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Flasher Area Community Foundation

The Flasher Area Community Foundation (FACF) was established by a group of residents interested in improving the quality of life for residents in southern Morton County, North Dakota.  It provides a method of receiving donations and distributing grants to benefit projects or nonprofit organizations in Flasher, St. Anthony, Huff, and Fort Rice or who provide service to those communities.  The fund is a component of the North Dakota Community Foundation, which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under IRS code 501(c)(3) and North Dakota Law.

The Flasher Area Community Foundation is benefiting from an initial gift from Grid United, an independent transmission company that builds new long-distance, interregional transmission lines to enhance grid reliability and resiliency.  Grid United's initial donation will be granted out in two grant rounds in 2023 to benefit projects and programs in the area.  Funding will continue into 2024 and 2025. 

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY -- Qualified endowment

The local committee is open to build a QUALIFIED endowment fund under the Flasher Area Community Foundation umbrella as they review application and judge the need.  An endowment fund is a permanent fund that will be invested and will generate grantable dollars every year into perpetuity to support projects and programs in southern Morton County.  Gifts to the Flasher Area Community Foundation's endowment fund may qualify for 40% ND Tax Credit. (click on link for more information about the tax credit)

NDCF is the support system for the Flasher Area Community Foundation, with over 40 years providing comprehensive charitable services to ND. This includes donor gift planning and bequest planning for individuals, company leaders, families, and nonprofits, and fiduciary services such as accounting, audit, and money management. This allows local volunteer committees to focus on telling their story of their foundation impact through marketing, granting, and growing the fund. 


CONTACT

Committee Members:
Travis Rossow
Robert Bohl (Chair)
Jeannie Fitterer
Nancy Malm|
Darla Schafer

Questions: Please email Robert Bohl at robert.bohl@basf.com or the Community Foundation general inbox at Flasher@NDCF.net  click here 

Temporary Mailing Address:
NDCF ATTN: FACF
PO Box 1505
Dickinson, ND 58601

For anonymous giving, gift planning, or unique asset gifts, please contact John Heinen- NDCF Western ND Regional Director at (701) 590-4614 or John@NDCF.net 

ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORTS

2024 

Grants Awarded Spring 2024 (grants from the Grid United Community Investment Program):

  • City of Flasher - $8,500 Park Upkeep and Materials for Maintenance 
  • City of Flasher - $9,500 Handicap Accessibility on Main Street, East Side
  • Flasher Public Schools - $10,000 Parking Lot to Gym Stairs
  • Flasher Rural Fire Protection District - $10,000 Flasher Fire Truck Rescue Unit Bed

Grants Awarded in 2023 (grants from the Grid United Community Investment Program):

  • City of Flasher Parks:  $5,800 Beautifying the Courtyard, Park, and Ball Diamonds
  • Flasher Rural Fire Protection District:  $17,600 Flasher Fire Truck
  • Louse Creek Golf Association:  $17,600 Maintaining a Beautiful Golf Course
  • City of Flasher Parks:  $7,000 Court Street Demolition
  • Flasher Lions:  $17,500 Demolishing unsafe buildings and repurposing the lots for recreation opportunities
  • Flasher Rural Fire Protection District:  $17,000 Flasher Fire Truck

Apply Now! Fall Deadline: 10/13/24

GRANT PORTAL--APPLY--REVIEW YOUR EXISTING GRANT--Committee members enter here

GRANT CRITERIA:

  • Grants will be awarded in two different grant rounds in 2024:
    • Spring Round:  Application Deadline March 31st - $61,000 Available 
    • Fall Round:  TBD - $61,000 Available
  • Additional funds available in 2025
  • FACF grants are for the general needs of the region (southern Morton County). Grants will be awarded to any organizations designated by the IRS as 501(c)3 nonprofit tax-exempt groups, or government agencies. Contact John@NDCF.net if you need a fiscal sponsor.
  • The committee places emphasis on helping applicants that have limited access to other funding.
  • Extensions may be granted, and additional grant application deadlines may be added at the discretion of the Advisory Committee.
  • Approved grant requests may be funded in full or partially, at the discretion of the Advisory Committee.
  • Requests for projects or programs that serve a greater number of county residents will receive higher priority.
  • Grants can be made to any entity in southern Morton County.

