The City of Bismarck is accepting applications for funds that have been raised through the Better Bismarck campaign.
Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on Monday, May 1, 2023. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization meeting the legal requirements of the State of North Dakota and the Internal Revenue Service.
- Include information about projects serving individuals with current, chronic and complex, long-term mental health and/or substance abuse disorders experiencing homelessness in the City of Bismarck. Applications must incorporate opioid remediation strategies into their project.
- Provide an unduplicated count of residents served and complete progress reports requested by the City.
Applications must be emailed or mailed/delivered to the following location:
Renae Moch, Public Health Director
Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health
500 East Front Avenue, Suite #3
Bismarck, ND 58504
“This becomes a very important and exciting time for the Better Bismarck campaign,” said Moch. “Up until now, we have spoken generally about how this campaign can help some of the most vulnerable people in our community. As we start to receive applications and move forward with that process, we begin to learn specifically how these fundraising efforts will truly benefit our community. We look forward to being a resource for change in our community through this first round of applications, and moving forward into the future.”
After applications are received, they will be reviewed and scored by a committee. This committee’s recommendations are expected to be confirmed on May 15. These recommendations will then be sent to the Bismarck City Commission for approval at its May 23 Commission meeting. Funds are expected to be available for distribution on June 1.
“This project wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many people and organizations,” said Moch. “We could not have done this without that investment. It is humbling to be part of a project that so many people recognize as vital to the continued health of our growing community.”
Better Bismarck is a campaign created to address some of the root causes of crisis homelessness: addiction and mental health issues. To donate, individuals and groups needed to only text BetterBis to 801801 or visit the online campaign donation page. Donations made in 2022 were matched dollar-for-dollar by funds the City of Bismarck received from multi-district litigation related to opioid manufacturers and distributors. All donations are tax-deductible.
Application materials are located online:
- Invitation to Apply for Funding
- This document outlines campaign information, timelines and other details.
- Application for Funding
- This document contains four weighted questions.
- Funding Template
- This spreadsheet helps to determine how much money will be requested by breaking down needed dollar amounts.