Northwest Area Foundation

10/13/2026

BIG NEWS: Northwest Area Foundation announces our next VP Program!

We’re thrilled to welcome Foster into a new leadership role at the Foundation. After 13 years as a program officer, she offers deep experience, trusted relationships, and a strong understanding of our mission and grantee partners.

Learn more about what she brings to the role!

READ: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/10/13/northwest-area-foundation-announces-next-vp-program/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-vpp-announcement

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Inside Philanthropy GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washington Candid United Philanthropy Forum National Center for Family Philanthropy

Hang is a longtime leader for solutions of, by, and for the community and has helped achieve powerful change in collaboration with many of the communities we serve

09/24/2026

NEW VIDEO: What’s an honor tax?

See how Northwest Area Foundation’s decision in 2025 to make an annual contribution to the Lower Sioux Government Center’s honor tax is an act of repair and a step toward building right relationship with Indigenous communities.

Hear the story directly from the people involved, ranging from our board to representatives from the Lower Sioux. You’ll learn the deeper reasons for how and why.

MORE: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/09/24/video-whats-an-honor-tax/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-honor-tax-video

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector The Nonprofit Quarterly Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy BoardSource Candid United Philanthropy Forum Jessica Intermill

An honor tax is a voluntary payment that recognizes access to Indigenous land and is an act of repairing relationships with Indigenous communities. In our latest video, you’ll learn about our decision in 2025 to make an annual contribution to the Lower Sioux Indian Community’s Mni Šota Makoče ...

09/17/2026

NEW PROFILE: Civic engagement is more than voting!

As the midterms approach, Northwest Area Foundation’s grantee partners COPAL MN and Minnesota Voice are helping communities make their voices heard by providing rides to the polls and also by organizing neighbors, protecting immigrant families, and giving communities a fair say.

See how their work overcame Operation Metro Surge and is strengthening democracy.

READ: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/09/16/when-neighbors-show-up-for-each-other-democracy-holds/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-profile2-civic-engagement

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector The Nonprofit Quarterly Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy The Communications Network BoardSource Candid Immigrant Defense Network

COPAL and Minnesota Voice build stronger communities through civic engagement. Civic engagement is about more than a single day at the ballot box. It’s the right to vote, but also the right to a job, a voice at the school board table, and a say in what happens to your neighborhood. For communities...

09/10/2026

Announcing a grantmaking leadership transition at Northwest Area Foundation: We're bidding farewell to Program VP Pakou Hang.

Pakou has moved on from her role, effective Sept. 4. We’re very thankful for her work and contributions. At this moment in Minnesota, she feels called to return to her roots as an organizer, building community power.

Our work will continue without interruption.

MORE:

08/26/2026

WE'RE HIRING!

Northwest Area Foundation is looking for a senior finance associate. Help attend to our financial wellness as we support Native Americans, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and people in rural areas. Pay: $90-121K.

INTERESTED? Act fast. The position closes on Sep 2!

https://www.nwaf.org/2026/08/26/were-hiring-a-senior-finance-associate-2026/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-senior-finance-associate

Minnesota Council on Foundations Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

We’re hiring a senior finance associate.

08/17/2026

Q2 grants are live!

Across Washington state, Northwest Area Foundation’s grantee partner OneAmerica organizes with immigrant and rural communities to turn everyday challenges into lasting change.

Its grant, alongside our other Q2 grants, supports communities and leaders repairing unjust systems and building the power to make long-term change. Our new release tells the story.

LEARN MORE: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/08/17/q2-grants-oneamericas-grassroots-advocacy-for-immigrant-communities/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-q2-grants

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Inside Philanthropy GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washington Candid United Philanthropy Forum National Center for Family Philanthropy
Minnesota Voice FAST Blackfeet

Free tax prep, financial coaching, and banking support help overcome economic barriers, especially for immigrant communities.

08/06/2026

NEW PROFILE: We need to repair broken systems!

This work demands community-led responses, as Northwest Area Foundation grantee partner African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) of Minnesota demonstrates. See how AEDS unlocks access to capital and culturally appropriate tech assistance for African immigrant entrepreneurs, changing systems so communities can thrive.

READ: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/08/06/aeds-is-stabilizing-systems-for-thriving-communities/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-profile1-stabilizing-systems

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector The Nonprofit Quarterly PEAK Grantmaking Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy The Communications Network BoardSource Candid United Philanthropy Forum National Center for Family Philanthropy

How one community-led lender is expanding opportunity and building systems that work for everyone. We believe communities are best positioned to shape their own futures. That’s why we invest in organizations that expand access to opportunity and help create systems where everyone has the chance to...

07/22/2026

NEW BLOG: Read about Northwest Area Foundation’s new wealth acknowledgment statement!

In it, we name the connection between our Foundation’s history and the dispossession of lands. Our statement is important but so is the process that led us to it.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director Margie Andreason describes the yearslong effort that went into the process and how we’re better for looking honestly at our history. It’s also an invitation for how your can do the same.

READ: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/07/22/we-created-a-wealth-acknowledgment-statement-heres-why/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-wealth-acknowlegment

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector The Nonprofit Quarterly PEAK Grantmaking Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy The Communications Network BoardSource GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washington Candid United Philanthropy Forum National Center for Family Philanthropy

Curiosity about our Foundation’s history and its connection to Native land dispossession spurred us to take bolder actions. Earlier this year, we posted a wealth acknowledgement statement on our website. It states the explicit connection between the origins of our Foundation’s wealth and the imp...

07/08/2026

NEW: Part 5 in Northwest Area Foundation series: When Policy Hits Home

“Tribal Colleges” explores how both and communities are deeply strengthened by tribal colleges and universities. But, after decades of underfunding, they’re facing renewed threats from federal budget cuts. At risk is essential support for local economies, higher education, and the preservation of language and culture.

See how tribal colleges and the American Indian College Fund are determined to keep on thriving.

READ/SHARE: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/07/08/tribal-colleges-rooted-in-community-threatened-by-budget-cuts/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-policy-series-5

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector PEAK Grantmaking Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy The Communications Network BoardSource Candid United Philanthropy Forum

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Blackfeet Community College

06/24/2026

NEW VIDEO: What we learned at Northwest Area Foundation’s first-ever solidarity summit!

Listen to CEO Kevin Walker, Program VP Pakou Hang, and board members Laura Alvarez Schrag and Salome Mwangi discuss what we heard from grantee partners and community leaders in Idaho.

We spoke to people from across movements, cultures, and geographies in Idaho working on urgent issues, such as farmworker labor, affordable housing, and self-determination.

See what we learned from them about existing community-led solutions and how we can be stronger supporters.

WATCH: https://www.nwaf.org/2026/06/24/listening-and-learning-from-community-in-idaho/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=26-ID-summit-video

Minnesota Council on Foundations Philanthropy Northwest The Chronicle of Philanthropy Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Council on Foundations Independent Sector The Nonprofit Quarterly PEAK Grantmaking Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Inside Philanthropy Change Philanthropy The Communications Network GRANTMAKERS of Oregon and Southwest Washingtonand Southwest Washington Candid United Philanthropy Forum National Center for Family Philanthropy

We heard directly from Idaho communities about how to stand alongside them as funders. In Idaho, we kicked off our first-ever solidarity summit to listen and learn from grantee partners and community leaders about how we can be stronger funding partners. Among the reflections we heard were insights....