LOW PRIORITY:

  • To projects substantially supported by government or which can and should be paid with tax revenue.
  • Grants to national organizations.
  • Requests for operating funds or day-to-day expenses.
  • Grants to religious organizations shall be limited to those activities which are non-sectarian and serve the entire community. ie. food pantry

NOT FUNDED:

  • Requests for grants or scholarships for individuals will NOT be considered.
  • Multi-year "pledges"
  • Grants submitted by organizations who seek to influence legislation, carry on propaganda, participate in political campaigns, or which threaten to cause significant controversy or divisiveness.

Grant Ideas: New Playgrounds, Planting Trees in parks, School Tech needs, Food pantry program, Shelter needs, County projects to improve quality of life, special need in Nursing home or Hospital, Ambulance & Fire needs.

QUESTIONS: Click here  Email address: flasher@ndcf.net 


We made it easy for you to apply online for a grant!

Step 1 - Review

Review the grant guidelines above to make sure your organization qualifies.

Step 2 - Register

Create an account on our Grant Portal. You will need your organization’s name, EIN, and executive officer's name. Be sure to write down your username (email address) and password.

Step 3 – Complete Your Application

After registering or logging in, you will arrive at the application section. Click “Apply” to the right of the grant program to which you wish to apply. If you do not see your desired grant program on the list, contact our office. You will be able to save your application and return later to complete it.

Click here for more detailed instructions and tips for using our online grant system.

 

 

Leave Your Legacy

Making a lasting difference in our community or for future generations may be easier than you realize.  With very simple language in your will or trust, you can help the Flasher Area Community Foundation (FACF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to FACF are carefully invested by our partner foundation - the North Dakota Community Foundation - to generate a  permanent source of charitable income.

If you have children or other relatives, you can leave a portion of your estate to them and a percentage to FACF. Doing so provides for your heirs while honoring your charitable values.

Brothers Russell and Dale Brown left gifts to the communities of Lisbon and Milnor, ND, in their estate plans.

Getting Started

1.  Download our free Estate Planning Guide - it contains helpful information and things to consider as you develop your own unique plan.

2.  Reach out to a Flasher Area Community Foundation committee member to learn more about the charities and needs in our area.

3.  Consider discussing (confidentially) your vision with our NDCF gift planner John Heinen.  He has many years of experience helping donors create their charitable vision and better prepare for their discussions with financial planners. John's cell is 701-590-4614 or you can email him at John@NDCF.net.

4.  Contact your professional advisors (financial planner, attorney and/or accountant) and ask for help in establishing a charitable gift to our foundation.

5.  Make sure your will or living trust is up-to-date and reflects your charitable goals.

6.  Consider notifying the charitable organizations about the gift you plan to leave them.  They will appreciate your generosity and will want to know what you’d like them to do with your eventual gift if it isn't clear.

Language for Your Will or Living Trust

Susanne Mattheis wished to support several different charitable organizations in Bismarck after she passed. NDCF helped her craft a plan that accomplished her charitable goals and provided long-term support to the Public Library, Symphony Orchestra, and five other local entities.

If you would like to include the Flasher Area Community Foundation in your will, here is some sample language to consider:

“I give and bequeath to the North Dakota Community Foundation (Tax ID Number 45-0336015), a qualified charitable organization under IRS 501(c)(3), located in Bismarck, North Dakota, ___________ (a percentage of the estate, specific dollar amount, or remainder of estate) for the Flasher Area Community Foundation, a permanent component of the North Dakota Community Foundation.”

*  Be sure to contact your legal advisor.

 

There are many other ways to make a deferred gift to your community, including

  • Making NDCF (and your specific community fund) the beneficiary of your life insurance policy, IRA, 401K, or commercial annuity
  • Establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity with NDCF
  • Other more sophisticated tools, depending on your unique situation

To investigate options and learn more about how other North Dakotans have given back, visit our planned giving website at www.NDCF.net/Plan.