Empowering Rural Communities
Free Assistance for Nonprofits and Rural Areas
Strengthen ND provides expert guidance and support to help rural communities and nonprofits thrive. Our services include nonprofit incorporation, startup assistance, funding source identification, and proposal review.
Cher Hersrud
With 40 years of experience working in North Dakota’s rural communities, Cher Hersrud is a seasoned expert in nonprofit incorporation, startup assistance, funding strategies, and proposal review. Her extensive background ensures that rural communities and nonprofits receive the support they need to succeed.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Book an appointment with Cher Hersrud to receive personalized assistance for your rural community or nonprofit organization. Fill out the form below to get started.
Rural Community Resources
The Art of Reopening: A Guide to Current Practices Among Arts Organizations During COVID-19
Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities
Embrace the Naysayers: Strengthen ND's Rural Short Stories Series
A Rural Community Opportunity: Beautify Your Community While Helping the Bees and Butterflies
Urban Agriculture Toolkit
USDA Food Supply Chain Funding
Strengthen ND Succession Road Map
Shared Kitchen Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Planning, Launching, and Managing a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen
A Perspective on Rural Community Success
Rural Community Project Planning:
Six Steps to Make Projects More Successful
USDA Rural Workforce Guide for Rural Workforce Development
Wilton Public School District: A Full Service Community School Example
Rural Community Survey
Megan Laudenschlager on Prairie Pulse
January 7, 2021 - John Harris interviews Megan Laudenschlager, Executive Director of Strengthen ND based in Minot, North Dakota. The group helps rural non profits with all kinds of assistance and various programs. She talks about the struggles in rural North Dakota...
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 the John & Elaine Andrist Charitable Trust flow through the Northwest North Dakota Community...
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 western North Dakota. Strengthen ND's support was initiated in 2015 and...
Commitment to Rural & Tribal Equity
Rural Matters: A Statement of North Dakota's Grit & Resilience North Dakota can be likened to a small town with big blocks, where there often isn’t an argument that can’t be solved over a shared plate of hotdish. Agriculture is the core of the North Dakota...
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 to many of Minot's cultural sites of interest, numerous galleries, stores, and restaurants. In partnership...
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 supported the Community Foundation to secure endowment funds, corporate pass-through funds, intermediary...
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 to assess the viability of a nonprofit journalism cooperative. Working to understand the...
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 transition. With Strengthen ND's support, the Nelson County Arts Council was able to learn about board governance,...
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 staff. Bismarck Global Neighbors has served the Bismarck area since 2015. During this...
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 a camper and caregiver survey and several leadership-driven planning sessions, data was...