To strengthen our communities by uniting people and resources; to improve the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community we serve.
Head of the Lakes United Way’s grantmaking is built around local community investment in health, education, and financial stability, with the largest recent awards going to Duluth-based organizations serving youth, families, and people facing basic-needs barriers. In 2023, it gave $70,355 to Life House for KIDS TO ADULTS KATS, basic needs, futures education program, and futures employment, and $70,092 to Mentor North for Mentor Superior-Douglas County and Mentor Duluth. Those awards fit a broader pattern of funding direct service organizations that combine immediate support with longer-term stability, such as counseling, food access, housing assistance, and re-entry services. The foundation’s recent grants also show repeated support for local nonprofits working in education and youth development, including Boys and Girls Club of the Northland, Valley Youth Centers, and Duluth Community Schools Collaborative. Other grants support legal aid, emergency shelter, family counseling, and workforce-related services. Across the recent grants list, recipients are overwhelmingly in Duluth and nearby Minnesota communities, reflecting a locally focused funder that directs resources to programs serving the region’s day-to-day needs.
In youth development, the foundation backed a cluster of Duluth programs with designated support for mentoring, after-school activity, and academic enrichment. It gave $51,201 to Boys and Girls Club of the Northland for education/at-risk youth and $50,435 to Welch Center Inc Dba Valley Youth Centers for youth development and supportive services. It also awarded $37,500 to Duluth Community Schools Collaborative for academic and cultural enrichment. Basic-needs and emergency response work appears across several grants. The Salvation Army in Greater Duluth received $39,828 for food services, emergency services, and family transitional housing, while Damiano of Duluth Inc got $43,559 for soup kitchen, kids cafe, and clothing exchange programs. In health and family support, Human Development Center received $60,000 for family and individual counseling, and Lake Superior Community Health Center received $39,921 for health care access.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the low tens of thousands, with a p25 of $12,269, a median of $18,000, and a p75 of $27,887. The recent grants list also shows repeated support to the same organizations over multiple years, including Life House, Mentor North, Human Development Center, Family Freedom Center, and SOAR Career Solutions, which points to recurring relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation operates through direct funding to local nonprofit partners and community investment allocations. It also accepts unsolicited applications through its HLUW Community Investment / Grant Funding and Community Investment / Allocations programs.
$604K
$8.8M
$1.5M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $12K and $28K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$28K
Sara Niemi
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Minnesota: 85% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and the top recipient city in the recent grants list is Duluth. Other Minnesota recipients include Roseville. Outside Minnesota, the list includes grants to Appleton, Wisconsin, showing a smaller cross-border reach within a largely local pattern. Recipient countries in the dataset are all U.S.-based, with 104 grants to U.S. organizations.
Its stated focus areas are Health, Education, and Financial Stability. The recent grants align with those themes through counseling, health care access, food and shelter, youth programming, legal aid, and employment support.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years of the recent grants list, including Life House, Mentor North, Human Development Center, Family Freedom Center, and SOAR Career Solutions, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Recent grants are usually in the low tens of thousands. The distribution shows a p25 of $12,269, a median of $18,000, and a p75 of $27,887.
Yes. The HLUW Community Investment / Grant Funding and Community Investment / Allocations programs both indicate that unsolicited applications are accepted, and applications are reviewed by community investment panels.
It gives most often in Minnesota. The dataset shows 85% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state, and recent grants are concentrated in Duluth and other Minnesota communities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Financiamiento actual y próximo de Head of the Lakes United Way al que tu organización sin fines de lucro podría postularse.
¿Quién puede postularse? Available when Head of the Lakes United Way activates a disaster relief fund; assistance and funding priorities depend on the specific disaster, community needs, and available funding.
