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
YWCA Minot
Strategic and Organizational Action Planning: On October 15th, 2016 Strengthen ND facilitated a strategic planning session for the YWCA’s Board of Directors and staff. The YWCA is a 100-year old organization that provides effective programs to empower women in the...
Growing Together: A Community Garden Ministry
Strategic and Organizational Action Planning: On June 11, 2020, leadership and volunteers of Growing Together Garden Ministries came together to walk through a modified strategic planning process. The modified process included: SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses,...
Lake Region Heritage Center
Strategic and Organizational Action Planning: In the winter of 2020, the Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Lake Region Heritage Center engaged with Strengthen ND to develop a three-year strategic plan. Through a board-driven planning process, all who...
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 build a stronger relationship to create a more sustainable regional economy. Specifically, the question posed was "How...
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 of the organization. From refining bylaws, hosting meetings, identifying short-term operational...
Rural Matters Initiative
November 16, 2020 - Strengthen ND is deploying a statewide effort titled Rural Matters to gather input on what is important to residents of rural North Dakota. Through the dissemination of postcards through community partners, Strengthen ND is gathering anonymous...
2020 Ecosystem Award
October 2020 Strengthen ND excited to be one of the 36 organizations selected as 2020 Ecosystem grantees by the Bush Foundation! These grants provide operating support over three years to organizations that many of our region’s leaders and organizations rely upon....
ND Compass Article
December 2018 Where I Come From. Rooted. That’s what I feel when I embark on projects and meet with leaders and volunteers supporting good work in rural North Dakota. Impassioned. That’s how I carry out my work of supporting and accelerating community...
Prairie Public’s Main Street Interview
October 28, 2020 - Having a good idea for a business or community project is just the first step. It can be difficult to know where to go from there. The Minot based non-profit Strengthen ND supports rural development across the state, from writing grants to...
Gates Foundation Grand Challenge Award
June 10, 2020 - Twenty-eight organizations from 18 states and the District of Columbia will elevate diverse voices and broaden the national conversation about poverty and economic mobility at a critical moment in our nation’s history as recipients of $100,000 grants...