2021
Northwest Area Foundation made 172 grants in Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) worth $20,527,171. The fiscal year runs Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2021.
New grants of $10,000 or more that were agreed upon in FY21 are included in the list below (crisis response emergency grants are detailed in a separate section at the end of the list). For grants of less than $10,000, please see our grants database.
African Economic Development Solution
St. Paul, MN
$375,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024
General operating support for African-immigrant-owned small businesses and minority-owned businesses
Akiing Community Development Corporation
Callaway, MN
$150,000
08/01/2021 – 07/31/2023
Fiscal sponsorship for Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute as support for New Green Revolution project
American Indian Community Housing Organization
Duluth, MN
$250,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023
Support for Wazhashk Azhegiiwe (Muskrat Returns) Indigenous Economic Development Initiative
Appetite for Change Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
$475,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024
General operating support
Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy
Oakland, CA
$10,000
10/25/2021 – 10/28/2021
Sponsorship for Change Philanthropy: 2021 Unity Summit
Build Wealth MN Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
$600,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2023
General operating support for Family Stabilization Plan program
Byrd Barr Place
Seattle, WA
$750,000
09/01/2021 – 08/30/2024
General operating support
CAPACES Leadership Institute
Woodburn, OR
$300,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2023
General operating support for Alianza Poder Community Wealth Building project
CAPI USA
Brooklyn Center, MN
$150,000
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2023
General operating support for three integrated units (basic needs, economic empowerment, and civic engagement)
Chief Joseph Foundation
Lapwai, ID
$125,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2023
Support for programming for at-risk Native and area youth in rural northcentral Idaho
Community LendingWorks
Springfield, OR
$300,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2024
General operating support for equitable small-business recovery in Oregon
Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
St. Paul, MN
$400,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2023
General operating support to advance equity, leadership, and prosperity in low-income Minnesota Latino and immigrant communities
The Directors Council
Des Moines, IA
$825,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
General operating support for One Economy in Action project
Ecotrust
Portland, OR
$250,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2023
General operating support and support for Green Workforce Collaborative
First Peoples Fund
Rapid City, SD
$900,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2024
General operating support for Growing a Thriving Indigenous Arts Ecology project
Four Bands Community Fund Inc.
Eagle Butte, SD
$500,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2024
General operating support for Leveraging Strengths and Amplifying Impacts for Sustainable Change project
Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research
Minneapolis, MN
$25,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
Support for research and analysis of undocumented workers in rural Minnesota
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
Portland, OR
$250,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023
Support for Pathways for Financial Wellness for Newcomers project
Immigrant Development Center
Moorhead, MN
$375,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
Renewal general operating support for International Market Plaza
Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul
St. Paul, MN
$35,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2022
Support for Community Power-Up (empower the local community with knowledge of legal rights and financial strategies, and boost economic mobility through legal clinics)
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice
Des Moines, IA
$60,000
05/01/2021 – 04/30/2023
General operating support
Jobs Foundation
St. Paul, MN
$100,000
12/01/2021 – 11/30/2022
Support to scale Tech Dump’s solutions for re-entry and climate change
Juma Ventures
San Francisco, CA
$50,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2022
Support for the organization’s Seattle YouthConnect Program
Lakota Youth Development
Herrick, SD
$175,000
05/01/2021 – 04/30/2024
Support for Blooming Honey Lodge
Leech Lake Financial Services
Cass Lake, MN
$300,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
General operating support for sustainability funding
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Duluth, MN
$250,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2023
Support for implementation of Wealth Entrepreneurship and Economic Sustainability (WEES) collaborative working group
Lower Phalen Creek Project
St. Paul, MN
$64,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2022
General operating support for capacity building
Lummi Community Development Financial Institution
Ferndale, WA
$450,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024
General operating support
Makoce Agriculture Development
Porcupine, SD
$170,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023
General operating support
MICA Group Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$50,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2022
Support for development of reliable internet access for Native communities in NWAF’s region
Nakoda-Aaniiih Credit Agency
Harlem, MT
$160,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2023
Support for the Fort Belknap Economic Development Plan
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders
Washington, DC
$250,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2022
Support for work with organizations in NWAF’s region to advance policies that support equitable economic outcomes for Latinos and immigrants
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
Oakland, CA
$250,000
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022
Support for AAPI Community Resilience Fund
National Congress of American Indians Fund
Washington, DC
$375,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2023
Support for Sustainable Prosperity Initiative: Tribal Nations Securing Our Futures
Native American Development Center
Bismarck, ND
$375,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2023
Support for Native American Finance Equity Project In North Dakota
Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
Portland, OR
$500,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2022
Support for implementing wealth-building initiatives for Portland’s Native community
New Avenues for Youth Inc.