Fecha límite: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis as funding remains available.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER | DULUTH, MN | $47,928 | 2026 | CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES DULUTH |
| FAMILY FREEDOM CENTER | DULUTH, MN | $38,553 | 2026 | FREEDOM STARTUPS, FREEDOM FARMS, NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH SERVICES |
| FAMILY RISE TOGETHER | APPLETON, WI | $35,996 | 2026 | HEALTH PLACE |
| LIFE HOUSE | DULUTH, MN | $35,110 | 2026 | YOUTH CENTER |
| MENTOR NORTH | DULUTH, MN | $34,186 | 2026 | MENTOR DULUTH |
| LEGAL AID SERVICE OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA | DULUTH, MN | $28,767 | 2026 | LASNEM DULUTH PROGRAM |
| DULUTH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE | DULUTH, MN | $26,997 | 2026 | FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTATION |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | ROSEVILLE, MN | $20,013 | 2026 | FAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE NORTHLAND | DULUTH, MN | $19,863 | 2026 | ACADEMIC SUCCESS DULUTH&SUPERIOR, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES DULUTH & SUPERIOR |
| SOAR CAREER SOLUTIONS | DULUTH, MN | $19,768 | 2026 | EMPLOYMENT SERVICES |
| WELCH CENTER INC DBA VALLEY YOUTH CENTER | DULUTH, MN | $18,932 | 2026 | YOUTH EDUCATION SUPPORTS PROGRAM |
| CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL & DOMESTIC ABUSE (CASDA) | SUPERIOR, WI | $17,472 | 2026 | EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | DULUTH, MN | $16,719 | 2026 | FORENSIC INTERVIEWS & FAMILY ADVOCACY |
| CHUM | DULUTH, MN | $16,178 | 2026 | SHELTER AND DROP-IN CENTER |
| SECOND HARVEST NORTHERN LAKES FOOD BANK | DULUTH, MN | $16,050 | 2026 | FOOD DISTRIBUTION |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA | DULUTH, MN | $15,834 | 2026 | DULUTH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING |
| DAMIANO OF DULUTH | DULUTH, MN | $15,687 | 2026 | DAMIANO COMMUNITY KITCHEN, KIDS KITCHEN, FREE STORE |
| FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DBA HARBOR HOUSE CRISIS CENTER | SUPERIOR, WI | $15,329 | 2026 | HARBOR HOUSE CRISIS CENTER |
| LINCOLN PARK CHILDREN & FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE | DULUTH, MN | $14,408 | 2026 | SUPPORTED FAMILY TIME |
| LAKE SUPERIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | DULUTH, MN | $14,408 | 2026 | SLIDING FEE DISCOUNT PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH | DULUTH, MN | $13,474 | 2026 | INTEGRATED COACHING, TRANSPORTATION PGM |
| DIVINE CONNECTIONS | DULUTH, MN | $12,982 | 2026 | YOUNG MOTHERS PROGRAM, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CTR |
| JUST KIDS DENTAL | TWO HARBORS, MN | $12,387 | 2026 | SMILES@SCHOOL |
| MEN AS PEACEMAKERS | DULUTH, MN | $12,048 | 2026 | MAKING EQUAL GENDERS AWESOME (MEGA) |
| CENTER CITY HOUSING | DULUTH, MN | $11,950 | 2026 | FAMILY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION |
| SAFE HAVEN SHELTER | DULUTH, MN | $11,900 | 2026 | SHELTER PROGRAMS |
| WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | DULUTH, MN | $10,835 | 2026 | HOME REPAIRS TO IMPROVE SAFETY & ACCESSIBILITY |
| THE BRICK MINISTRIES | ASHLAND, WI | $10,176 | 2026 | BENEVOLENCE PROGRAM |
| ARC NORTHLAND | DULUTH, MN | $9,147 | 2026 | IEP/504 SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICES, COMMUNITY HOUSING ADVOCACY SVCS |
| NORTHWOODS WOMEN INC DBA NEW DAY ADVOCACY CENTER | ASHLAND, WI | $8,480 | 2026 | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCACY PROGRAM |
| DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA | DULUTH, MN | $7,917 | 2026 | HARBOR HIGHLANDS YOUTH PROGRAM, DSCC HEALTH PROGRAMMING |
| NORTH SHORE AREA PARTNERS | SILVER BAY, MN | $7,572 | 2026 | HOME SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | TWO HARBORS, MN | $7,097 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONAL |
| Human Development Center | Duluth, MN | $47,764 | 2025 | Family & individual counseling, designations |
| Family Freedom Center | Duluth, MN | $35,429 | 2025 | Freedom startups, neighborhood youth services, freedom farms |
| Mentor North | Duluth, MN | $34,204 | 2025 | Mentor Superior-Douglas County, mentor Duluth designations |
| Family Rise Together | Appleton, WI | $33,080 | 2025 | Health place |
| Life House | Duluth, MN | $32,266 | 2025 | Kids to adults kats, basic needs, futures education program, futures employment |
