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North Dakota Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12.9 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified (applications June 1 - July 31, decisions by Board)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $75,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: North Dakota statewide

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 387, Bismarck, ND 58502-0387
Phone: 701-222-8349
Email: info@ndcf.net
Website: www.ndcf.net

Overview

The North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF) was established in 1976 (some sources cite 1977) to improve the quality of life for North Dakota's citizens through charitable giving and promoting philanthropy. The foundation currently administers more than 1,000 charitable funds, including 69 community endowment funds and over 200 scholarship funds across the state. With $160 million in total assets as of 2024, NDCF has awarded more than $121 million in grants and charitable program expenses since its inception. The foundation awarded more than $12.9 million in grants and charitable program expenses in 2024 alone, supporting a wide range of areas including education, health, human services, arts and culture, and community infrastructure. The organization operates with 11 staff members and has grown from 2 employees under previous leadership, now maintaining offices in Bismarck, Dickinson, Larimore, and Wahpeton.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Statewide Greatest Needs Grant Program: $1,000 - $5,000

  • Open to eligible nonprofits and government agencies from anywhere in North Dakota
  • Supports projects or programs that serve North Dakota residents
  • Application deadline: July 31 annually (applications accepted June 1 - July 31)
  • Online application through NDCF Grants Portal

Community Endowment Fund Program: Typically $1,000 - $5,000+ (varies by fund)

  • 69 different community endowment funds targeted to serve residents of specific communities
  • Organizations apply to their local Community Endowment Fund
  • Deadlines vary by individual fund
  • Grants may be higher than Statewide Greatest Needs grants
  • Local advisory committees make grant recommendations

Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund: Up to $75,000

  • $1 million total fund administered by NDCF
  • Annual grant cycle
  • Supports immediate community challenges in specific focus areas

Priority Areas

The foundation commonly funds programs addressing:

  • Homelessness and food insecurity
  • Disability services and accessibility
  • Affordable medical care and children's health
  • Mental health services (especially for children aged 5-15)
  • Domestic violence and child abuse prevention
  • Senior living
  • Literacy programs
  • Adoption and foster care services
  • Capital projects for hospitals and clinics
  • Arts and culture
  • Community infrastructure
  • Education and youth programs

Otto Bremer Trust Fund specific focus areas (2025):

  • Literacy
  • Adoption and foster care services
  • Children's health
  • Children's disability services
  • Mental health (with preference for services for children aged 5-15)
  • Capital projects for hospitals and clinics

Geographic eligibility: For Otto Bremer Trust grants, beneficiaries must be Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and/or Wisconsin residents.

What They Don't Fund

  • Multi-year grant commitments (single-year commitments only)
  • More than one request per organization per year
  • Government entities (for Otto Bremer Trust grants only, including public schools; non-public schools are eligible)
  • Organizations that have not submitted final grant reports from previous awards

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Steve Lipp - President & CEO
Steve Lipp, a lifelong North Dakota resident and Minot native, was selected as President & CEO in 2025, replacing Kevin Dvorak who retired after 37 years at the foundation. Lipp has stated: "It is a privilege and an honor to be selected to serve as the next president and CEO of this great foundation. I am a lifelong resident of this great state and am excited to work for an organization committed to improving its communities and the quality of life of its citizens." He has emphasized that "Our local community foundations provide funding for projects and programs that improve the quality of life in their area. They provide a way for residents to keep their charitable dollars local and give back to their hometown."

Staff

  • Jeff Wanek - Accountant
  • Deb Clark - Office Manager
  • Christi Stonecipher - Director of Communications
  • Kara Geiger - Development Director Central
  • Judy Sauter - Database Manager
  • Amy Stromsodt - Development Director East
  • Robin Salander - Executive Assistant for Eastern ND
  • Scott Nicholson - Development Director Southeast
  • John Heinen - Development Director West
  • Nicole Wadsworth - Executive Assistant - Dickinson

Board of Directors

NDCF Board of Directors are volunteers who receive no financial compensation and are elected from the population of North Dakota to represent a broad cross-section of North Dakotans. Board members can serve 2 three-year terms and must then leave the Board. All grant distribution decisions are made by the NDCF Board of Directors.

