” Cindy Hansen is the new chair of the Northland Foundation Board
Cindy Hansen of Tofte, currently serving her eighth year on the board of the Northland Foundation, has been appointed as chair of the foundation board for 2009-2010. Hansen said she is delighted to serve as chair, explaining, “This is the best organization I’ve ever dealt with.”
Hansen explains that the Northland Foundation was founded in 1986, one of six initiatives funded by The McKnight Foundation to serve Minnesota with community grants, the KIDS PLUS program, and business assistance programs. Since its creation, the Northland Foundation has awarded over 2,800 grants totaling over $21 million to nonprofit organizations in the region and has invested $40 million in 425 regional businesses.
She said many Cook County entities have benefited from the foundation, such as Cook County North Shore Hospital, the Gunflint Trail Fire Department, Cook County Extension, Birch Grove Foundation, the Violence Prevention Center, the Cook County Council on Aging, Higher Education, Grand Portage Community Center and Daycare, the North Shore Music Association, and Cook County KIDS PLUS.
Businesses that have received assistance from Northland Foundation are Hedstrom Lumber, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Bearskin Lodge, Mountain Inn, Lutsen, and Superior Inn Resort. As co-owner of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in Tofte, Hansen knows how tough it is to sustain a business in Northeastern Minnesota. “Northland is often able to provide funding when a business just can’t find it elsewhere,” she said.
However, Hansen said the Northland Foundation does much more than provide financial assistance. She said the KIDS PLUS program is an example of how the foundation works with individual communities. “Each community has the opportunity to work with the Northland staff to identify what is needed most, whether it be a student center or an after-school program or something else altogether,” she said.
There is no “blueprint” outlining the benefits available to a community. Instead, the Northland Foundation works with a community, an organization, or business to determine what is needed. “If something doesn’t fit in the foundation criteria, staff works to find a way to be of help,” Hansen said.
Hansen said she is especially excited about Northland Foundation’s latest focus, assisted living. She said the foundation recently completed an assisted living home, Northland Village, a stand-alone senior apartment complex in McGregor and another Northland Village adjacent to the hospital in Buhl. Another senior facility is currently in the planning stages in Hoyt Lakes. “One of Northland’s goals is to help seniors age with independence and dignity,” she said.
Hansen said being appointed chair is an honor, but credits the Northland Foundation staff for making her job easy. “Theydo a lot of the legwork and present proposals to the board. We get to sit around the table and review the grant applications and business proposals. We get reports on former grants and have grant recipients come and share what they’ve done,” she said. “It’s very interesting.”
Staff also arranges site visits if board members want to learn more about proposals in the region they represent or on topics of interest. “We get to go on field trips!” laughed Hansen.
Board members receive payment for travel expenses, but no salary, but Hansen said, “It is so worth it. It is so rewarding, mentally and socially. You’re all the richer for it.”
She reiterated that it is the Northland Foundation staff that makes the experience so rewarding, for board members, and for grant or loan applicants. “Northland is a very ‘userfriendly’ organization,” she said. “Theymake every applicant feel as if they are the only ones that day.”
Past Cook County representatives are Bill Hansen of Tofte, Edwina Herzberg of Grand Portage, and Peg Morris, who was the original Cook County representative.
For more information about the Northland Foundation, visit www.northlandfdn.org; call the foundation toll-free at (800) 433-4045; or contact Hansen at (218) 663-7150.
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