Portland, OR
$225,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2022
Support for job training and employment for youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability
New Venture Fund
New York, NY
$250,000
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022
Fiscal sponsorship for AAPI Civic Engagement Fund as support for efforts to foster civic participation within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities
Nimiipuu Community Development Fund
Lapwai, ID
$450,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2024
General operating support for Nez Perce resiliency and growth, post-pandemic and beyond
Nixyáawii Community Financial Services
Pendleton, OR
$375,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
General operating support
Nonprofit Information Networking Association
Boston, MA
$150,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2024
Support for Nonprofit Quarterly Economic Justice Initiative
Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON)
Minneapolis, MN
$750,000
09/01/2021 – 08/30/2024
General operating support for the Grow and Thrive Northside Campaign
NWAF Employee- and Board-Directed Grants
St. Paul, MN
$60,469
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
Grants to various 501(c)(3) organizations at the direction of employees (for example, matches of employee donations) and in recognition of retiring board members
Oregon Native American Chamber
Portland, OR
$200,000
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2023
General operating support for building capacity to support Native American business communities
People’s Partner for Community Development
Ashland, MT
$150,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2022
Support for operational costs for launch of mobile beef processing unit
Philanthrofund (PFund) Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
$250,000
12/01/2021 – 11/30/2023
Support for PRISM Program for rural queer organizations in the upper Midwest
Region Five Development Commission
Staples, MN
$420,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2023
Support for Equitable Economic Ecosystems 2.0: Normalizing the Conversation
Rosebud Economic Development Corporation
Mission, SD
$250,000
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2023
Support for Building Capacity for a 7Gen Organization project
The Seattle Foundation
Seattle, WA
$50,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2023
Support for Equitable Evaluation Framework Practice Partner project
South Dakota Voices for Peace
Sioux Falls, SD
$150,000
08/01/2021 – 07/31/2024
General operating support
Standing Rock Community Development Corporation
Fort Yates, ND
$400,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2023
General operating support for Wóawaŋglake—to Care for and Give Protection project
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders
Santa Barbara, CA
$25,000
03/01/2021 – 05/31/2022
Support for Native Food Systems Learning Cohort
Tanka Fund
Kyle, SD
$250,000
03/01/2021 – 02/28/2022
General operating support for Native Buffalo Ranchers Building a Regenerative Economy project
Tatanka Funds Inc.
Mission, SD
$250,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2023
General operating support
Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation
Porcupine, SD
$1,050,000
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
Support for four initiatives that emphasize redefining financial vitality, community wealth, and economic development using a Lakota perspective
Ujamaa Place
St. Paul, MN
$600,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2024
General operating support
Unite Oregon
Portland, OR
$250,000
12/01/2021 – 11/30/2023
Support for building wealth for immigrants, refugees, and BIPOC communities in urban and rural areas
Ventures
Seattle, WA
$750,000
06/01/2021 – 05/31/2024
General operating support to respond to COVID-related needs of low-income entrepreneurs and to advance economic and racial justice
Warm Springs Community Action Team
Warm Springs, OR
$248,202
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2022
Support for Warm Springs Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce project
Grants to Support Crisis Response Efforts
2021 was the second of our two-year crisis response initiative, which dedicated $4 million of funding beyond our conventional grantmaking budget to provide grants that respond to the multiple crises that occurred in 2020 and 2021. Our overall grantmaking includes all crisis response grantmaking. However, this section summarizes the organizations receiving crisis response grants and the total dedicated to crisis response. More information about the grants is included in the quarterly grant listings.
GRANTEES
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
Washington, DC
$100,000
08/01/2021 – 07/31/2022
Fiscal sponsorship for Return to the Heart Foundation as support for expansion of healing initiatives for Native women and girls in NWAF’s region
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Atlanta, GA
$100,000 (*Boys & Girls Clubs of America received a grant of $250,000, only $100,000 of which was funded by our crisis response initiative)
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022
Support for Native Services Unit
Build Wealth MN Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
$25,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
General operating support for crisis response efforts
Byrd Barr Place
$125,000
10/01/2021 – 09/30/2024
Support for Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) Executive Directors Coalition of Washington State
Centro Latino of Iowa
Council Bluffs, IA
$85,000
08/01/2021 – 07/31/2022
Operating support for Iowa Spanish Helpline
Cheyenne River Youth Project
Eagle Butte, SD
$25,000
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
General operating support in response to COVID-19
Global to Local Health Initiative
SeaTac, WA
$50,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
General operating support for crisis response efforts
Immigrant Development Center
Moorhead, MN
$20,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
Support for Business Resiliency Loan Fund for immigrant entrepreneurs
Lummi Community Development Financial Institution
Ferndale, WA
$25,000
02/01/2021 – 06/30/2021
General operating support
Northwest Health Foundation Fund II
Portland, OR
$50,000
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023
Support for Reimagine Safety Fund
Potlatch Fund
Seattle, WA
$25,000 (*Potlatch received a grant of $100,000, only $25,000 of which was funded by our crisis response initiative)
11/01/2021 – 10/31/2022
General operating support (COVID-19 Relief for Native Communities)
Rural Organizing Project
Cottage Grove, OR
$100,000 (*Rural Organizing Project received a grant of $300,000, only $100,000 of which was funded by our crisis response initiative)
07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024
General operating support for organizing to advance justice across rural Oregon
Social Justice Fund NW
Seattle, WA
$250,000 (*Social Justice Fund NW received a grant of $750,000, only $250,000 of which was funded by our crisis response initiative)
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2024
Support for community organizing in MT, ID, WA, and OR, predominantly by BIPOC-led organizations
Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation
Porcupine, SD
$25,000
04/01/2021 – 03/31/2022
Support to address youth crises on the Pine Ridge Reservation
ORGANIZATIONS WITH POOLED RELIEF FUNDS
Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Minneapolis, MN
$300,000 (*Headwaters Foundation for Justice received a grant of $400,000, only $300,000 of which was funded by our crisis response initiative)
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2022
Support for The Transformation Fund (a grantmaking pool and capacity-building initiative focused on building power in communities of color) and internal staffing and operating expenses