HOME | Northern Tool Foundation

Northern Tool + Equipment was started in a garage more than

45 years ago when our founder, Don Kotula, set out on a mission to build a company to serve the people who do the tough jobs our community depends on.

The Northern Tool Foundation, a newly formed 501(c)3, was built to take that mission to the next level. We’re here to roll up our sleeves to serve and support our community.

The Foundation’s first priority is helping build the next generation of skilled tradespeople. These students are essential to the future, and we’re committed to giving them the tools, equipment, and hands-on experience they need to get a head start in the trades. Through donations of professional-grade tools and equipment to public high schools near our retail stores, we help students gain real-world experience and explore meaningful career paths.

Whether it’s helping a community rebuild after a storm, or helping to build the next generation of tradespeople, we go the extra mile to serve and support our neighbors when it matters most.

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THE NORTHERN TOOL FOUNDATION.

BUILT TO SERVE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TIMES.

PLEASE HELP US INSPIRE AMERICA’S NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED LABOR.

MAKE YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TODAY.

Pitch in to help build the labor force our country needs and inspire students to consider a rewarding career in the trades by mailing your check to:

Northern Tool Foundation

ATTN: Rob Selstrom

2800 Southcross Drive West, Burnsville, MN 55306

Electronic payment processing coming soon.

Services

TOOLS FOR THE TRADES™ AND MONSTER JAM® ANNOUNCE THE MONSTER JAM MINI BUILD WITH THE BRYAN, TX HIGH SCHOOL SHOP CLASS.

Gravedigger, El Toro Loco and the Monster Jam® crew rolled into the new Northern Tool + Equipment store in Bryan, TX in September to kick off the Monster Jam® Mini Build with Bryan High School shop class teacher Chris Lehde and his students. They couldn’t have been more surprised or excited. You can catch the monthly updates on their progress on YouTube.

NEWS

High School Students Build Motorcycle with Racing Legends, Earn Victory Lap at Tennessee Flat Track Event

The student-built motorcycle will make its first lap June 6 at Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track before a sold-out crowd NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 15 Tennessee career and technical education (CTE) students from LaVergne High School revealed their track-ready Harley-Davidson XR750-inspired motorcycle at the Murfreesboro Northern Tool + Equipment store. Celebrating the Student Build Team Today, after 174 days of hard work, problem-solving and perse

Built, Not Bought: Tennessee High School Students Unveil Custom Flat Track Style Motorcycle at Murfreesboro Northern Tool + Equipment Store

Come celebrate the student build team on the completion of the Northern Tool + Equipment Legends Build: Student Challenge NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, June 4th, at the Murfreesboro Northern Tool + Equipment store, 15 LaVergne High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will unveil the track-ready Harley-Davidson XR750-inspired motorcycle that they spent the school year building. Northern Tool + Equipment launched the Legends Build:

Northern Tool + Equipment to Launch TV Series with RACER Network Highlighting the Next Generation of Tradespeople

The first season will feature the national retailer's Legends Build: Student Challenge with La Vergne, TN, Career and Technical Education (CTE) High School Students LA VERGNE, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Minnesota-based Northern Tool + Equipment announced a partnership with RACER Network to launch a first-of-its-kind television series highlighting the next generation of tradespeople, high school CTE students. Tennessee's LaVergne High School CTE juniors and se

OUR COMPANY WAS FOUNDED IN A GARAGE.

Don Kotula was born and raised in a house that was literally in a scrap yard on the Iron Range in Minnesota.

After he grew up, he started a business in his garage, building a wood splitter to help people save money on energy bills during the oil crisis.

Our heritage is as resourceful, inventive, hardworking and blue collar as it gets. Our success is built on grit and elbow grease. This is common ground we share with our customers.

To get where we want to go, we must never forget where we came from, and always stay true to the foundation our company was built on.