Post-Effective Amendment to Post-Effective Amendment by Investment Company (Form 485BXT)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2026

Securities Act of 1933 Registration No. 33-73404

Investment Company Act of 1940 Registration No. 811-08236

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933		☒
Pre-Effective Amendment No.		☐
Post-Effective Amendment No. 217		☒

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940		☒
Amendment No. 219		☒

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

NORTHERN FUNDS*

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

800-595-9111

(Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Name and Address of Agent for Service:		with a copy to:
Michael Mabry Joel D. Corriero Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP 2005 Market Street Suite 2600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103		Jose J. Del Real Kevin P. O'Rourke The Northern Trust Company 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60603

It Is Proposed That This Filing Become Effective (Check Appropriate Box):

☐

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

☒

on December 2, 2026 pursuant to paragraph (b)

☐

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☐

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☐

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

☐

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

☒

This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

* This filing relates solely to the Northern Trust US Gigawatt ETF.

Explanatory Note

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (Amendment No. 219 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of Northern Funds (the "Registrant") is being filed pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of Rule 485 under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of delaying, until December 2, 2026, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement with respect to the Northern Trust US Gigawatt ETF (the "Fund"), initially filed in Post-Effective Amendment No. 209 on August 21, 2026, pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 under the Securities Act, which would have become effective on November 4, 2026.

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 incorporates by reference the information for the Funds contained in Parts A, B, and C of Post-Effective Amendment No. 209.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to its Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on the 3^rd day of November, 2026.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act this Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to Registrant's Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Kevin P. O'Rourke Kevin P. O'Rourke		President (Principal Executive Officer)		November 3, 2026
/s/ Randal E. Rein Randal E. Rein		Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)		November 3, 2026
* Therese M. Bobek Therese M. Bobek		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* Thomas A. Kloet Thomas A. Kloet		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* William Martin William Martin		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* David R. Martin David R. Martin		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* Mary Jacobs Skinner Mary Jacobs Skinner		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh Ingrid LaMae A. de Jongh		Trustee		November 3, 2026
* Paula Kar Paula Kar		Trustee		November 3, 2026
/s/ Kevin P. O'Rourke * By Kevin P. O'Rourke Attorney-In-Fact