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Northland Foundation
Northland Foundation reported $14.0 million in revenue and $11.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.22 went to program services, $13.05 to management and general costs and $1.73 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 51.0% of the total. Government grants made up 43.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $247,205 (PRESIDENT). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 14% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.2% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.0% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.7% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 51.0% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 43.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $247,205 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.17% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 127.3 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe 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
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…
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…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $214,991 | $0 | $32,214 | $247,205 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $154,870 | $0 | $26,089 | $180,959 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $135,321 | $0 | $40,868 | $176,189 |
| BUSINESS FINANCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $125,278 | $0 | $46,228 | $171,506 |
| ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $112,113 | $0 | $25,090 | $137,203 |
| DIRECTOR OF GRANTMAKING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,539 | $0 | $6,023 | $131,562 |
| SBDC REGIONAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $113,156 | $0 | $14,824 | $127,980 |
| COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $100,285 | $0 | $27,481 | $127,766 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Northland Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $599K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 523
- Volunteers Part I, line 6278
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| INTEGRIS It support and licensing | $118,474 |
| NORTHSPAN GROUP INC Rural framework, childcare workgroups | $102,010 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Northland Foundation totaling $1.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Northland Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Northland Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Northland Foundation spent in FY2025, $85.22 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Peter E Haas Jr Family FundNovato, CA · revenue $14M · programs 97.1% · FY2025
- The Sprouts Healthy Communities FoundationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $14M · programs 99.5% · 2024
- Operation Legacy FoundationAlpharetta, GA · revenue $14M · programs 100.0% · 2024
- United Way of North CarolinaCary, NC · revenue $14M · programs 95.7% · 2024
- Ares Charitable FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $14M · programs 93.2% · 2024
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in Minnesota
Questions people ask
How much of Northland Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Northland Foundation reported that 85.2% of its $11.4 million in expenses went to program services, 13.0% to management and general and 1.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Northland Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Northland Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $247,205, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Northland Foundation get its money?
Of $14.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 51.0% came from contributions and grants (including 43.8% from government grants) and 3.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Northland Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-1554455 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202523519349300627 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510279349300731 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202313549349300631 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202213569349300621 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230119349300543 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202033449349300228 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-1554455: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.