Current Board Members:

  • Dean Anagnost (Bismarck)
  • Scott Meschke (Dickinson)
  • Leslie Bieber (Alexander)
  • Julie Graney (Beulah)
  • Zach Boettner (Grand Forks)
  • Wanda Uran-Nelson (Watford City)
  • C.J. Hager (Jamestown)
  • Laurel Goulding (Devils Lake)
  • Andrea Savelkoul (Lansford)
  • Gayle Seibel (Wishek)
  • Art Rosenberg (Fargo)
  • David Meyer (West Fargo)
  • Lance Gulleson (Lisbon)
  • Ken Hall (Bismarck)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Statewide Greatest Needs Grant Program:

  1. Create an account in the NDCF Grants Portal or log in to an existing account
  2. You will need your organization's name, EIN, and executive officer's name
  3. After registering or logging in, follow the Apply tab at the top of the page
  4. Scroll through the list and click "Apply" to the right of the grant program
  5. Applications can be saved and completed later
  6. Submit by July 31 deadline (applications accepted June 1 - July 31)
  7. Applications still in draft mode after July 31 will be deleted

Community Endowment Fund Program:

  • Contact the specific community endowment fund for your area
  • Deadlines vary by individual fund
  • Application processes determined by local advisory committees

Important requirement: A final grant report must be submitted for any grant received in the previous year before a new application will be considered.

Decision Timeline

  • Applications accepted: June 1 - July 31 (Statewide Greatest Needs)
  • Decision-making body: NDCF Board of Directors
  • Specific notification timeline: Not publicly disclosed
  • Community Endowment Fund timelines vary by fund

Success Rates

In 2023, NDCF made 203 awards totaling $6,190,133. In previous years, there were 156 awards in 2022 and 162 awards in 2021. Specific application-to-award success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

  • NDCF makes only single-year commitments
  • Organizations may submit a new request each year if additional funding is needed
  • Only one request per organization per year is accepted
  • Organizations that previously received grants must submit final grant reports before reapplying
  • No specific waiting period for unsuccessful applicants mentioned; organizations can reapply in subsequent annual grant cycles

Application Success Factors

NDCF evaluates applications based on the following criteria specific to their decision-making process:

Key evaluation factors the Board considers:

  • Leverage potential: The possibility of a grant leveraging additional support from other sources
  • Local involvement: The level of local involvement and support for the project
  • Community impact: The number of people to be served and the impact of the program on the community
  • Complementary work: The degree to which the program duplicates or complements the work of other community organizations
  • Critical funding: The impact of NDCF's grant on the success of the project (how essential the funding is)

Geographic equity: The Board looks at each project on its merits and attempts to be as equitable as practical to the various geographic regions of the state.

Examples of recently funded projects:

  • Swimming pool renovations (Maddock Park Board)
  • Opera house support (Maddock Opera House Association)
  • Library improvements (Eddy-New Rockford Library)
  • Ambulance services (Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford)
  • Arts centers (Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts)
  • Youth centers (Carrington Youth Center)
  • Fire department equipment (Minnewaukan Fire Department)
  • Hospital foundations (SMP Health - Ave Maria, Jamestown Hospital Foundation)
  • Humane societies (James River Humane Society)
  • Parks and recreation (multiple park districts)
  • Historical reconstruction (Fort Seward Reconstruction)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Demonstrate leverage: Show how NDCF's grant will help secure additional funding sources - this is a key evaluation criterion
  • Emphasize local support: Strong local involvement and community backing are critical to success; demonstrate grassroots engagement
  • Quantify impact: Be specific about the number of people served and the measurable community benefit
  • Show uniqueness: Explain how your project complements rather than duplicates existing community programs
  • Prove necessity: Make clear why NDCF funding is essential to your project's success - not just helpful, but critical
  • Complete reporting requirements: Submit final grant reports from previous awards on time; failure to do so will block future applications
  • Consider multiple programs: If eligible for both Statewide Greatest Needs and a local Community Endowment Fund, evaluate which is the better fit (though only one application per year is allowed)

References

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