Grants & Community Funding Programs
Helping our community
Current community programs
It only takes a few cents each month to make a big difference in our communities. Common Cents is a non-profit entity operated separately from Red River Communications, which awards funds to local non-profit and community organizations and offers emergency & medical assistance for local individuals.
The CoBank Sharing Success Grant Program collaborates with customers like Red River Communications to offer grants to local charitable organizations and causes. CoBank is a national non-profit cooperative bank owned by the rural American cooperatives it serves. Through the Sharing Success Program, CoBank and its customers have contributed over $50 million to organizations such as volunteer fire departments, local schools, and hunger relief programs.
Any 501(c)(3) charity is eligible and select organizations that are not designated a 501(c)(3) may also be eligible, as long as the donation serves a public purpose and is consistent with the purpose and guidelines of the Sharing Success program. Grants of $250-$4,000 are available.
Red River determines a donation and CoBank will match that amount.
Completed applications should be returned by email to [email protected], dropped off at our office in Abercrombie or Wahpeton, or mailed to PO Box 136, Abercrombie, ND 58001.
Applications are for 2026 are coming soon!
2024 CoBANK Grant Awards
Red River Communications is proud to offer the FRS Community Grant Program to support local efforts.
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association to enhance the quality of life in America by promoting an understanding of rural issues.
Red River Communications is now accepting grant requests from $250 to $5,000, with 20% of the total award coming from Red River Communications and the remainder from the Foundation for Rural Service.
HAVE A COMMUNITY PROJECT THAT NEEDS FUNDING?
Complete the Grant Application Form below, and return your grant proposal to Red River Communications at [email protected]. If you have questions, please call 701-553-8309 and we are happy to walk you through the process. For more information about the FRS Grant Program, and see a list of past recipients, go to https://www.frs.org/programs/grant-program/community-grant.
FRS Grant applications are due July 24th, 2026.
RDFC is a North Dakota nonprofit finance and development corporation. RDFC’s member-owners are: North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperatives, nine of North Dakota’s Rural Telecommunication Cooperatives, and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. RDFC encourages economic diversification and community vitality by generating funding that supports sustainable asset building.
Red River Communications’ membership with RDFC permits communities in our service area to apply for a grant of up to $2,000 for a community-based project. RDFC makes these funds available to raise awareness of its larger loan program, which funds community-based projects and nonprofit entities with low-interest loans. Red River Communications is accepting applications for an RDFC grant through August 3, 2026.
Entities eligible for RDFC funding include: community-owned businesses (café, grocery store, motel, other); community facilities (such as ambulance services, fire districts, recreational facilities, hospitals/clinics, community centers, etc.); or community-based projects (such as school/youth projects) that benefit rural areas and lead to community betterment.
A review committee will select up to 3 applicants to review $500-$2,000 grants.
HAVE A COMMUNITY PROJECT THAT NEEDS FUNDING?
Complete the Grant Application Form below, and return your grant proposal to Red River Communications at [email protected]. If you have questions, please call 701-553-8309 and we are happy to walk you through the process.
Important: RDFC requires a 4-1 fundraising match. That means a minimum of $2,000 must have already been raised in order to qualify for a $500 RDFC grant.
For more information about the RDFC Grant Program, follow this link https://www.ndarec.com/rdfc-loan-programs.
FRS Grant applications are due July 24th, 2026.
Customer support
If you’re having trouble with your services, our customer experience team is always happy to assist you. Also, we have created helpful online resources and step-by-step user guides that you can access here at any time.
