Fourth Quarter Grants 2018
The Northwest Area Foundation approved 91 grants worth $9,172,324 in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Funding to provide access to capital, including our support of the groundbreaking work of Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) through our collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) and funding to provide access to capital for rural communities and low-income entrepreneurs, was one of the highlights of this quarter’s grantmaking. Another was support for enterprise development, especially for growing businesses within Native communities. Funding also touched on work being done in each of our other two interlocking portfolios, as well as work related to a significant number of general projects that are not designated to a specific portfolio.
Our grants support organizations anchored in the culture of the people they serve across our region of eight states and 75 Native nations. Our grantees are dedicated to expanding economic opportunity in under-resourced communities by advancing good jobs and financial capability. They build on the untapped potential within our priority communities: Native Americans, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and people in rural areas.
We include grants of $10,000 or more below. For information on grants of less than $10,000, please visit our grants database.
Grants to Provide Access to Capital
Four Bands Community Fund Inc. of Eagle Butte, SD, will receive $350,000 over two years to support its focus on strengthening reservation economies through lending, financial coaching, financial management, business incubators, and other services.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial Inc. of Pine Ridge, SD, will receive $250,000 over two years to help implement the Native Affordable Housing Initiative, which will strengthen and increase homeownership products and services for the Oglala Sioux Tribe living on or in communities adjacent to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation, and Rosebud Reservation.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
NACDC Financial Services Inc. of Browning, MT, will receive $250,000 over two years to support continued efforts to provide seven Montana reservations with consumer, microenterprise, and small-business loans, along with training and technical assistance.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Native American Development Center of Bismarck, ND, will receive $165,124 over two years to hire a financial educator who will deliver various types of financial education services. Funding also will support continued efforts to provide consumer credit-builder loans and microenterprise loans with development services across the state to Native consumers and entrepreneurs living on and off the reservations.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Native CDFI Network Inc. of Rapid City, SD, will receive $400,000 over two years to support the development and implementation of a strategic advocacy campaign to raise awareness of Native CDFIs, increase access to capital for Native CDFIs through new and innovative strategies, and deliver training and facilitate peer-to-peer learning opportunities to strengthen leadership capacity of member organizations.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Northwest Native Development Fund of Coulee Dam, WA, will receive $250,000 over two years to increase the delivery of financial services and products into Indian Country in the Pacific Northwest, eventually doubling the size of its loan portfolio.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Taala Fund of Pacific Beach, WA, will receive $250,000 over two years to help build the internal capacity, policies, and processes necessary to add a home improvement loan product to its product line.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Tatanka Funds Inc. of Mission, SD, will receive $130,000 over two years so it can continue developing financial products and services tailored to the needs of its target market.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
White Earth Investment Initiative of Ogema, MN, will receive $250,000 over two years to hire a loan processor, increase its loan fund, and develop an online inquiry/application form to facilitate expansion of business lending into metropolitan areas not presently served by a Native CDFI.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Grants to Advance Native CDFI Growth
Four Bands Community Fund Inc. of Eagle Butte, SD, will receive $300,000 over five years as lending capital to support economic/housing development in Native communities in South Dakota.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2023
The Lakota Fund Inc. of Kyle, SD, will receive $300,000 over five years as lending capital to allow it to continue to provide more businesses with loan capital for start-up and expansion.
Grant term: Jan. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2023
NACDC Financial Services Inc. of Browning, MT, will receive $300,000 over five years as lending capital to support economic/housing development in Native communities, especially on the White Earth Reservation.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2023
Northwest Native Development Fund of Coulee Dam, WA, will receive $300,000 over five years as lending capital to support economic/housing development in Native communities in the Pacific Northwest.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2023
Taala Fund of Pacific Beach, WA, will receive $250,000 over five years as lending capital to support economic/housing development in Native communities, especially on the Quinault Indian Reservation.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2023
White Earth Investment Initiative of Ogema, MN, will receive $300,000 over five years as lending capital to support economic/housing development in Native communities in Minnesota.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2023
Grants to Support Enterprise Development
American Indian Business Alliance Inc. of Bismarck, ND, will receive $150,000 over two years to support its goal to break the cycle of poverty and enable Native Americans to prosper and reach their full potential through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Grant term: Oct. 1, 2018 – Sept. 30, 2020
American Indian Community Housing Organization of Duluth, MN, will receive $200,000 over two years to provide development, entrepreneur infrastructure, marketing/communications, and technical assistance to launch new social enterprise activities.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Appetite for Change Inc. of Minneapolis will receive $200,000 over two years to use toward general operating support for five social enterprise lines of business, along with the youth and adult training associated with them.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation of Pendleton, OR, will receive $175,000 over three years to provide continued support for establishing a CDFI, including hiring an executive director.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2021
Dream of Wild Health of Minneapolis received $75,000 to support the implementation of a three-year social enterprise program focused on expanding production of indigenous seeds and foods, resulting in increased community access, additional employment training and job opportunities for youth, and improved economic sustainability of the Dream of Wild Health farm.
