Rugby

A 2021 grant to Village Arts helped purchase elevated seating platforms for better audience viewing.

The Rugby Community Endowment Fund has awarded over $300,000 in grants since its inception in 1981. Recent grant awards are listed below.

Grants Awarded in 2024

• Rugby Lions - $3,000 for Rugby Lions Music in teh Park
• Rugby Panther Boosters - $1,500 for Baseball Pitching Machine
• Rugby Public School District - $3,200 for Project - Yamaha Intermediate 4 Valve Tuba (used as a school rental)
• Rugby Public School District - $5,370 for Enhancing Elementary Band and Choir Concerts at Ely Elementary
• Rugby's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - $1,000 for Rugby's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $2,500 for Tri- County Senior Meals & Services - Nutritious Services
• Tunbridge Lutheran Church Preservation Society - $2,000 for Tunbridge Lutheran Church Interior Painting Project
• Village Arts, Inc. - $4,500 for Lighting and Sound improvements

Grants Awarded in 2023

• BIO Girls - $3,000 for BIO Girls - Rugby
• Little Flower Catholic School - $6,045 for Playground Surface
• Pierce County Food Pantry - $2,000 for Christmas Food Baskets
• Rugby Lions - $3,000 for Rugby Lions Music in the Park
• Rugby Park District - $6,045 for Splashpad
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $2,500 for Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - Nutritious Services

Grants Awarded in 2022

• Little Flower Catholic School - $7,500 for additional technology and flooring
• Village Arts, Inc. - $5,800 Stage Curtain purchase
• Rugby Lions - $3,000 Music in the Park
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $2,000 Nutrition Services
• Rugby Chamber of Commerce - $1,500 for updating the informational kiosk at the Geographical Center Monument
• Pierce County Food Pantry - $1,500 for Christmas Food Baskets
• Rugby's Dolly Parton Imagination Library - $1,000 Program Support

Grants Awarded in 2021

• Geographical Center Historical Society - $2,000 Kids Summer Programming
• Pierce County Food Pantry - $1,653.73 Christmas Food Baskets
• Rugby Lions - $3,000 Music in the Park
• Rugby's Dolly Parton Imagination Library - $1,000 Program Support
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $2,000 Nutrition Services
• Tunbridge Lutheran Church Preservation Society - $1,000 Steeple Renovation
• Village Arts, Inc. - $10,000 Theater Seating Project

Grants Awarded in 2020

• Rugby Lions - $10,000 for 2020 Rugby Lions COVID-19 Disaster Response & Recovery Fund
• Little Flower School - $3,200 for Little Flower School SMART Board Upgrade & Picnic Tables
• Pierce County Food Pantry - $1,500 for 2020 Christmas Food Baskets
• Rugby's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - $1,000 for Rugby's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $1,000 for Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - Nutrition Services
• Village Arts, Inc. - $3,500 for Portable piano purchase

Grants Awarded in 2019

• Geographical Center Historical Society - $1,000 for Benson Law Office Repairs
• Good Samaritan Hospital Association - $3,000 for Advancing Ambulance Safety Project Rugby
• Heart of America Germans from Russia - $3,670 for Heart of America Germans from Russia Building Project Signage Needs
• Pierce County Food Pantry - $1,500 for 2019 Christmas Food Baskets
• Rugby Dolly Parton Imagination Library - $700 for Rugby's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
• Rugby Lions - $1,700 for Rugby Lions Music in the Park
• Rugby Public School District - $1,500 for Purchase of a Majestic Quantum Field Xylophone for the Rugby Instrumental Department.
• Tri-County Senior Meals & Services - $2,000 for Tri-County Senior Meals & Services Nutrition Services
• Village Arts, Inc. - $4,000 for Heartland Civic Choir and Orchestra and Christmas Musical

Apply for a Grant from the Rugby Community Endowment Fund

• Makes grants only to those organizations designated as a non-profit, tax exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c)3 or to government agencies. Individuals are not eligible.
• Makes grants to qualifying organizations in the city of Rugby.
• Grants to religious organizations will be limited to non-religious community services.

Deadline: July 1

How to Apply

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.

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 Rugby Community Endowment Fund (RCEF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to RCEF 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 RCEF. 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 Rugby Community Endowment Fund committee member to learn more about the charities and needs in our area.

3.  Consider discussing (confidentially) your vision with our NDCF gift planner Kara Geiger.  She has many years of experience helping donors create their charitable vision and better prepare for their discussions with financial planners. You can reach Kara at 701-222-8349 or you can email her at Kara@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 Rugby Community Endowment Fund 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 Rugby Community Endowment Fund, 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.