Students. Achieving. Goals. Equally.
The SAGE Foundation was created to help Minnesota North students have fulfilling experiences that go beyond the campus. While Minnesota North has amazing staff and programs, its ability to support students through daily struggles is limited.
We found that students of color, out-of-state students, and those without a consistent support network face much lower chances of completing a degree or certificate. The challenges of living in the Iron Range, such as unreliable public transportation, long wait times for dental and health care, harsh winters, and limited access to affordable food—often become the reasons students leave before finishing their programs.
Some of these students leave not just with a jaded view of Minnesota North, but of Ely as a whole. We love Ely, and we can’t let the next generation of leaders write us off.
The SAGE Foundation exists not just to help students earn degrees but to help the next generation of Northern Minnesotans keep our towns alive.
As Ely residents, we connect students with the wonderful community that made us want to stay. We support students by providing rent assistance, FAFSA guidance, mentorship programs, and mental & physical health support. The SAGE Foundation also connects students with enriching activities like wilderness trips, folk school classes, Juneteenth celebrations, and more.
Our Mission
We provide mentorship, community, and essential resources to help students not only succeed in school but feel at home in the Iron Range. Through rent assistance, FAFSA guidance, mental health support, and cultural programming, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive future—one student at a time.
SAGE Foundation 