Larry Butler, Marvin Splettstoesser, Isaac Steinke, Jon Veile, and Lance Hites with the Hope Cannon

Hope Early Learning Center

The Hope Area Community Foundation has awarded over $165,000 in 204 grants since its inception in 2007. Recent grant awards are listed below.

Grants Awarded in 2024

• Hope Cannon Fund - $1,000
• Hope Days - $1,000 Street Dance Advertising: Tripwire
• Hope Development Corporation - $3,310 Community Cafe countertop, cooking pans, storage containers, shelving and carts
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $1,000 for scholarships
• Hope Housing Development Corporation - $2,000 exterior painting, storage buildings repair, apartment building trim boards
• Hope-Page Archery - $1,000 
• Hope Park District
  • $1,000 sand and grass seed for Hope Golf Course
  • $1,000 planting trees in Parks
  • $1,000 Computer
  • $1,000 chairs and tables for the Pool Bathhouse
• Hope Volunteer Ambulance - $2,000
• Little Learners Preschool - $2,500 Structural work (interior and exterior) for HELC building
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,500 new Climate-Controlled Building

​​​​​​​Grants Awarded in 2023

• American Legion Auxiliary Unit #18 of Hope - $4,000 roof replacement of Legion building
• Hope Cannon Fund - $1,000
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $1,000
• Hope Housing Development Corporation - $3,000 repairs and upgrades to (2) apartment units
• Hope Library - $1,100 for updates
• Hope-Page Archery - $1,000
• Hope Park District
  • $1,000 for benches at the Hope Golf Course
  • $1,000 for equipment at the Hope Swimming Pool
• Little Learners Preschool
  • ​​​​​​​$800 for educational games and supplies
  • $2,500 for yard lights
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,500 new climate-controlled building
• Hope Volunteer Ambulance - $900 for winter gear 

​​​​​​​Grants Awarded in 2022

• Hope Park District
  • $1,000 for the Hope Golf Course
  • $1,000 for the Hope Swimming Pool
  • $1,000 for Hope Centennial Park
  • $500 for the Hope Cemetery
• Hope Early Learning Center/Little Learners
  • $2,000 for a stove, commercial grade outdoor & indoor mats, & shelving
  • $1,150 for educational supplies
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $500 for Scholarships
• Hope Housing Development Authority - $2,149 for their program
• Hope-Page Archery - $1,000 for the archery program
• Jefferson-Steinke Legion Post 18 - $1,500 Furnace/air conditioner replacement
• Sons of Legion - $1,500 for furnace/air conditioner replacement
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,500 for new climate-controlled building
• Hope Days - $1,200 for Street Dance Advertising
• American Legion Auxiliary Unit #18 - $1,000 Furnace & Air Conditioner replacement
• Hope Cannon Fund - $1,000 
• Hope-Page FFA - $400 for community board games

Grants Awarded in 2021

• American Legion Auxiliary Unit #18 - $1,000 Furnace Replacement
• Hope Cannon Fund - $1,000 Supplies
• Hope Park District - $1,000 Pool Tree Cleanup
• Hope Park District - $1,000 Pool Rule Signs
• Hope Golf Course - $1,000 Sand for Greens
• Hope Cemetery - $1,000 Spruce Trees
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $1,000 Scholarships
• Hope Housing Development Authority - $1,000 Operating Costs
• Hope Library - $320 Book Organization
• Hope Little Learners Preschool - $1,500 Refrigerator/Freezer
• Hope Little Learners Preschool - $1,500 iPads & Osmo/Educational Learning Tools
• Hope-Page Archery - $1,000 Operating Costs
• Hope Volunteer Ambulance - $1,000 Pulse CO-Oximeter
• Jefferson-Steinke Legion Post 18 - $1,000 Furnace Replacement
• Sons of Legion - $1,000 Furnace Replacement
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,500 Arcade Building Windows

Grants Awarded in 2020

• Hope-Page Archery - $650 to sponsor a tournament at Hope School
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,200 to pour a new sidewalk
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $500 for scholarships for graduation seniors
• Hope Volunteer Ambulance - $750 for Lucas Battery replacement
• Hope Park District - $1,000 toward clean-up of the Pool Park
• Hope Housing Development - $1,000 to replace vinyl flooring in apartment units
• Hope Early Learning Preschool - $1,000 for educational and supplies storage
• Hope Early Learning Daycare - $1,500 for improvements to the grounds
• Hope Days Committee - $1,000 toward 2020 Hope Days Celebration
• Hope Golf Course - $1,000 to purchase benches for tee boxes
• Sons of the Legion - $1,200 to support Legion Baseball program
• Hope Cannon Fund - $759 to purchase gun powder and primers
• Hope Legion Auxiliary - $500 for kitchen improvements at the Legion
• Hope Library - $200 to purchase large print books
• Colgate Community Park Project - $1,000 toward new picnic shelter and playground equipment 
• Hope Swimming Pool - $1,000 for new lifeguard stands and ladders
• Hope American Legion - $1,000 to purchase more table

Grants Awarded in 2019

• American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18, Hope - $500 to purchase new kitchen and cleaning supplies
• Legion Baseball - $1,000 to support the summer baseball program
• Hope Days Committee - $1,000 toward expenses of the 2019 Hope Days Celebration
• Hope Dollars for Scholars - $500 toward scholarships for graduating seniors
• Hope Early Learning Center/Hope Little Learners Preschool - $1,200 toward new ipads and educational electronics
• Hope Early Learning Center - $1,200 toward educational games and electronics
• Hope Housing Development Authority - $1,400 to replace flooring in apartment units
• Hope Library - $286 to purchase new books for the library
• Hope Park District - $1,000 to purchase new benches for the Golf Course
• Hope Cemetery Association  - $500 to trim trees and fill holes at the Cemetery
• Hope Park District - $1,000 for a new diving board at the swimming pool
• Hope Park District - $500 for clean up of pool park
• Hope Volunteer Ambulance - $1,200 to purchase new Epi-Pens which had expired
• Jefferson-Steinke Legion Post 18 - $1,000 to purchase new Legion Baseball equipment
• Steele County Historical Society - $900 to help defray the cost of operating the Hope Cannon at community and school events
• Steele County Historical Society - $1,500 toward a new steel building for displays and storage

Swimming Pool Complex

How to Apply for a Grant from the Hope Area Community Foundation

Guidelines

• Grants shall be awarded to organizations holding a current 501(c)3 tax status or those with an official government relationship (school, park district, city etc.)
• Grants shall be awarded to organizations within the cities of Hope, Colgate and Luverne
• Grants will be given on an annual basis. Multi-year grants will not be funded
• Grants to religious organizations will be limited to those activities which are non-denominational and serve the entire community
• The Hope Area Community Foundation places a higher priority on projects which leverage local dollars

In funding decisions, the board will consider the following:

• Organizational management and integrity
• Level of local involvement and support
• The number of people to be served
• The impact of the grant on the success of the project

Deadline: April 1

How to Apply:

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 Grants Portal. You will need your organization’s name, EIN, and executive officer's name. Be sure to write down your user name (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. (PDF)

Plan 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 Hope Area Community Foundation (HACF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to the HACF 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 the HACF. 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 Hope 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 Amy Stromsodt.  She has many years of experience helping donors create their charitable vision and better prepare for their discussions with financial planners. Amy's cell is 701-741-3193 or you can email her at Amy@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 Hope 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 Hope 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.