Technical Assistance
Strengthen ND was developed in response to the growing disparity between North Dakota’s more populated areas and rural communities. By focusing on providing nonprofit capacity building opportunities, advancing regional issues, and facilitating community solutions, Strengthen ND’s vision is to help nonprofits to meet their missions most effectively.
Supported by Otto Bremer Trust and the Bush Foundation, Strengthen ND has specifically been working throughout rural North Dakota to aid nonprofits and rural and Tribal communities in building their own capacity. Strengthen ND’s capacity-building assistance is delivered through customized engagements to accomplish organizational and community-oriented objectives, including:
Strengthen ND places a high priority on being connected to leadership in key issues and practices for maximizing the talents, strengths and efforts of an organization’s most valuable resource - the people who govern, lead and support programs to produce effective, meaningful and measurable impact: the board and staff. We work to do this through customized board and staff development projects, designed to leverage and build effectiveness and teamwork.
Nelson County Arts Council
Board and Staff Development: Strengthen ND worked with the Board of Directors of the Nelson County Arts Council as they navigated both staff and board
North Dakota Local Foods Development Alliance
Board and Staff Development: Strengthen ND worked with the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Local Foods Development Alliance (NDLFDA) to support the establishment
North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance
Board and Staff Development: Strengthen ND worked with the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (NDNTA) over a period of several
With experience in fundraising and event planning that play into resource development, Strengthen ND understands that effective fundraising plans and strategies start with a review and assessment of current fundraising programs and systems. We work with organizations to strategize, design and implement realistic fundraising plans to seek and leverage a combination of contributed income to meet their mission.
Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation
Fundraising Planning: Strengthen ND was invited to work with the burgeoning Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation in the fall of 2015. Since then, we have
Tuttle Rural Innovation Center
Fundraising Planning: Strengthen ND was invited to work with the community of Tuttle in 2016 to make their big dreams a reality. In addition to
Writing a grant proposal is no small task. Whether you’re new to the grant writing process, are not winning as many grants as you’d like, or have too many grants to write in too little time, Strengthen ND can help. We will work closely with your organization and its stakeholders to fully understand your program objectives and needs. We take care of all of the details of a grant proposal - planning the grant program design, development of the full narrative, development of the budget and submission of the proposal.
Gateway to Science
Strategic Planning: Strengthen ND was invited to work with Gateway to Science in the spring of 2021 to undertake activities and efforts around large-scale strategic
Tuttle Rural Innovation Center
Fundraising Planning: Strengthen ND was invited to work with the community of Tuttle in 2016 to make their big dreams a reality. In addition to
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Grant Writing Assistance: In the spring of 2020, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians engaged with Strengthen ND to provide grant writing services to
Strategic planning is the architecture of successful organizations. Strengthen ND’s approach to strategic planning involves a collaborative process of internal and external review and strategic thinking to generate a realistic and practical guide for board and staff in achieving their visionary and operational goals. As you transition from strategic planning to implementation, your first task is to get specific about the work that needs to be done. Practically speaking, this means going through the process of translating the multi-year, high-level strategic goals articulated in your plan into specific initiatives that your organization will undertake in the coming 12- to 18-month period. Breaking down your long-term goals into timely, digestible and definable segments that align with your day-to-day activities is something that Strengthen ND is equipped to help you undertake.
Gateway to Science
Strategic Planning: Strengthen ND was invited to work with Gateway to Science in the spring of 2021 to undertake activities and efforts around large-scale strategic
Bismarck Global Neighbors
Strategic and Organizational Action Planning: On July 14th, 2018 Strengthen ND facilitated a strategic planning session for the Bismarck Global Neighbors’ Board of Directors and
International Music Camp
Strategic and Organizational Action Planning: In the summer of 2019, the leadership of International Music Camp and Strengthen ND developed a five-year strategic plan. Through
Strengthen ND will work with your organization to develop customized evaluation processes to illustrate the value and impact of your programs for the purposes of informing program design and future development, as well as to share information more effectively with boards, funders and others closely connected to the organization. Conversely, Strengthen ND is skilled at working with private family foundations, trusts, corporations, and community foundations to design grantmaking strategies, mechanisms, and collateral to support targeted charitable investments.
John & Elaine Andirst Charitable Trust
Program Design and Evaluation: Strengthen ND has supported the John & Elaine Andrist Charitable Trust since its establishment in late 2018. The funds distributed by
Rural Community Grant Fund
Program Design and Evaluation: Strengthen ND supported AgriBank’s Rural Community Grant Fund to design and deliver proposal development and recruitment services for eligible applicants in
Central Regional Education Association
Grant Writing Assistance: Central Regional Education Association, in partnership with Nexus-PATH, engaged with Strengthen ND to write for a U.S. Department of Education grant to
One of the most important responsibilities for nonprofit boards is selecting the organization’s next executive director. The search and transition can be complex, and both require careful planning, well before a planned - or unplanned - departure occurs. Strengthen ND can help your organization with succession planning to ensure that this is a smooth, cohesive transition.
Souris Valley United Way
Succession Planning: When the Souris Valley United Way (SVUW) underwent a planned executive director transition, they engaged with Strengthen ND to support the succession planning
Strengthen ND's community planning process is designed and facilitated around developing five-year strategic plans for communities through a focused process including assessing and goal-setting around Community Amenities & Engagement, Creative Placemaking, Economic Status & Growth, and Forward-Thinking Planning.
Downtown Minot
Community Planning: Downtown Minot is the community’s central business district and the site of the first permanent settlement in Minot in 1886. Downtown is home
Watford City
Community Planning: In the summer of 2019, Watford City and the McKenzie County Job Development Authority engaged with Strengthen ND to develop a five-year Community Sustainability
Carrington
Community Planning: In the summer of 2019, stakeholders within the Carrington area engaged with Strengthen ND to develop a five-year Community Plan. Through a community survey, youth
Strengthen ND works with organizations to develop and implement meetings, retreats, and other forums for specific planning, problem solving, strategizing, or decision-making purposes. Strengthen ND’s approach involves thoughtful planning and preparation and developing agendas to encourage participation and generate useful plans for next steps.
North Dakota Newspaper Association
Meeting Facilitation: Strengthen ND was able to work with the leadership of the North Dakota Newspaper Association (NDNA) to design and undertake a comprehensive feasibility study
Mobridge, SD & Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Meeting Facilitation: In the fall of 2020, Strengthen ND was invited to support the communities of Mobridge, SD and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to
The Arts Center – Jamestown
Meeting Facilitation: In the fall of 2020, The Arts Center engaged with Strengthen ND to facilitate conversations around the potential for expanding STEM education in