We stand alongside changemakers in our region of eight states and 76 Native nations and fund work that leads to racial, social, and economic justice.
A $700,000 general operating grant to Native American Youth and Family Center is the largest recent award in the record, and it points to a clear pattern: Northwest Area Foundation backs Native-led and community-rooted organizations with flexible support. The foundation gives across an eight-state region and 76 Native nations, with grants tied to economic, social, racial, and cultural justice. In the recent grant list, sizeable operating support also went to Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, The Directors Council, Nexus Community Partners, and Headwaters Foundation for Justice, showing sustained support for intermediaries and place-based groups that move capital, advocacy, and community wealth. Native communities are central to the foundation’s work, both through direct grants and through related capital strategies. It also funds organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities, communities of color, and rural communities, often through general operating support or capacity-building awards. The recent portfolio includes work on Native CDFIs, Indigenous food systems, trans justice, Indigenous arts ecology, and social enterprise, which suggests a funder that mixes core support with targeted investments in community infrastructure. Program-related investments and mission-related investments are part of the toolkit as well.
Native economic development is a major theme. Northwest Area Foundation gave $400,000 to Oweesta Corporation for empowering Native economic growth through general operating support for CDFI advancement, and $250,000 to Native CDFI Network Inc. for restoring Native economies and building a stronger unified Native voice. Housing, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship also show up in the recent grants. The foundation awarded $250,000 to Hmong American Partnership for support to Southeast Asian and immigrant/refugee-owned small businesses in the Twin Cities, and $300,000 to Warm Springs Community Action Team for financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, workforce, and more. Cultural and healing-centered work appears alongside economic goals. Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation received $350,000 in 2023 for fostering healing through Lakota lifeways to promote a reimagined regenerative economy, and First Peoples Fund received $300,000 for growing a thriving Indigenous arts ecology. The foundation also funded the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs for the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
$21.9M
$547.6M
$40.6M
$35.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $150K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$150K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
The typical grant size centers on six figures: the p25 is $24,976, the median is $100,000, and the p75 is $150,000. Recent awards show a mix of larger operating grants and targeted capacity support, including several $250,000 and $500,000 commitments. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent list, including Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, The Directors Council, Native American Youth and Family Center, Social Justice Fund Northwest, and Nexus Community Partners, indicating repeated support rather than one-off grants. Most listed awards are unrestricted or general operating support, with some campaign, capacity-building, and program-specific grants.
Grants land across the foundation’s region and beyond, with Minnesota appearing most often in the recipient list. Recent Minnesota recipients include St Paul and Minneapolis organizations such as Nexus Community Partners, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Working Partnerships Incorporated, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, and Hmong American Partnership. Seattle and Portland also recur, alongside Native communities in South Dakota and North Dakota, including Porcupine and Fort Yates. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S., with 297 grants and no non-U.S. awards in the provided data.
The foundation funds Native-led organizations, communities of color, immigrants and refugees, and rural communities. In the recent grants list, that shows up in general operating support, capacity-building awards, and grants tied to Native economic development, Indigenous arts, trans justice, and social enterprise.
Yes. Many of the recent awards are labeled general operating support, including grants of $700,000 to Native American Youth and Family Center, $500,000 to Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, and $500,000 to Nexus Community Partners. Capacity-building and flexible program support also appear in the list.
The grant-size distribution centers on six figures. The p25 is $24,976, the median is $100,000, and the p75 is $150,000. The recent grant list also includes larger awards of $250,000, $300,000, $400,000, $450,000, $500,000, and $700,000.
Yes. Native CDFIs are a named focus area, and the foundation’s active programs include support for Native Community Development Financial Institutions, Access to Capital Portfolio work, and impact investing. Recent grants include $400,000 to Oweesta Corporation and $250,000 to Native CDFI Network Inc.
