People & Connections
People & Connections
Our rural region’s strength lies in the connections among people. By fostering inclusive relationships and welcoming newcomers, we build a vibrant community where everyone is valued and can contribute to a shared future.
Plans for progress
Strategic planning gives us the structure and clarity to move from big ideas to real impact. It helps us stay focused, make thoughtful choices, and align our efforts around what matters most. Without a plan, even the most compelling vision can feel out of reach. But with the right roadmap—grounded in priorities, timing, and collaboration—we can make steady, meaningful progress.
Results for our region
By projecting outward to the goals we want to achieve, we’ve established a 10-year horizon that is meant to stretch us. But it also needs to be grounded in action. That’s where our strategies come into play. They translate big aspirations into focused progress. Implemented through three-year cycles, we can move forward without getting overwhelmed by our long-term vision.
Taken together, this rhythm of connecting goals, strategies, and actions will lead to extraordinary results for our region.
10-YEAR HORIZON GOALS
• $110 million revenue (cumulative)
• $95 million (cumulative) in community investments
• 3,000 annual donors engaged in locally driven initiatives
• $47 million (cumulative) invested in historically underserved groups and tribal partners
• 80 affordable homeownership units created or preserved
• $25 million (cumulative) in funding provided for housing and homelessness initiatives
• $15 million (cumulative) in capital resources provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs
• 800 small businesses and entrepreneurs provided resources annually
• $35 million (cumulative) in local donations
• 250 partners engaged annually in inclusive collaborative efforts
• 3 systems change initiatives that lead to regional wellbeing improvements
Community Compass
As a force and resource for Northwest Minnesota, we champion ideas that stabilize and strengthen our communities. Working side by side with neighbors and local leaders, together we address today’s challenges and build tomorrow’s best future. From grants, loans, and scholarships to business consulting and local giving, we’re here to guide and support donors and recipients alike.
OUR VISION
Northwest Minnesota is a place where communities and people work together to foster opportunity, promote philanthropy, and enrich the lives of all residents.
OUR MISSION
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration, and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
Our Roles
We’ve defined four roles for NMF’s work in connecting people, places, and possibilities to achieve our 10-year horizon.
Champion for Rural and Belonging
We elevate rural voices to foster inclusive progress
Our Reach
Catalyst for Collaboration
We build networks and partnerships to advance shared goals
Steward of Community Giving
We strengthen and inspire local philanthropy to empower community solutions
Strategic Funder and Investor
We deliver impactful funding and investments aligned with regional priorities
Our 10-year horizon encompasses elements that contribute to a thriving and resilient region. This chart shows how NMF will support those diverse sectors through funding, partnerships, and programs.
*NMF’s family of funds includes 400+ locally invested contributions, maintained for the benefit of communities across the region.
Focus Areas and Goals
NMF will achieve its 10-year horizon by working steadily on the following key strategies. Taken together, these strategies help us focus our efforts on the areas where we can make the greatest impact across our region.
Empower Rural Communities
10-YEAR HORIZON
Guided by community voices, NMF will build a stronger, more resilient Northwest Minnesota through investments in people, places, and possibilities. We will provide grants, loans, technical assistance, and advocacy to empower our communities, amplify local giving, and address systemic barriers.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Philanthropy
NMF will help the landscape of rural philanthropy evolve, engaging donors to shape the future of their communities through sustainable community funds, transformative projects, and impact-driven investments.
Investments
NMF will ensure community grantmaking and lending become more accessible and responsive, with streamlined processes that allow more organizations, businesses, and grassroots leaders to access critical funding. We will work across the region to ensure communities have access to data, tools, and strategies to guide long-term financial planning, helping local leaders prepare for the intergenerational transfer of wealth and sustainable reinvestment in their hometowns. Over the next three years, we will not only fuel millions in investments, but also lay the groundwork for rural communities to build wealth, stability, and opportunity for the long term.
Advocacy
As a key advocate for rural priorities, NMF will help advance policy solutions for child care and homelessness, ensuring state-level funding flows to the region in meaningful ways.
7%
Nationally, only 7% of philanthropy funding is directed to rural communities. At NMF, 100% of our investments support Northwest Minnesota.
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• $26 million directed in cumulative community investments, with $12 million specifically benefiting historically underserved communities and tribal partners
• 2,500 donors actively engaged in local giving and impact-driven investments
• At least two state-level policy or funding decisions in child care and homelessness influenced by NMF
Drive a Regional Culture of Giving Back
10-YEAR HORIZON
We believe that giving and volunteerism are catalysts for leadership and transformative community impact. We will expand local philanthropy, mobilize volunteer networks, and develop leaders who champion equitable, local solutions.
“Working with like-minded, community-focused individuals is inspiring.”
