Northwest Area Foundation
St Paul, Minnesota · EIN 410719221 · Private foundation
Northwest Area Foundation is a private foundation based in St Paul, Minnesota. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $18.9M in grants paid and $512.8M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 993 individual grants from this funder — $105.8M awarded across 2018–2024 — including its support for civil rights & social justice. Below is its full funding profile.
What Northwest Area Foundation funds
Northwest Area Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on civil rights & social justice, community improvement, economic development, education, environment & conservation, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, foster youth, immigrants & refugees, indigenous, lgbtq people, low-income communities.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Northwest Area Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Nations Oweesta Corporation REGRANTING TO NATIVE CDFIS IN ALASKA, HAWAII, UTAH, MISSOURI, AND WYOMING. | Longmont, CO | $1.0M | 2018 |
| First Nations Oweesta Corporation NATIVE CAPITAL ACCESS POOL | Longmont, CO | $1.0M | 2018 |
| New Venture Fund FISCAL SPONSOR FOR AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND | Washington, DC | $750K | 2023 |
| Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation ECOSYSTEM OF OPPORTUNITY: BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER | Porcupine, SD | $725K | 2018 |
| Native American Youth and Family Center GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Portland, OR | $700K | 2024 |
| Craft3 UPLIFT AMERICA FUND | Astoria, OR | $695K | 2020 |
| First Nations Oweesta Corporation NATIVE CDFI CAPITALIZATION: NETWORKING FOR INVESTMENT | Longmont, CO | $550K | 2019 |
| Byrd Barr Place ADVANCING ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN WASHINGTON STATE | Seattle, WA | $500K | 2019 |
| Nexus Community Partners SEEDING THE MINNESOTA HOLISTIC BLACK-LED MOVEMENT FUND | St Paul, MN | $500K | 2020 |
| Chief Seattle Club GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Seattle, WA | $500K | 2020 |
| Build Wealth Mn Inc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Minneapolis, MN | $500K | 2023 |
| Headwaters Foundation for Justice GRANTMAKING FOR INDIGENOUS, BLACK AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING SUPPORT | Minneapolis, MN | $500K | 2024 |
| Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Porcupine, SD | $500K | 2024 |
| The Directors Council GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Des Moines, IA | $500K | 2024 |
| Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL INITIATIVE. | Washington, DC | $500K | 2024 |
Northwest Area Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Northwest Area Foundation
Northwest Area Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at nwaf.org.
Is Northwest Area Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Northwest Area Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Northwest Area Foundation
- Does Northwest Area Foundation accept grant applications?
- Northwest Area Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Northwest Area Foundation fund?
- Northwest Area Foundation's grants focus on civil rights & social justice. Recent recipients include First Nations Oweesta Corporation, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, New Venture Fund. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Northwest Area Foundation give in grants?
- Northwest Area Foundation reported $18.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $105.8M over 993 grants.
- Where is Northwest Area Foundation located?
- Northwest Area Foundation is based in St Paul, Minnesota. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 410719221.
- How can I find foundations similar to Northwest Area Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Northwest Area Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
Find more funders like Northwest Area Foundation
Foundations similar to Northwest Area Foundation
Other Minnesota grantmakers with overlapping priorities: