Casselton Area Community Foundation

Other Funds In Our Area

Emil Nickl Memorial Scholarship: The fund was established in 1977 with a bequest from the Estate of Emil Nickl who was a retired railroad man of German birth. The scholarship will assist a graduating senior from the Casselton High School.

Bradley & Julie Burgum Family Fund:  Established in 1998 by Bradley & Julie Burgum to support their favorite charities

Casselton Parks & Recreation Endowment Fund:  Established in 1981 to support the Casselton Parks & Recreation program

Goshen - Moravian Cemetery Fund:  Established in 1990 in support of the Historic Goshen-Moravian Cemetery

Bill & Jean Guy Fund:  Established in 1978 by Bill & Jean Guy to support the work of the North Dakota Community Foundation

Pioneer School Endowment Fund:  Established in 1987 by Josephine Zaeske to support the historic Pioneer School building at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Brandy Pyle representing the Casselton Business Association presents a check to Ken Habiger representing the Casselton Area Community Foundation. CBA held a fundraiser to help kick off the annual Casselton Community Endowment Fund drive in 2014

The Casselton Area Community Foundation since 1993, & the Bradley & Julie Burgum Family fund since 2015, have awarded over $402,800 in 299 grants. Recent grant awards are listed below.

Grants Awarded in 2023

• Casselton Park District 
  • $5,660 to purchase new Snowblower
  • $1,500 Tinta Tawa Park restroom project
  • $1,000 Cottonwood sign projects and flags
• Casselton Cemetery Association - $3,280 for headstone leveling and mapping
• Casselton Heritage Center - $1,500 for exterior work
• Casselton Public Library - $4,000 Summer Reading Program
• Central Cass Public Schools 
  • ​​​​​​​$100 "Squirrel Squad" (buddy bench, t-shirts, etc.)
  • $1,250 Spreading Sunshine
  • $1,500 Visual Art display
  • $500 PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program - Elementary
  • $1,000 3rd annual STEM Festival - PTA
  • $2,000 Treehouse food baskets
• Community of Care - $1,000 volunteer program
• Destination Imagination - $3,000
• Rural Cass County Food Pantry - $4,000 meat​​​​​​​

Grants Awarded in 2022

• Casselton Economic Development - $1,000 for Casselton Connect
• Central Cass Public Schools -
• $1,000 for Spreading Sunshine at Central Cass
  • $2,000 for PreK Literacy and Math Resources
• Casselton Park District
  • $5,000 for the City Flower Project
  • $1,500 for a Disc Golf Course Upgrade
• Casselton Public Library - $3,500 for the Summer Reading Program
• Central Cass PTA - $1,700 2nd Annual STEM & Science Festival
• Central Cass Treehouse - $2,500 Food Baskets/Squirrel Gift, Athletic Totes
• Community of Care - $1,500 for their Volunteer Program
• Casselton Heritage Center Inc - $4,000 for Repairs and painting of doors, windows, facia, and gutters
• Rural Cass County Emergency Food Pantry - $5,000 for General Needs of the Food Pantry
• BIO Girls - $2,110 for the 2023 program in Casselton

Grants Awarded in 2021

• Casselton Economic Development
  • $5,000 Street Banners
  • $1,500 Casselton Connect
• Central Cass Public Schools - $1,000 Spreading Sunshine
• Casselton Park District
  • ​​​​​​​$3,621 Swimming Pool
  • $4,500 Casselton Flowers
• ​​​​​​​Casselton Public Library - $2,000 Summer Reading Program
• Central Cass PTA - $1,000 STEM & Science Festival
• Central Cass Treehouse - $1,000 Food Basket/Summer Food Projects
• Community of Care - $2,000 Volunteer Program
• Memorial F-4 Paint Project - $4,000 Project Costs
• Rural Cass County Emergency Food Pantry - $3,000 General Fund/Cleaning Products

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Grants Awarded in 2020

• Casselton Park District
  • $3,000 for Flowers in the Park
  • $3,000 For Swimming Pool Bathhouse
  • $3,000 for Fishing Dock at Tinta Tawa Park
• Cottonwood Golf Course - $3,500 for Tee Box Renovation
• Central Cass Archery Club - $1,200 for Archery Program at School
• Central Cass Spreading Sunshine - $1,500 for "Spreading Sunshine" Program for Teachers
• Rural Cass County Emergency Food Pantry - $4,000 for COVID Supplies
• Community of Care - $2,000 for Gas Cards for Volunteers' Expenses
• Casselton Public Library - $2,500 for Library Shelving
• Absaraka Parks - $4,000 for New Basketball Court

Grants Awarded in 2019

• Casselton Heritage Center, INC - $1,000 to Sponsor Music Event
• Casselton Park District - $3,000 for Governor's Park Sprinkler System Renovation
• Casselton Park District - $2,000 for City Beautification/Flowers
• Casselton Public Library - $2,000 for Bookcases
• Central Cass Archer Club - $500 for General Operating Support
• Central Cass Public School - $1,500 for Project Sunshine
• Central Cass Public School - $2,770.20 for Literacy Footprints Guided Reading System (Kindergarten Kit Classroom)
• Community of Care - $1,000 to Support the Volunteer Program
• Cottonwood Golf Course - $2,500 for Clubhouse Parking Lot Repair
• Rural Cass Community Theater - $7,000 to support Community Theater Directors/Leaders for 2020 Theater Arts Season
• Rural Cass County Emergency Food Pantry - $2,500 to Upgrade the Fridge/Freezer & Additional Storage

The Casselton Community Endowment Fund has supported the Rural Cass Community Theatre for several years, including the 2013 production of The Music Man.

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

The Casselton Area Community Foundation only makes grants to:
1.  Organizations designated as a non-profit, tax exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c)3 or to government agencies.
2.  Qualifying organizations in the city of Casselton.

Application Deadline: November 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. (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 Casselton Area Community Foundation (CACF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to the CACF 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 CACF. 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 Casselton 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 Casselton 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 Casselton 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.