It makes program-related investments and mission-related investments. The active programs describe PRIs as low-interest loans or below-market investments and MRIs as market-rate investments aligned with mission. Invest Northwest is the foundation’s mission investing initiative.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $700,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE DIRECTORS COUNCIL | DES MOINES, IA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THUNDER VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | PORCUPINE, SD | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEXUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS | ST PAUL, MN | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING |
| OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY - INDIAN AFFAIRS | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL INITIATIVE. |
| HEADWATERS FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500,000 | 2025 | GRANTMAKING FOR INDIGENOUS, BLACK AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING SUPPORT |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND NORTHWEST | SEATTLE, WA | $450,000 | 2025 | ABUNDANTLY RESOURCING BIPOC & GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING |
| WORKING PARTNERSHIPS INCORPORATED | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $450,000 | 2025 | WORKERS CONFLUENCE FUND FLEXIBLE PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OWEESTA CORPORATION | LONGMONT, CO | $400,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERING NATIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CDFI ADVANCEMENT |
| SAGE FOUNDATION INC | FORT YATES, ND | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $270,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILANTHROPY NORTHWEST | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BYRD BARR PLACE | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | AAPI COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROJECT |
| MOUNTAIN SHADOW ASSOCIATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CRAFT3 | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SEEDING JUSTICE | PORTLAND, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | SEEDING JUSTICE'S COMMUNITY-LED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN GRANTMAKING: BY AND FOR THE MOVEMENT |
| COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | TRANS JUSTICE FUNDING PROJECT- JUSTICE FOR TRANS COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST |
| HMONG AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP | ST PAUL, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN AND IMMIGRANT/ REFUGEE-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE TWIN CITIES |
| IOWA MIGRANT MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE | DES MOINES, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VERDE | PORTLAND, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MNI WICONI HEALTH CIRCLE | MANDAN, ND | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY LINK | HAVRE, MT | $200,000 | 2025 | MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES ASSETS FOR GROWTH AND CHANGE |
| VENTURES | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIVE CDFI NETWORK INC | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BUILD WEALTH MN INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NIMIIPUU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND | LAPWAI, ID | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UJAMAA PLACE | ST PAUL, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 247 BLAC | WATERLOO, IA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CULTURAL WELLNESS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $170,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT PAUL | ST PAUL, MN | $170,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC MOBILITY HUB FOR AMERICAN INDIANS |
| MAZASKA OWECASO OTIPI FINANCIAL INC | PINE RIDGE, SD | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIVE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER | BISMARCK, ND | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NACDC FINANCIAL SERVICES INC | BROWNING, MT | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAPACES LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | WOODBURN, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PLENTY DOORS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | CROW AGENCY, MT | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TAALA FUND | TAHOLAH, WA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE | OGEMA, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IOWA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | DES MOINES, IA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NIXYAAWII COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SERVICES | PENDLETON, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL TO LOCAL HEALTH INITIATIVE | SEATAC, WA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLACK HILLS COMMUNITY LOAN FUND INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIVE360 LOAN FUND INC | GRAND ISLAND, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE PRAXIS PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $138,000 | 2025 | PEOPLE'S ECONOMY LAB |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION | DULUTH, MN | $125,000 | 2025 | ENHANCING AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO BIPOC WEALTH, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA |
| OREGON NATIVE AMERICAN CHAMBER | PORTLAND, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RUNNING STRONG FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | SACRED WATER BUNDLE (MINIZIPAN WAKAN) INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING FOR A TRIBAL TEMPLATE FOR CO-STEWARDSHIP ON THE MISSOURI RIVER |
NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER
$700,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE DIRECTORS COUNCIL
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THUNDER VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEXUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY - INDIAN AFFAIRS
$500,000FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL INITIATIVE.
HEADWATERS FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
$500,000GRANTMAKING FOR INDIGENOUS, BLACK AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING SUPPORT
SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND NORTHWEST
$450,000ABUNDANTLY RESOURCING BIPOC & GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
WORKING PARTNERSHIPS INCORPORATED
$450,000WORKERS CONFLUENCE FUND FLEXIBLE PROGRAM SUPPORT
OWEESTA CORPORATION
$400,000EMPOWERING NATIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CDFI ADVANCEMENT
SAGE FOUNDATION INC
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
$270,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PHILANTHROPY NORTHWEST
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BYRD BARR PLACE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND
$250,000AAPI COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
MOUNTAIN SHADOW ASSOCIATION
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CRAFT3
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK
$250,000NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK GENERAL OPERATIONS
SEEDING JUSTICE
$250,000SEEDING JUSTICE'S COMMUNITY-LED, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN GRANTMAKING: BY AND FOR THE MOVEMENT
COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION
$250,000SPONSORSHIP
TIDES FOUNDATION
$250,000TRANS JUSTICE FUNDING PROJECT- JUSTICE FOR TRANS COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST
HMONG AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP
$250,000SUPPORT FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN AND IMMIGRANT/ REFUGEE-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE TWIN CITIES
IOWA MIGRANT MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
VERDE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MNI WICONI HEALTH CIRCLE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OPPORTUNITY LINK
$200,000MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES ASSETS FOR GROWTH AND CHANGE
VENTURES
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIVE CDFI NETWORK INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BUILD WEALTH MN INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NIMIIPUU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UJAMAA PLACE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
247 BLAC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CULTURAL WELLNESS CENTER
$170,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT PAUL
$170,000ECONOMIC MOBILITY HUB FOR AMERICAN INDIANS
MAZASKA OWECASO OTIPI FINANCIAL INC
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIVE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NACDC FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CAPACES LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PLENTY DOORS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TAALA FUND
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IOWA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NIXYAAWII COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SERVICES
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GLOBAL TO LOCAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLACK HILLS COMMUNITY LOAN FUND INC
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIVE360 LOAN FUND INC
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE PRAXIS PROJECT
$138,000PEOPLE'S ECONOMY LAB
LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION
$125,000ENHANCING AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO BIPOC WEALTH, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA
OREGON NATIVE AMERICAN CHAMBER
$125,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RUNNING STRONG FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH
$125,000SACRED WATER BUNDLE (MINIZIPAN WAKAN) INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING FOR A TRIBAL TEMPLATE FOR CO-STEWARDSHIP ON THE MISSOURI RIVER
Current and upcoming funding from Northwest Area Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Native-led groups within the foundation’s region of eight states and 76 Native nations that share the same geography.
Deadline: No open deadlines stated; organizations are contacted if and when opportunities arise.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
