February in North Dakota has a way of slowing us down. The holidays are over. The sparkle is gone. It is cold. We are inside more. It is a good month to think.
At BisMan Community Foundation, we spend a lot of time talking about impact. Grants. Funds. Endowments. But at its heart, community impact is simpler than that. It is about ordinary people deciding that where they live matters.
If you are thinking about how to make a difference this year, here are five very doable ways to strengthen the place we call home.
1. Support a local nonprofit you believe in.
There are organizations in Bismarck-Mandan quietly doing extraordinary work every single day. Feeding families. Mentoring kids. Supporting survivors. Caring for animals. Creating art.
A gift of any size helps. A recurring monthly gift helps even more. Consistency gives nonprofits stability, and stability allows them to plan ahead instead of constantly scrambling.
2. Volunteer for one thing.
You do not have to join five boards. You do not have to overhaul your life. Just pick one thing.
Serve a meal. Help at an event. Read to a classroom. Stuff envelopes. Show up.
Community is built person by person, hour by hour.
3. Attend something local.
A fundraiser. A school concert. A community conversation. A nonprofit open house.
When we show up, it matters. Attendance is encouragement. It tells the people doing the work that it is seen and valued.
4. Say thank you.
Nonprofit leaders and volunteers are often juggling limited budgets, long hours, and big expectations. A short email or handwritten note of appreciation can go a long way.
Gratitude strengthens morale, and morale strengthens mission.
5. Think long term.
This is the one people sometimes skip.
What would it look like to make a commitment to this community that lasts beyond this year? Beyond this decade?
An endowment fund is one way to do that. It creates a permanent source of support for the causes you care about. It turns a single act of generosity into something that keeps giving year after year.
You do not have to do everything on this list. None of us can. But if each of us does one or two things intentionally, the ripple effect is real.
We are fortunate to live in a place where people care. That is not true everywhere.
February is a good month to reflect. Spring will come. Budgets will move. Calendars will fill up. But right now, in this quieter season, it is worth asking:
How do I want to show up for this community this year?
If you would like to talk about ideas, giving options, or ways to get connected, I am always happy to visit.
Because strong communities do not happen by accident. They are built by people who choose them.