| Justice North | Duluth, MN | $26,438 | 2025 | Duluth legal services, expungments project, designations |
| Duluth Community Schools Collaborative | Duluth, MN | $24,811 | 2025 | Academic and cultural enrichment, designations |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland | Duluth, MN | $20,113 | 2025 | Education/At-risk youth, designations |
| Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse (CASDA) | Superior, WI | $19,445 | 2025 | Emergency Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence |
| The Salvation Army | Roseville, MN | $18,392 | 2025 | Family transitional housing, emergency assistance program, food assistance programs, rookie basketball association |
| SOAR Career Solutions | Duluth, MN | $18,166 | 2025 | Subsidized employment services, re-entry services, designations |
| Welch Center Inc dba Valley Youth Center | Duluth, MN | $17,398 | 2025 | Youth development and supportive services, designations |
| Faith United Methodist Church dba Harbor House Crisis Center | Superior, WI | $17,060 | 2025 | homeless stabilization project, children's life skills enhancement, designations |
| Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank | Duluth, MN | $16,050 | 2025 | Food distribution services, designations |
| First Witness Child Advocacy Center | Duluth, MN | $15,366 | 2025 | Prevention services, forensci interviews and family advocacy |
| Churches United in Ministry | Duluth, MN | $14,867 | 2025 | Drop-in center, emergency shelter, health and wellness clinic, designations |
| Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota | Duluth, MN | $14,551 | 2025 | Consumer credit counseling, together for youth, truancy action project, foreclosure |
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$47,928CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES DULUTH
FREEDOM STARTUPS, FREEDOM FARMS, NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH SERVICES
FAMILY RISE TOGETHER
$35,996HEALTH PLACE
LASNEM DULUTH PROGRAM
FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTATION
THE SALVATION ARMY
$20,013FAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
ACADEMIC SUCCESS DULUTH&SUPERIOR, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES DULUTH & SUPERIOR
SOAR CAREER SOLUTIONS
$19,768EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
WELCH CENTER INC DBA VALLEY YOUTH CENTER
$18,932YOUTH EDUCATION SUPPORTS PROGRAM
EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DULUTH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DBA HARBOR HOUSE CRISIS CENTER
$15,329HARBOR HOUSE CRISIS CENTER
LINCOLN PARK CHILDREN & FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE
$14,408SUPPORTED FAMILY TIME
COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH
$13,474INTEGRATED COACHING, TRANSPORTATION PGM
JUST KIDS DENTAL
$12,387SMILES@SCHOOL
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$10,835HOME REPAIRS TO IMPROVE SAFETY & ACCESSIBILITY
ARC NORTHLAND
$9,147IEP/504 SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICES, COMMUNITY HOUSING ADVOCACY SVCS
NORTHWOODS WOMEN INC DBA NEW DAY ADVOCACY CENTER
$8,480DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCACY PROGRAM
DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA
$7,917HARBOR HIGHLANDS YOUTH PROGRAM, DSCC HEALTH PROGRAMMING
NORTH SHORE AREA PARTNERS
$7,572HOME SERVICES
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$7,097GENERAL OPERATIONAL
Human Development Center
$47,764Family & individual counseling, designations
Freedom startups, neighborhood youth services, freedom farms
Family Rise Together
$33,080Health place
Kids to adults kats, basic needs, futures education program, futures employment
Academic and cultural enrichment, designations
Emergency Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence
The Salvation Army
$18,392Family transitional housing, emergency assistance program, food assistance programs, rookie basketball association
SOAR Career Solutions
$18,166Subsidized employment services, re-entry services, designations
Welch Center Inc dba Valley Youth Center
$17,398Youth development and supportive services, designations
Faith United Methodist Church dba Harbor House Crisis Center
$17,060homeless stabilization project, children's life skills enhancement, designations
Food distribution services, designations
Prevention services, forensci interviews and family advocacy
Drop-in center, emergency shelter, health and wellness clinic, designations
Consumer credit counseling, together for youth, truancy action project, foreclosure