Grant term: Nov 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
EMERGE Community Development of Minneapolis will receive $150,000 over two years to support the sustainability and growth of EMERGE Enterprises, a portfolio of social enterprise businesses that provides transitional work and support services to individuals with high barriers to employment.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) of West St. Paul, MN, will receive $225,000 over three years to support the salary and benefits of the executive director position as HAFA undergoes a senior leadership transition and makes adjustments to its core programs to better serve the changing needs of Hmong farmers.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2021
Honor the Earth of Callaway, MN, will receive $200,000 over two years to support the Akiing 8th Fire Tribal Community initiative, whose objective is to employ people through microenterprises, social enterprises, and a solar thermal plant. The grant focuses on support for marketing and promotion of solar thermal products, construction of a solar thermal facility, and workforce training.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Jobs Foundation of Golden Valley, MN, received $100,000 to support the expansion of Tech Dump’s hands-on training program, which incorporates best practices (on-the-job training, immediate income, daily supervision and mentorship, and weekly learning sessions) that are essential to long-term job retention and career growth for adults who face multiple barriers to employment.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Juma Ventures of San Francisco will receive $150,000 over two years to support Juma Seattle YouthConnect, a program that combines employment and job training with financial capability, education, and career supportive services to help youth overcome barriers to permanent employment, build financial capability, and launch into career and education pathways.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance of St. Paul, MN, will receive $150,000 over two years to help it continue to build capacity to advance entrepreneurship in Native communities across Minnesota.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Native American Advocacy Program of Herrick, SD, will receive $100,000 over two years so it can increase dedicated staff to mentor more paid youth apprentices, increase production capacity with upgraded equipment, and increase outreach through implementing an expanded marketing plan.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) of Portland, OR, will receive $450,000 over three years to fund a portion of program management and oversight, as well as professional services/consultants with specific skill sets. NAYA will leverage resources from its partners and redirect investments to maximize program impact.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2021
Neighborhood Development Center Inc. (NDC) of St. Paul, MN, received $100,000 to support a real estate development project in St. Paul. The project will provide much-needed space for NDC’s headquarters, an expanded training center, and retail incubator space for neighborhood entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in their own community.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2019
New Avenues for Youth Inc. of Portland, OR, will receive $200,000 over two years to hire a new business developer who will develop and implement a sales and marketing plan to increase enterprise revenue, and to fund flexible wages/compensation for youth engaged in the enterprises for whom traditional workforce-development opportunities may not be available or appropriate.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Rural Community Development Resources of Yakima, WA, will receive $200,000 over two years to grow sustainable microenterprises by strengthening its capacity through investment in core functions for growing and preserving assets for economic self-sufficiency in rural Washington state.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Grants to Promote Financial Inclusion
Rural Dynamics Inc. of Great Falls, MT, received $100,000 to support continued work helping individuals and families achieve financial security and pursue economic opportunities in Montana.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Grants to Expand Work Opportunity
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of Pablo, MT, received $97,000 to support development of a site plan and architectural plan for the Permanent Supportive Housing facility, a housing program that focuses on providing services and assistance to the Tribes’ families and children.