Jessica Spaeth, Halstad, Fund Advisor, Western Norman Community Fund
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• Regional transfer of wealth campaign launched with at least 75 fund advisors, donors, and community leaders engaged in long-term giving to support local communities
• $11 million achieved in local donations
• Recruit more fund advisors and expand engagement with existing volunteers
• $1 million cumulative donations to the NMF Impact Fund
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Volunteerism
We will provide community fund advisory committees access to enhanced tools and resources that allow them to communicate the impact of fundraising efforts with confidence. This effort will help fund advisors promote strategies to grow local assets for future giving and for more people to understand the importance of philanthropy in sustaining vibrant communities.
Leadership
NMF will support new and emerging community leaders through focused development, equipping them to serve in key volunteer and advisory roles. We especially aim to engage youth and underrepresented groups across the region to participate in inclusive solutions that address local priorities. We will recruit new fund advisors and invest in the growth and development of current fund advisors to foster a sustainable pipeline of community leaders.
Relationships
Additionally, NMF’s donor engagement efforts will strengthen relationships with the region’s donors, leading to increases in major gifts and long-term philanthropic commitments. This will strengthen NMF’s ability to address emerging community needs and opportunities.
Champion Community Collaboration
10-YEAR HORIZON
By being present, listening deeply, and responding to community needs NMF will build authentic collaboration. We will strengthen relationships with tribal partners, regional organizations, nonprofits, underrepresented communities, and local governments to co-create solutions that reflect local priorities and advance regional progress.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Skills
NMF will strengthen staff engagement skills and create conditions for deeper, region-wide relationship building. Staff across all divisions will receive training, coaching, and peer support to develop and practice facilitation, cultural humility, and relationship-building skills that match their roles and personalities. This will include culturally responsive practices, active listening, and engaging in spaces where NMF may not be well known in order to initiate and sustain relationships with community members, organizations, and local leaders.
Culture
Internally, we will shift our culture and systems to affirm that engagement takes time and presence. Calendars, priorities, and expectations will evolve beyond meetings and deadlines to reflect the importance of making space to be in relationships.
Connections
We will stretch beyond our existing networks and comfort zones to build new relationships that reflect the full diversity and geography of our region. We will work to help staff feel equipped and supported to build authentic connections, working to become recognized as a consistent and trusted presence across the region.
“Real progress happens when communities unite— collaboration ensures local voices shape solutions, making regional change inclusive, lasting, and truly ours.”
Barb Fabre, CEO/President, All Nations Rise
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• 15% increase in actively engaged partners
• Staff training in facilitation, deep listening, and culturally responsive engagements complete across all divisions
• 30% of new relationships formed are with organizations, leaders, or communities with whom NMF has had minimal or no prior engagement
• System in place to measure partner engagement efforts across the region
Advance Housing Solutions
10-YEAR HORIZON
Access to secure and inclusive housing is a cornerstone of equity, opportunity, and generational wealth-building. That’s why NMF will work to end homelessness and increase affordable homeownership by investing in housing programs, removing systemic barriers, and advocating for policies that promote housing stability.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
9%
In Minnesota, the number of costburdened households rose by 9% in just one year. (Cost-burdened means a household spends more than 30% of its income on housing.)
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• At least 20 donors engaged in housing initiatives
• $2 million in flexible funding for housing and ending homelessness secured, outside of federal allocations to the Northwest Minnesota Continuum of Care
• $6 million in investments from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development directed into the region
• 30 new homes added to the North Star Neighbors portfolio, with five designed for accessibility for aging populations
Programs
Using the North Star Neighbors community land trust (CLT) model, we will help cities and towns sustainably preserve affordability and revitalize housing stock. As the impact of the CLT model grows, it will generate increased donor support and community investment.
Options
Recognizing the need for a full spectrum of housing options, we will work with partners to introduce targeted solutions for seniors, families, and vulnerable populations. We will engage in efforts to support the housing needs of aging populations to ensure that older adults can remain in their communities while freeing up homes for families.
Investments
We will encourage private donors to step in and fill critical funding gaps that federal and state dollars cannot, which will allow for more flexible, communitydriven housing solutions. We will expand risk mitigation funding beyond youth, seeking more landlords to actively participate. With these coordinated efforts, we will stabilize housing for vulnerable populations, replace dilapidated structures, and invest in new development projects in rural communities that reflect the needs and priorities of the people who live there.
Foster Equitable Economic Growth
10-YEAR HORIZON
NMF will ensure small businesses, tribal enterprises, agribusinesses, and all entrepreneurs—especially those facing barriers to traditional capital—have the support they need to succeed. We will invest in economic development, wealth creation, and opportunities for immigrant and migrant workers to support an inclusive economy where all can thrive.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Wealth-building
In partnership with communities, the Northwest Minnesota Community Impact Corporation (NMCIC) will develop a generational wealth-building program, expanding access to business ownership opportunities to underrepresented entrepreneurs and those facing systemic barriers. We will provide loan clients technical assistance throughout the life of their loan, reinforcing long-term success beyond capital.
Entrepreneurship
By integrating our lending and technical assistance programs, we will enable entrepreneurs to seamlessly move from idea to business launch to expansion with a clear roadmap of support. To revitalize our rural economy, NMF and NMCIC will provide technical assistance that is accessible to all entrepreneurs, including new Minnesotans, enabling them to build stable lives and wealth.
