Granting to Strengthen
Rural ND Communities with Education and Related Quality of Life Projects.
The Burgum Foundation is a rural North Dakota-based funder dedicated to supporting education and related projects that enhance the quality of life in rural communities across the state. We believe that education is the heartbeat of not only our rural communities but all our futures, and supporting the people, places, and programs that drive it will benefit today and shape the future. Below, you will find information about our grants to help determine if your organization and project align with our purpose, along with instructions on how to apply.
Where We Fund
Rural North Dakota Place-Based Funding: Grants are awarded to partners and programs that support rural communities in North Dakota, which are not connected to or part of the state's larger cities.
Who We Fund
Nonprofit Organizations: Grants are awarded to public school districts, tax-exempt organizations recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) public charities, such as colleges and universities, or charitable projects operating under a fiscal sponsor.
What We Fund
Rural Education and Related Projects: The Burgum Foundation supports rural education projects in North Dakota. Grant funding supports programs and capacity-building, including activities such as curriculum development, professional training, and enrichment programs, such as behavioral and mental health support, that benefit students, teachers, and connected school professionals.
​
How We Fund
Foundation Focus Areas and Funding Emphasis:
The Foundation seeks projects and partners that clearly demonstrate how they support the goal of improving rural education in North Dakota. The focus areas and current funding emphasis serve as a framework to guide grant applications and reporting.
Our Funding Focus Areas:
Supporting Students: Ensure access to academic fundamentals and remove barriers to learning.
Equipping Educators: Help educators grow their skills through advanced education, resources, and professional experiences.
Cultivating Innovation: Enable schools to implement innovative practices to meet evolving rural needs.
Literacy Emphasis: The Foundation's funding priorities are shaped by input from partners, the needs of rural communities, and state reports on well-being indicators. These priorities shift as circumstances change. Currently, the Foundation is focused on requests to improve literacy education and outcomes.
What We Don't Fund:
​Applications that include the following items are not funded by the foundation:
-
Capital campaigns or major capital expenditures
-
Lobbying or political activities
-
Sports events or athletic groups
-
Direct support for individuals
-
Organizations with pending 501(c)(3) status
2026 Grant Round
Burgum Foundation accepts grant applications on a rolling basis and evaluates and disburses grants once a year.
For Funding in 2026 Please submit applications by June 30th.
​
If your application is time-sensitive, please indicate that on your application along with an explanation. Burgum Foundation will evaluate if it is possible for time-sensitive applications to be expedited.
​​
If you miss the submission deadline, you are still welcome to submit your application, and we will consider it in the following grant round.
​
Note: Our updated application now supports both general and teacher tuition applications
Notification Timeline
You will receive a notification about your application status by fall 2026. When possible, in addition to written applications, site visits and virtual meetings are used to evaluate grant requests.​​​​​​​