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Enhancing and Strengthening North Dakota Nonprofits & Communities

EIN 47-5449750 · Souris, ND

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STRENGTHEN ND'S MISSION FOCUSES ON BUILDING NONPROFIT AND RURAL COMMUNITY CAPACITY, ADVANCING REGIONAL ISSUES, AND FACILITATING COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND ACCELERATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT RURAL ND.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
109
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$124,913, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. NONPROFIT AND RURAL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING: STRENGTHEN ND'S CAPACITY BUILDING APPROACH IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THREE LAYERS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT, INCLUDING A FORMAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, SMALL GROUP WORKSHOPS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ORGANIZATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS. STRENGTHEN ND'S NONPROFIT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IS A SIX-SESSION ENDEAVOR THAT PROVIDES INSTRUCTION ON THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS OF NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. INFORMAL WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS ARE PROVIDED ON TOPICS THAT SUPPLEMENT OR ELEVATE COMMUNITY PROBLEM-SOLVING EFFORTS. ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY PLANNING, FUNDRAISING, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT, BUDGETING, SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND GRANT WRITING. FINALLY, STRENGTHEN ND ADMINISTERS THREE DEMOGRAPHIC SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, NATIVE ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND A COMMUNITY-CENTERED AMERICORPS PROGRAM.
  2. ADVANCING REGIONAL ISSUES: STRENGTHEN ND'S WORK TO ADVANCE REGIONAL ISSUES HAS SHOWN UP IN SEVERAL WAYS, MOST NOTABLY THROUGH THE WORK OF ORGANIZING COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS AROUND A NEED AND SERVING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR VERY RURAL AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THIS WORK INCLUDE EFFORTS AROUND NARRATIVE CHANGE AND STORYTELLING AND ADMINISTERING NORTH DAKOTA CHANGE NETWORK, WHICH IS A YEAR-LONG COHORT PROGRAM IN SYSTEMS CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP.
  3. FACILITATING COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS: FACILITATING COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS IS STRENGTHEN ND'S MOST DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF WORK, SHOWING UP IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS, INCLUDING SERVING AS AN INTERMEDIARY SUPPORT FOR FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND FAMILY TRUSTS; WORKING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND STATE DEPARTMENTS TO EXECUTE EQUITABLE AND RESPONSIVE PLANNING PROCESSES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES; AND DEVELOPING AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT SERVICES, LIKE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND A RURAL INCUBATOR FARM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.