NORTHERN FUNDS SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT Active M International Equity Fund

The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as an investment adviser to the allocated assets of the Fund, as the Adviser may from time to time allocate to the Sub-Adviser for management (the “Sub-Advised Assets”) for the periods and on the terms herein set forth. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided, and hereby delegates to the Sub-Adviser such portfolio management responsibilities as are set forth in this Agreement.

The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Adviser, manage the investment and reinvestment of the Sub-Advised Assets. The Sub-Adviser shall manage the Sub-Advised Assets in conformity with (i) the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund set forth in the Trust’s prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the Fund, as they may be amended from time to time, any additional policies or guidelines, including without limitation compliance policies and procedures, established by the Adviser, the

Absent instructions from the Adviser or the officers of the Trust to the contrary, the Sub-Adviser shall place orders pursuant to its determinations either directly with the issuer or with any broker and/or dealer or other person who deals in the securities in which the Fund is trading. With respect to common and preferred stocks, in executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser shall use its best judgment to obtain the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available and in selecting the broker or dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may

The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser and the Trust may rely on Rules 17a-7, 17a-10, 10f-3 and 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other investment adviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Sub-Advised Assets or any other transactions in the Trust’s assets, other than for the purposes of complying with the conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act. In performing sub-advisory services to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may not engage in any cross trade in reliance under Rule 17a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. For the avoidance of doubt, a cross trade includes the buy or sell of a security between accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser (including the Fund), whether the transaction is processed as an interfund transaction or pre-arranged via a broker-dealer or other trading venue.

The Sub-Adviser has provided the Adviser with a true and complete copy of its compliance policies and procedures for compliance with “federal securities laws” (as such term is defined under Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act) and Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act (the “Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies”). The Sub-Adviser’s chief compliance officer (“Sub-Adviser CCO”) shall provide to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“Trust CCO”) or his or her delegatee the following:

a completed compliance certificate, in a form provided quarterly by the Adviser, as needed, of any material changes to the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies;

promptly a report of any “material compliance matters,” as defined by Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, that have occurred in connection with the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies;

a copy of the Sub-Adviser CCO’s report with respect to the annual review of the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; and

an annual (or more frequently as the Trust CCO may request) certification regarding the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act and Section 38a-1 of the 1940 Act as well as the foregoing sub-paragraphs (i) – (iii).

The Sub-Adviser may, on occasions when it deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as other fiduciary or agency accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser, aggregate, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best overall terms available and execution with respect to common and preferred stocks and the best net price and execution with respect to other securities. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Sub-Adviser in the manner it considers to be most fair and equitable over time to the Fund and to its other accounts.

The Sub-Adviser, in connection with its rights and duties with respect to the Fund and the Trust shall use the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims.

The services of the Sub-Adviser hereunder are not deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others (including other investment companies) so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. The Sub-Adviser will waive enforcement of any non-compete agreement or other agreement or arrangement to which it is currently a party that restricts, limits, or otherwise interferes with the ability of the Adviser to employ or engage any person or entity to provide investment advisory or other services and will transmit to any person or entity notice of such waiver as may be required to give effect to this provision; and the Sub-Adviser will not become a party to any non-compete agreement or any other agreement, arrangement, or understanding that would restrict, limit, or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Adviser and the Trust or any of their

The Sub-Adviser shall furnish the Adviser and the administrators of the Trust (together, the “Administrators”) weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports concerning portfolio transactions and performance of the Sub-Advised Assets as the Adviser may reasonably determine in such form as may be mutually agreed upon, and agrees to review the Sub-Advised Assets with the Adviser and discuss the management of them. The Sub-Adviser shall promptly respond to requests by the Adviser, the Administrators to the Trust, and the Trust CCO or their delegates for copies of the pertinent books and records maintained by the Sub-Advisers relating directly to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall also provide the Adviser with such other information and reports, including information and reports related to compliance matters, as may reasonably be requested by them from time to time, including without limitation all material requested by or required to be delivered to the Board.

