OUR PRIORITY AREAS ARE: 1) CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES; 2) INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING; AND 3) MAADA'OOKIING, TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION ALSO ACTS AS AN INTERMEDIARY GRANTOR WHERE MISSION AND PRIORITIES ALIGN. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, NORTHLAND AWARDED 203 GRANTS TOTALING $5.3 MILLION AND DISTRIBUTED $359 THOUSAND IN MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD. PROGRAMS PROVIDE: 1) EARLY CHILDHOOD EFFORTS ENCOMPASSING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, INFANT/EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH, EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP OUTREACH, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE; 2) YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PHILANTHROPY ENGAGEMENT; AND 3) INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS CONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADULTS 55+. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, PROGRAMS ENGAGED 1,358 PEOPLE IN 58 TRAININGS AND CONVENINGS, SUPPORTED 134 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND 940 CHILDREN THROUGH EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS ADMINISTRATION; AND ENGAGED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE REGION.
  3. $1.6 million spent. THE BUSINESS SERVICES PROGRAM OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FLEXIBLE FINANCING TO ASSIST WITH BUSINESS START-UP AND EXPANSION WITHIN OUR 7-COUNTY REGION, IN ORDER TO BOLSTER THE REGIONAL ECONOMY AND PROMOTE JOB CREATION - CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THRIVING COMMUNITIES. FINANCING IS OFTEN IN THE FORM OF GAP LENDING MADE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANKS OR OTHER DEVELOPMENT LENDERS. BORROWERS MAY BE FOR-PROFIT OR NONPROFIT ENTITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, NORTHLAND CLOSED 17 LOANS TOTALING $3 MILLION WHICH HELPED CREATE LEVERAGE OF $21.6 MILLION IN OTHER INVESTMENTS. NORTHLAND FOUNDATION HOSTS THE REGIONAL SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC). THE SBDC'S MISSION IS TO "HELP ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES GROW AND SUCCEED" BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTING SERVICES TO SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT. THE REGIONAL CENTER IS LOCATED IN DULUTH; THERE ARE ALSO FIVE OTHER SATELLITE OFFICES SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION. THE REGIONAL FOOTPRINT OF THE SBDC MATCHES THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION FOOTPRINT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.