Grant term: Oct. 1, 2018 – Sept. 30, 2019
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of Pablo, MT, will receive $160,000 over two years so the Tribe can hold meetings in six to seven communities to affirm cultural/economic values, assess needs, conduct studies, share data, create a plan to recirculate tribal resources within and between these communities, and provide ongoing marketing and education.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana of Harlem, MT, will receive $160,000 over two years so it can coordinate technical assistance trainings through an in-house coordinator to increase new business development competencies.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
National Congress of American Indians Fund of Washington, DC, will receive $250,000 over two years to advance its work on the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative in four key areas: promoting workforce development, building sustainable tribal economies, cultivating private sector and citizen entrepreneurship development on tribal lands, and documenting tribal tax approaches as vehicles for empowering tribal nations’ economy-building efforts.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Northwest Indian Community Development Center of Bemidji, MN, will receive $150,000 over two years to support efforts to build leadership in workforce development for its organization and for regional tribal government program providers of workforce and education services.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Peoples Partners for Community Development of Ashland, MT, will receive $160,000 over two years so it can explore and implement ways to reclaim the economic benefits of resources on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Warm Springs Community Action Team of Warm Springs, OR, will receive $160,000 over two years to advance economic opportunity for tribal members by: examining past/current economic conditions, hosting community planning and asset-mapping processes, developing plans to advance local economic control, and keeping hard-earned dollars on the reservation.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
General Grants
When we fund projects that help organizations and communities in ways that aren’t specifically associated with one of our four interlocking portfolios, we include those grants in the “General” category. General grants of $10,000 or more are listed below. For information on general grants of less than $10,000, please visit our grants database.
Ecotrust of Portland, OR, will receive $200,000 over two years to support a partnership of conservation, workforce development, and community-based organizations. The partnership will focus on creating culturally specific workforce development curriculum and targeted job pathways in environmental careers for black and Native American young adults in Portland.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2020
Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center of Des Moines, IA, will receive $60,000 over two years to support capacity building and core programming such as community building, advocacy, and community development.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Honor the Earth of Callaway, MN, received $25,000 to support its general operations and its ability to address emerging threats and opportunities in its communities.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Iowa CareGivers Association of West Des Moines, IA, received $25,000 to support its continued efforts to provide health care and human services products.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Migizi Communications Inc. of Minneapolis received $120,000 to provide capacity-building support for program enhancements and operational infrastructure, including implementation of strategic goals and activities.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Mni Ki Wakan Decade of Water of Minneapolis received $12,000 to support its second Mni Ki Wakan (Water is Sacred) World Indigenous Peoples’ Decade of Water Summit, an annual gathering of indigenous people across the globe to collectively discuss indigenous peoples’ water rights and advocacy efforts.
Grant term: Oct. 1, 2018 – Sept. 30, 2019
NDN Collective Inc. of Rapid City, SD, received $125,000 to support development of the NDN Fund, a CDFI to serve indigenous communities where securing loan capital is challenging due to the absence of financial institutions.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Next Door Inc. of Hood River, OR, will receive $60,000 over two years to support its efforts to ensure that residents living in Hood River County have an alternative form of county government-issued identification so they can access, or increase access to, services.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Oceti Sakowin Power Authority of Washington, DC, received $50,000 to fund its immediate governance and operations needs and to enable expanded budgeting for development and outreach.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Release MN 8 of Minneapolis will receive $50,000 over two years to build a national and international movement of the Southeast Asian community to influence immigration policies and laws.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Rural Community Development Resources of Yakima, WA, received $25,000 to support its capacity-building efforts for low-income immigrants so they can achieve social and civic integration in and around Washington state.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Tanka Fund of Kyle, SD, received $136,250 to help build organizational infrastructure and capacity, which will increase revenue generation and deepen impact, so it can significantly grow the effectiveness of its work to return buffalo to Native lands, lives, and economies.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network of Burien, WA, will receive $100,000 over two years to support immigrant communities by strengthening the coalition and its ability to invest in groups and organizations across the state.
Grant term: Dec. 1, 2018 – Nov. 30, 2020
Willamette Valley Law Project of Woodburn, OR, will receive $50,000 over two years to support a program that creates healthier outcomes for farmworker and other low-wage working immigrant and Latinx families by calling for an end to sexual violence in the workplace and diminishing the exposure to toxic chemical and pesticides in the workplace.
Grant term: Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2020
Sponsorships
Sponsorships support opportunities for grantees to participate in activities that advance their learning, build relationships, exchange ideas and resources, and collaborate in unexpected ways. For information on sponsorships funded in the fourth quarter of 2018, all of which were for less than $10,000, please visit our grants database.