Unless otherwise instructed by the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall not have the power, discretion or responsibility to vote any proxies in connection with securities in which the Sub-Advised Assets may be invested, and the Adviser shall retain such responsibility.

The Sub-Adviser shall cooperate promptly and fully with the Adviser and/or the Trust in responding to any regulatory or compliance examinations or inspections (including any information requests) relating to the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser brought by any governmental or regulatory authorities. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Trust CCO or his or her delegate notice of any deficiencies that are identified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in written correspondence to the Sub-Adviser and that relate to the services provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall provide such notification within a reasonable period after receiving the correspondence. The Sub-Adviser shall provide additional information with respect to such deficiencies as is reasonably requested by the Trust CCO or his or her delegatee.

The Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of Schedule 13G, Form 13F, and Form SHO (Rule 13f-2) on behalf of the Sub-Advised Assets. The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for the preparation or filing of any other reports required on behalf of the Sub-Advised Assets, except as may be expressly agreed to in writing.

The Sub-Adviser shall maintain separate detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Sub-Advised Assets, including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions. Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule

The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial condition that is likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitments under this Agreement.

The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser in advance of any partner, member, officer or employee of (i) the Sub-Adviser, or (ii) any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Sub-Adviser, taking any seat on the board of any issuer whose securities are held by the Fund.

The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows:

The Sub-Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

The Form ADV that the Sub-Adviser has previously provided to the Adviser is a true and complete copy of the form as currently filed with the SEC, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser will promptly provide the Adviser and the Trust with a complete copy of all subsequent amendments to its Form ADV;

The Sub-Adviser will carry at all times professional errors and omissions liability insurance with reputable carriers covering services provided hereunder by the Sub-Adviser in an appropriate amount, which insurance shall be primary to any insurance policy carried by the Adviser;

The Sub-Adviser will furnish the Adviser with certificates of insurance and will provide notice of termination of such coverages, if any, to the Adviser and the Trust, all as promptly as reasonably possible. The Sub-Adviser will notify the Adviser promptly when the Sub-Adviser receives notice of any termination of the specified coverage; and

This Agreement has been duly authorized and executed by the Sub-Adviser.

The Adviser represents and warrants to the Sub-Adviser as follows:

The Adviser is registered under the Advisers Act; and

Each of the Adviser and the Trust has duly authorized the execution of this Agreement by the Adviser.

The Adviser shall provide (or cause the Fund’s Custodian (as defined in Section 3 hereof) to provide) timely information to the Sub-Adviser regarding such matters as the composition of the Sub-Advised Assets, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Sub-Advised Assets, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Sub-Adviser to perform its responsibilities hereunder.

The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with a copy of the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund and agrees during the continuance of this Agreement to furnish the Sub-Adviser copies of any revisions or supplements thereto at, or, if practicable, before the time the revisions or supplements become effective. The Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub-Adviser with copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.

Liability. The duties of the Sub-Adviser shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein with respect to the Sub-Advised Assets. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any loss arising out of any portfolio investment or disposition hereunder, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. Under no circumstances shall the Sub-Adviser be liable for any loss arising out of any act or omission taken by another sub-adviser, or any other third party, in respect of any portion of the Trust’s assets not managed by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement.

Indemnification.

The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective affiliates and controlling persons (the “Adviser Indemnified Persons”) for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, which the Adviser, the Trust

The Adviser shall indemnify the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates and its controlling persons (the “Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons”) for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from, or in connection with, the Adviser’s breach of this Agreement or their representations and warranties herein or as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of their duties hereunder or violation of applicable law; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons shall not be indemnified for any liability or expenses that may be sustained as a result of the Sub-Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder.

unless otherwise terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect until June 30, 2027, and from year to year thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval;

this Agreement may at any time be terminated to the Sub-Adviser either by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;

this Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Management Agreement; and

this Agreement may be terminated by the Sub-Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust, or by the Adviser immediately upon notice to the Sub-Adviser.