1. NDCF makes grants only to those organizations designated by the IRS Code as 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt groups or government agencies. Before writing a letter proposal to NDCF seeking financial assistance, please make certain that your organization is eligible for a grant according to the stated tax exempt requirement.
2. If an agency is interested in a grant, NDCF should be sent a concise letter proposal not to exceed two (2) pages describing the organization, the project, the approximate project cost and the amount to be requested from NDCF. Since NDCF serves organizations statewide, grants normally do not exceed $5,000. These letter proposals must be received by NDCF no later than August 15.
3. Letters are reviewed by the Board in September and if the Board is interested in additional information, formal application materials are sent. These materials are to be returned by October 15th. If you have not been contacted by October 1 with an application, you will know that the Board has not chosen your project for consideration.
4. The Board screens the formal applications and makes its decisions in November. Grants are paid out in late November or December.

Procedures

In considering a formal grant request, NDCF will review the following:

• The composition and commitment of the group’s overseeing body – Board of Directors or Trustees.

• The organization’s management and fiscal integrity.

• The possibility of a grant leveraging additional support.

• The level of local involvement and support.

• The ability to attract additional funding immediately and to secure operational funds after the NDCF grant has terminated.

• The number of people to be served and the impact of the program on the com-munity.

• The degree to which the program duplicates or complements the work of other community organizations.

• The possibility of the program being replicated in another setting.

• The extent to which the project reflects an imaginative or new approach to a problem.

• The impact of the North Dakota Community Foundation’s grant on the success of the project.

In addition to the above, the following guidelines will be used in the prioritizing of grant requests:

• NDCF does not have a narrow area of focus. The Board looks at each project on its merits.

• The Board attempts to be as equitable as practical to the various geographic regions of the State.

• NDCF does not make multi-year grant commitments.

• Emphasis is placed on helping applicants who have limited access to other sources of funding.

• A low priority will be given to projects already substantially supported by government, or which in the opinion of the NDCF Board, can and should be provided for by taxes.

• Grants will not be concentrated in a single community except that larger population centers will receive consideration because of their increased population and nonprofit activity as well as their being the headquarters for serving other communities.

• Grants for sectarian projects will receive a low priority.

• Grants to national organizations will receive a low priority.

• Low priority will be given to projects outside of North Dakota.

• Grants will be denied to organizations and projects that exist to influence legislation, carry on propaganda, participate in political campaigns, or which threaten to cause significant controversy or divisiveness.

• A low grant priority will be given to those organizations which field substantial fund-raising each year with paid and volunteer staff.

• Grants are not made to individuals.