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Northfield Shares at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Northfield Shares

NORTHFIELD SHARES seeks to sustain and transform the northfield community by advancing philanthropy, inspiring volunteerism and promoting collaborative leadership.

$1.0M
Granted FY2024still arriving
16
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$137k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$2.8MReligion$679kInternational$499kHuman Services$360kYouth Development$206kArts & Culture$189kEnvironment$87kPhilanthropy$82kOther$0
02FY2024 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 16 grants below total $829,165, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,049,325 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $220,160 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $18k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $141k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $671k
$24,329
Median grant
5
States reached
$10M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NORTHFIELD UNITED METHODIST$137,100
CARLETON COLLEGE$137,100
WOOSTER COLLEGE$137,100
CENTER FOR COURAGE & RENEWAL$110,000
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC$82,260
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA$67,038
NORTHFIELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE$34,086
COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER$24,329
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES$20,800
ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH$14,000
GREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL$13,600
WOMEN IN NORTHFIELD GIVING SUPPORT (WINGS)$12,101
FIFTY NORTH$12,101
OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL$10,000
CLEAN RIVER PARTNERS$9,550
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $165k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $29k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $25k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $24k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $24k → 11%NORTHFIELD AREA YMCA: $13k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $12k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $8k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $8k → 11%NORTHFIELD AREA YMCA: $7k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $6k → 11%NORTHFIELD YOUTH SPORTS COLLABORATI: $5k → 11%COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER: $5k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

57%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.9M · 14 repeat orgs$2.2M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +59% since the first grant, against +1% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2024, 6 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
17

Total granted

$2.9M
$1.7M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+59%
+1%

Still filing today

86%
53%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 43% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $462k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationArts & CultureCommunity ImprovementHuman ServicesEnvironmentPublic BenefitOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • CC
    CARLETON COLLEGE
    5× · 2017–2024 · $1.4M · revenue +39%
  • SO
    ST OLAF COLLEGE
    2× · 2021–2023 · $510k · revenue +38%
  • NS
    Northfield Senior Citizens Inc FiftyNorth
    8× · 2017–2024 · $242k · revenue +14%

Funded once

  • DU
    DOANE UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2021 · $489k · revenue +1%
  • AF
    AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ASIAN RURAL INSTITUTE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $489k · revenue +106%
  • FU
    FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
    one grant, 2021 · $489k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Northland Foundation

The northland foundation supports northeastern minnesota people and communities working toward a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

Philanthropy
2
The Northern Michigan University Foundation

The nmu foundation will establish and foster relationships to generate resources that benefit the strategic goals of northern michigan university.

Education
3
Northland College

Northland college's mission is to integrate undergraduate liberal arts studies with an environmental emphasis, enabling those it serves to address the challenges of the future.

Education
4
North Central University

North central university is a christian university with a commitment to academic excellence.

Education
5
Cornell College

Cornell college offers an innovative and rigorous learning community where faculty and staff collaborate with students to develop the intellectual curiosity, creativity and moral courage necessary for a lifetime of learning and engaged…

Education
6
United Way of Ne Minnesota

United way of northeastern minnesota invests in nonprofits, programs, and collaborations that equip and empower, creating opportunities for people to thrive in our communities.

—
7
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
8
Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nebraska wesleyan university is an academic community dedicated to intellectual and personal growth within the context of a liberal arts education and in an environment of christian concern.

Education
9
Environmental Initiative

Catalyze collaboration across perspectives, power, and systems for social equity and environmental health.

Environment
10
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
11
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank

Engaging the community to end hunger

—
12
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Northfield Healthy Community Initiative; the most unlike its peers is Rice County Neighbors United. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

28 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 28 of the 40 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
27/28
Grantees still filing
19/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CARLETON COLLEGE: $1,363,640 · EducationCARLETON COLLEGEST OLAF COLLEGE: $510,090 · EducationST OLAF COLLEGEDOANE UNIVERSITY: $488,579 · EducationDOANE UNIVERSITYCENTER FOR COURAGE & RENEWAL: $150,000 · EducationCENTER FOR COURAGE & RENEWALTHE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER: $137,100 · Education+2 more: $96,038 · EducationAMERICAN FRIENDS OF ASIAN RURAL INSTITUTE INC: $488,579 · OtherAMERICAN FRIENDS OF ASIAN RURAL INSTITU…FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: $488,579 · OtherFIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTNorthfield Senior Citizens Inc FiftyNorth: $241,797 · OtherNorthfield Senior Citizens Inc FiftyNor…NORTHFIELD UNITED METHODIST: $137,100 · OtherNORTHFIELD UNITED METHODISTEASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $82,260 · OtherMINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $69,397 · Other+15 more: $257,958 · Other+15 moreNORTHFIELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: $169,589 · Community ImprovementROTARY CLUB OF NORTHFIELD: $50,000 · Community ImprovementSHARING OUR ROOTS: $8,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY ACTION CENTER INC: $145,371 · Human ServicesNORTHFIELD AREA FAMILY YMCA: $19,680 · Human ServicesGREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: $54,400 · Arts & CultureNORTHFIELD ARTS GUILD: $21,000 · Arts & CultureVALLEY GROVE PRESERVATION SOCIETY: $16,500 · Arts & CultureFILMNORTH: $8,000 · Arts & CultureDEFEAT OF JESSE JAMES DAYS COMMITTEE INC: $7,000 · Arts & CultureHealthFinders Collaborative Inc: $51,500 · HealthCLEAN RIVER PARTNERS INC: $34,850 · Environment
Education$2,745,447Other$1,765,670Community Improvement$227,589Human Services$165,051Arts & Culture$106,900Health$51,500Environment$34,850

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCARLETON COLLEGE: $1,363,640 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetST OLAF COLLEGE: $510,090 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetDOANE UNIVERSITY: $488,579 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetNorthfield Senior Citizens Inc FiftyNorth: $241,797 over 8y, 9.6% of budgetNORTHFIELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: $169,589 over 8y, 1.3% of budgetCENTER FOR COURAGE & RENEWAL: $150,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetCOMMUNITY ACTION CENTER INC: $145,371 over 7y, 2.6% of budgetTHE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER: $137,100 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMINNESOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $69,397 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $67,038 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: $54,400 over 4y, 1.6% of budgetHealthFinders Collaborative Inc: $51,500 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetROTARY CLUB OF NORTHFIELD: $50,000 over 1y, 27% of budgetCLEAN RIVER PARTNERS INC: $34,850 over 4y, 2.4% of budgetNORTHFIELD ARTS GUILD: $21,000 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetNORTHFIELD AREA FAMILY YMCA: $19,680 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetNORTHFIELD SOCCER ASSOCIATION: $15,500 over 1y, 50% of budgetProject Friendship Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 9.3% of budgetOPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFILMNORTH: $8,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMATTER: $8,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHARING OUR ROOTS: $8,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetDEFEAT OF JESSE JAMES DAYS COMMITTEE INC: $7,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetNORTHFIELD SHARES: $6,800 over 1y, 0.2% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Minneapolis Found…The American Center f…Minnesota Community F…Saint Paul & Minnesot…Rice County Area Unit…YouthpriseSouthern Minnesota In…Southeastern Minnesot…Allina Health SystemThe McKnight Foundati…Thrivent Charitable I…Otto Bremer Trust
The Minneapolis FoundationMN25.7× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Minneapolis Foundation · The American Center for Philanthropy Inc · Minnesota Community Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Rice County Area United Way · Youthprise · Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation · Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc · Allina Health System · The McKnight Foundation · Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing · Otto Bremer Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Northfield Shares funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Northfield Shares. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 40 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Northfield Shares’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home