ND250 Community Initiatives Grant

The ND250 Community Initiatives Grant is a state-funded program administered by the State Historical Society of North Dakota on behalf of the North Dakota 250th Commission. Its primary mission is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States through inclusive community projects and events designed to inspire North Dakotans to renew and strengthen democratic values. This program focuses on honoring North Dakota’s people, places, innovations, and achievements that have contributed to the nation’s history during this milestone celebration. Funding is available in amounts up to $10,000 for eligible applicants, which include nonprofit organizations with officially recognized 501(c)(3) status and legally organized subsidiaries of city, county, or tribal governments. Each applicant is limited to one application and must demonstrate a required 20% match, which may be provided in cash or in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions must be directly tied to the approved project and cannot cover work completed prior to the application or grant award. Donated time for in-kind match will be valued at $25 per hour or at documented rates for professional services. The grant program is competitive, and incomplete applications or those failing to address all required criteria will not be considered. Allowable projects include implementing tours, hosting exhibits or public programs, creating educational materials, organizing travel to Bismarck to visit the ND250 exhibit at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum (opening June 2026), and other public programs aligned with the ND250 mission. Additional examples of eligible activities include speaker events, scholar presentations, discussion series, book club kits, permanent or temporary exhibits, public art, virtual exhibitions, curriculum development, research for creative works, and travel to ND250-related exhibitions. All funded projects must be offered at no cost to the public. Prohibited uses of funds include endowments, purchase of collections, fundraising activities, new construction, grant administration, capital expenses, staff salaries, benefits, alcohol, fireworks, weapons, food, decorations, parades, advertising, merchandise, and certain contractual expenses extending beyond the grant period. The application period opens on August 1, 2025, and applications will be reviewed quarterly beginning October 1, 2025, with subsequent review dates on January 1, April 1, and July 1, 2026. Grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted. All applications must be submitted through the North Dakota WebGrants portal. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within 30 days of the review date, and funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2026. A final report, detailing how grant funds were used and comparing the completed project with the proposal, must be submitted within 30 days of project completion or by January 31, 2027, whichever is earlier. Grant funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis after project completion and submission of the final report. Evaluation criteria include the quality of the project narrative, its relevance to North Dakota history and the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, its integration with other local or regional efforts, and its significance to the community, region, or state. Applicants must also provide a detailed budget with justifications for all costs, show the source of their match requirement, and outline how the project’s success will be measured. Additionally, they must describe plans to publicly acknowledge the ND250 Commission and the State Historical Society for grant support. For more information or questions about the ND250 Community Initiatives Grant, applicants may contact Melissa Klocke, ND250 ND Coordinator, at 701-328-6073 or melissaklocke@nd.gov, or Amy Munson, Grants and Contracts Officer, at 701-328-3573 or amunson@nd.gov. Complete guidelines and the application portal are available through the official state website at https://grants.nd.gov and https://www.nd.gov/north-dakotas-celebration-americas-250th.