Since 1998, the Community Foundation has been making a significant impact in the lives of area residents through our grant making processes. Arts and culture, green spaces, human rights, economic stability for women, community engagement opportunities, and leadership development are just a few of the ways that the Community Foundation works to improve quality of life across our region.

The Community Foundation distributes a percentage of its endowment funds annually to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public entities, such as libraries and schools, throughout the area. Nonprofits can apply for funding from select funds held at the Community Foundation through our competitive grant making processes.

Community Opportunity Grant Program

Community Opportunity grants support improving the quality of life in our region in the following areas:
  • ​Community & Human Services: Support programs, projects, and activities that promote community or human services for all.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Conserve natural resources and protect ecosystems to support health and wellbeing, now and in the future.
  • Human Rights: Support efforts that raise awareness and promote understanding and respect for human rights among all through education, mediation and conflict resolution, celebrations, and interventions.

Brockman Feldman Family Fund Grant Program

Grants from the Brockman Feldman Family Fund seek to increase the reach and accessibility of academic extracurricular activities throughout Grand Forks, Walsh, and Polk counties.

Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant Program

The Iseminger Endowment for the Arts was established by Gordon and Trudy Iseminger in 2017 to provide support for the arts across the region. Funds seek to provide exposure and access to artistic and cultural experiences which generate artistic growth and creativity for all ages. Although funding is open to all art forms, preference may be given to musical performance.

Knight Donor-Advised Fund Grant Program

The Knight Donor-Advised Fund supports the success of the Grand Forks community through investments that attract, retain, and harness talent; expand opportunity by increasing entrepreneurship and economic mobility; and support civic infrastructure to accelerate the growth of ideas and bring people from diverse social and economic backgrounds together.

The current strategic focus connecting the University of North Dakota campus community and Downtown Grand Forks through the University Avenue Corridor.

Neel Family Fund Grant Program

​The Neel Family Fund was established by Joe K. Neel, Jr. to provide support of music education for children 18 years of age and younger in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Joe was a lifelong lover of music and recognized its importance in youth education. His lasting gift is intended to support music education for uses such as:
  • School music programs
  • Youth bands, choirs and orchestras, and summer programs
  • Purchases of music and instruments
  • Costs or fees for guest conductors and clinicians

Grants are to be used to increase or supplement resources of music education rather than replace or supplant existing resources.

Women's Fund Grant Program

The mission of the Women’s Fund is to provide ideas, energy, and resources so that girls and women are empowered to achieve economic, social, and political equality.  
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The vision of the Women’s Fund is to:
  • raise awareness of challenges, concerns, and opportunities facing girls and women today
  • support opportunities that build leadership skills and confidence among girls and women
  • encourage women to become philanthropists​​