The New England Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $118,000 in 25 grants since its inception in 2012.  Recent grant awards are listed below.

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

• New England Ambulance Service:  $10,000 New England Ambulance Service
• New England Public School:  $5,000 Community Weight Room
• New England Riverside Rodeo Club:  $2,000 New England Riverside Rodeo Arena
• New England Rural Fire Protection District:  $15,000 Rescue and Fire Fighting Equipment Needs
• Open Door Food Pantry:  $2,500 Food Pantry Stock
• Saint Mary's Little Saints Daycare:  $8,000 Daycare Expansion

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

     Spring 2023 Grant Round:

• New England Community Grocery Store:  $34,460 for an updated Point-Of-Sale/Inventory/Register system with WIC/EBT capabilities
• Furever Full:  $1,000 for their pet food pantry

     Fall 2023 Grant Round:

• Open Door Food Pantry:  $15,000 for their food pantry expansion
• New England Park Board:  $13,000 for a walkable track and grass field
• Hettinger County Sheriff's Office:  $1,000 for the Hettinger County K9

Grants Awarded in 2022

• New England Public School:  $4,039 for the New England Basketball Camp
• Hettinger County 4-H Council:  $2,400 for archery targets and other equipment to host a district shooting competition 

Grants Awarded in 2021

• Second Chance Volunteers:  $475 Furever Full Pet Food Bank Distributions
• New England Booster Club:  $3,000 Missoula Children's Theater
• New England Lions Club #3238:  $2,500 Lions Park Improvements & Additions

Grant Awarded in 2020

• New England Public School:  $5,600 Playground Equipment

Grant Awarded in 2019

• Saint Mary's Little Saints Daycare:  $2,800 Outdoor Play Area Upgrade

Apply Now! Fall Deadline: 8/31/24

APPLY OR REACCESS YOUR PAST APPLICATION

The New England Community Foundation has announced that it will be holding a special grant round again in 2024 with significant additional grant dollars available from Grid United’s Community Investment Program (CIP).  Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt organization, a government agency, or have a fiscal sponsor with one of those designations and must provide services in New England and the surrounding area.

Grid United, an independent transmission company and donor to the region, has donated a large gift. Some of these additional monies were granted in the community foundation’s spring grant round. There is a second grant round this fall with $17,500 available. Organizations may apply in both the spring and fall rounds. Funding will repeat itself in 2025 along-side funds from the local endowment fund earnings.

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

Step 1 - Review
Review the grant guidelines below 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.

Step 4 - Bookmark the address so when returning you can easily access. Or access with button above. 

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

GRANT CRITERIA:

• Grants shall be awarded only to those organizations designated by the IRS as 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt groups, or government agencies. Groups without such designation seeking to apply may enlist a fiscal sponsor. Please contact John  at NDCF for more information: john@ndcf.net or 701-590-4614. 
• Grants shall be awarded to organizations within the New England community. 
• Grants to religious organizations shall be limited to those activities which are non-denominational and serve the entire community. 
• Application forms will be available online at www.NDCF.net/NewEngland. 
• Applications shall be due no later than April 30 of each year. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of the Advisory Committee. 
• Approved grant requests may be funded in full or partially, at the discretion of the Advisory Committee. 

FUNDING PRIORITIES: 

High Priority 

• Organizations that serve Youth, Senior Citizens, Leadership, and Community Development 
• Projects or programs that benefit a greater number of residents 
• Requests that demonstrate applicant will seek or has secured other funding sources 

Low Priority 

• Requests for multiple-year funding Requests for operating funds or day-to-day expenses 

The following will NOT be considered: 

• Requests for grants or scholarships for individuals 

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 New England Area Community Foundation (NECF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to NECF 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 NECF. Doing so provides for your heirs while honoring your charitable values.

Getting Started

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

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 New England 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 and 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 New England 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 New England 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.