WINGS (Women in Northfield Giving Support) held its 2026 annual grants celebration this week. Twenty-one grant recipients set up displays to show off their organizations, and members of WINGS and the community came to look and see, and to celebrate them. We heard from two of the grantees during the short program.
WINGS is an organization that offers grants to non-profit organizations that aims specifically to improve lives of women and youth in the Northfield area. It also “champions the growth of women in philanthropy, strengthens community bonds through collective investments, and profoundly improves the lives of women and youth in the Northfield area through strategic, focused grants funding basic needs including programs which support housing and food stability, physical and mental health and education.”
Last year WINGS celebrated its 25th anniversary. In the beginning (in 2000), a small group of women pooled their money together thinking they could make more of an impact together. This proved to be successful and WINGS began… and continues to grow and grow. This year $111,000 was given out in grants, giving support to organizations that help support women and youth. A total of $1,756,087 has been awarded to date!
More history off the WINGS website: “The enthusiasm we generated in the first year really sparked the success of WINGS. Having both an annual fund and an endowment fund made a huge impact because we gave grants the first year and we became a major player in town quickly. The goal was to collaborate, not compete, with existing nonprofits, and members were encouraged to expand, not divert, their giving. WINGS funds are invested with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, which shares expertise and operational efficiency…”
I became a member of WINGS last year and am now serving on the board. I am excited to be a part of this worthy, nonprofit organization.
Interested in becoming a member? Click here.