Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region
/OVERVIEW: The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region supports arts and culture, community, human services, education, green spaces, human rights, workforce, infrastructure, community engagement, civic innovation, and women and girls in North Dakota.
IP TAKE: Describing itself as “created by and for the people of the region to encourage a spirit of philanthropy,” this is a modest funder with a very narrow geographical focus, primarily serving Grand Forks, ND, and surrounding counties. The good news is, it’s easy to get involved with this local community foundation because there are many accessible opportunities here for groups in the region, especially for those involved with the arts.
This is a relatively transparent and accessible funder. It publishes the names of previous grantees on its website and its grant application process has very clear guidelines. However, grant seekers should be aware that many of its programs have very strict requirements and limitations, which you should familiarize yourself with before applying. In most cases, the foundation wants to see that its funds will go to a project with a clear timeline, explicit objectives, and a predetermined cost, rather than general fundraising or operating costs.
PROFILE: Established in 1997, the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region is a community foundation based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The former University of North Dakota, Tom Clifford, was a founding member, and Mike Maidenberg became the foundation’s president in 1998. The foundation aims to promote "private giving for the public good” and its mission is, simply stated, “to connect people who care with causes that matter.”
The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region awards grants through donor-advised funds, field-of-interest funds, unrestricted funds, nonprofit funds, designated, and corporate funds. It funds local efforts for arts and culture, community, human services, education, green spaces, human rights, workforce, infrastructure, community engagement, civic innovation, and women and girls. Currently, its main funds and program areas are the Arts Regrant Program, Community Opportunity Grant Program, Iseminger Endowment for the Arts, Knight Donor-advised Fund, Neel Family Fund, and Women’s Fund.
Grants for Arts & Culture
The foundation awards grants for the arts in North Dakota through several of its main funds.
Its Arts Regrant Program broadly funds organizations serving the city of Grand Forks that “produce quality experiences, enhance educational opportunities, and commit to the growth of new and diverse audiences.”
The Iseminger Endowment for the Arts supports groups in Grand Forks County and Polk County that “provide exposure and access to artistic and cultural experiences which generate artistic growth and creativity for all ages.”
The Neel Family Fund specifically supports musical education, including school music programs, youth bands and choirs, and summer programs, in Grand Forks County.
Past grantees from these funds include Arts for Vets, Grand Forks Chorales, Greater Grand Forks Community Theater, North Dakota Ballet Center, North Dakota Shakespeare Festival, UND Writers Conference, Grand Cities Children’s Choir, and Northern Valley Youth Orchestra.
Grants for Community Development
The foundation’s Community Opportunity Grant Program broadly funds organizations seeking to improve quality of life in the region in the areas of community & human services, environmental sustainability, and human rights, while the Knight Donor-advised Fund supports organizations that aim to “attract, retain, and harness talent,” “expand opportunity by increasing entrepreneurship,” and “support civic infrastructure to accelerate the growth of ideas.” Grantees include Golden Link Senior Center, Grand Forks Horticultural Society, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, ShareHouse, USpireND, and MyAlly Health.
Grants for Women and Girls
The foundation’s Women’s Fund supports organizations that “raise awareness of challenges, concerns, and opportunities facing girls and women today,” “build leadership skills and confidence among girls and women,” and “encourage women to become philanthropists.” Past grantees include BIO Girls, Altru Health Foundation, Empire Arts Center, and Northlands Rescue Mission.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $500 and $5,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by reviewing its past recipients or examining its recent tax records.
Grantmaking focuses on Grand Forks County in North Dakota and Polk County in Minnesota.
The Knight Donor-advised Fund accepts Letters of Inquiry year-round.
The Neel Family Fund has two grant rounds per year, with deadlines in April and October.
All other funds have one grant cycle per year, with deadlines generally falling in August.
Each grant opportunity has its own set of guidelines and deadlines.
Grant seekers may apply through the foundation’s online grant portal after creating an account.
Direct general questions to the staff at communityfoundation@gofoundation.org or 701-746-0668.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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