Stability
As a regional hub of development, we will provide technical assistance, foster strong partnerships, and ensure business owners, workers, and entrepreneurs can succeed in a more equitable and resilient economy. Using our Thriving Together initiative, we will help business and industry leaders establish relationships to facilitate immigrant integration into local economies.
24%
Nearly 24% percent of households in Northwest Minnesota in 2023 had an income under $35,000.
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• $4 million in capital cumulatively deployed from NMF and NMCIC to small businesses, tribal enterprises, and entrepreneurs facing barriers to traditional financing
• 700+ individual entrepreneurs and small business owners supported annually
• 20 underrepresented entrepreneurs and small business owners complete a transformative generational wealth-building program
Advance Systems Change
10-YEAR HORIZON
With intentional engagement, collaboration, and a focus on equity and sustainability, NMF will address complex challenges and enhance regional wellbeing. Working alongside communities, we will transform health and wellbeing and rural systems to meet evolving needs.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Engagement
8 of the 12 counties served by NMF have a greater-thanaverage percentage of households struggling to pay basic living expenses.
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• At least 6 communities engaged in Thriving Together initiatives
• At least 50 youth or vulnerable individuals (cumulatively) secure stable housing through the Risk Mitigation Fund
• At least 5 new community collaborations formalized to support child care expansion, shared service models, or provider sustainability initiatives
We will empower employers, economic development leaders, and local governments to foster welcoming and inclusive workplaces and neighborhoods with our Thriving Together program. Through shared learning, storytelling, and resource exchange, our region is building stronger connections and expanding support for Indigenous community members and new residents and workers, ensuring that all feel valued, included, and connected.
Housing
NMF will strengthen the region’s homelessness response system, collaborating with landlords, housing advocates, and service organizations to reduce barriers to stable housing. By expanding the Risk Mitigation Fund, we will support more property owners to provide housing for youth and individuals facing instability. Through systems change efforts, we will align resources, improve coordination across agencies, and foster innovative approaches to create lasting solutions for housing insecurity in Northwest Minnesota.
Child Care
We will bring together providers, employers, and community partners to share best practices, pool resources, and implement innovative models to expand child care access and stability. By convening, connecting, and facilitating dialogue, NMF will create stronger networks of support, ensuring child care solutions are built on collective expertise and shared commitment.
Strengthen Our Financial Resilience
10-YEAR HORIZON
To sustain our impact and address emerging community needs, our organization must remain resilient and adaptable. We will ensure financial health through diversified revenue streams, foster a mission-driven culture of employee engagement and professional development, and maintain adaptability to respond effectively to regional challenges.
3-YEAR ACTIONS
Revenue
A repeatable, adaptable system for revenue development ensures consistent funding levels and aligns funding opportunities with regional priorities. NMF will strengthen its financial resilience through diversified revenue streams, tested strategies, and an adaptable approach to growth. We will utilize a revenue development strategy that supports NMF’s strategic focus areas while maintaining flexibility to meet emerging needs. Using impact stories, we will demonstrate NMF’s role in local giving, investments, and community development.
Staff
NMF is committed to making professional development an integrated part of staff growth, with career pathways providing opportunities that align with individual strengths and the organization’s long-term vision. We will make strategic investments in technology and scalable, operational efficiencies to allow staff to focus on building strong partnerships, fostering creativity, and driving impact. Through these efforts, NMF can lay the foundation for long-term financial health and an adaptable, mission-driven team.
“Financial resilience isn’t just about numbers—it’s about designing a system that adapts, scales, and keeps our mission at the center.”
Karen White, NMF President/CEO
2026 – 2028 MEASURES
• 120 impact stories captured and shared
• Cumulative revenue of $30 million achieved
• Employee engagement consistently exceeds industry benchmarks
• 100% of staff have annual professional development plans aligned with strengths, career aspirations, and the organization’s needs
We believe in building better lives for those who call the region home.
As a regional community foundation, we can play an important role in helping the region accomplish long-term goals. Our leadership, resources, and steadfast focus can be a compass for guiding and helping Northwest Minnesota build the best future for tomorrow.
Better together
We support our community by connecting people to resources. The impact we can make is greater when more connections are made and more people are involved. We invite you to join us in contributing to a thriving and resilient region.
Let’s talk!
To reach a staff member to learn more about our work or explore how you can get involved, email us at info@nwmf.org or call 218.759.2057.
Donate
Make a meaningful and lasting contribution to your community. We offer a variety of giving options to help you meet your philanthropic and estate planning goals. nwmf.org/give-now
Volunteer
By contributing your energy and expertise, you can make a sustainable impact on the lives of those who call our community home. Contact us to learn about roles as a fund advisor or other ways to get involved.
Join
Sign up for our mailing list, Resource newsletter, or enews to say in the know about what we are doing in the community, resources we offer, and other ways you can get involved.
Connect
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