Grand Forks' Violence Intervention Center Faces $1.1M Funding Gap

Delays in federal grants and the loss of a major private donor have created a budget shortfall for the nonprofit.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:04pm

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A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a stack of government grant application forms, a pen, and a calculator arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the financial challenges facing a nonprofit organization.The uncertainty surrounding federal grant funding has created a significant budget shortfall for a North Dakota nonprofit focused on community violence intervention.Grand Forks Today

The Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) in Grand Forks, North Dakota is facing a funding gap of over $1.1 million due to the loss of a $500,000 annual grant from the Engelstad Foundation and uncertainty around $612,670 in federal Department of Justice grants the organization applied for. CVIC has made staffing cuts and adjustments to accommodate the shortfall, while also pivoting to focus more on smaller donor meetings and tours to make up the difference.

Why it matters

CVIC is a critical community organization that provides violence intervention and prevention services in Grand Forks County. The funding gap threatens the organization's ability to maintain its full range of programs and services, which could have significant impacts on public safety and community well-being in the region.

The details

The $1.1 million funding gap was created by the loss of a $500,000 annual grant from the Engelstad Foundation, which decided to shift its focus to the Las Vegas area, as well as uncertainty around $612,670 in federal Department of Justice grants that CVIC applied for but has received no updates on. CVIC has made cuts, including not filling two vacant positions and reducing staff hours, to try to accommodate the shortfall. The organization has also canceled its annual breakfast fundraiser and is instead focusing on smaller donor meetings and building tours to try to make up the difference through private donations.

  • The Engelstad Foundation grant ended at the beginning of 2026, after providing two years' notice to CVIC.
  • CVIC applied for four federal Department of Justice grants, with three expected in October 2025 and one in January 2026, but has received no updates on the status of these applications.

The players

Coiya Tompkins Inman

President and CEO of the Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC).

Kari Kerr

Vice president of prevention, education and violence intervention at CVIC.

Engelstad Foundation

A private foundation that previously provided a $500,000 annual grant to CVIC, but has decided to shift its focus to the Las Vegas area.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that CVIC applied for four grants from, totaling $612,670, but has received no updates on the status of these applications.

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What they’re saying

“We're just not getting any information. It's just getting unsettling.”

— Coiya Tompkins Inman, President and CEO of CVIC

“It's 100% unprecedented.”

— Kari Kerr, Vice president of prevention, education and violence intervention at CVIC

What’s next

CVIC is hoping to receive updates on the status of the $612,670 in federal Department of Justice grants it applied for in the coming months. The organization is also continuing to focus on smaller donor meetings and building tours to try to make up the funding gap through private donations.

The takeaway

The funding challenges facing CVIC highlight the precarious financial situation many community-based nonprofits find themselves in, relying on a patchwork of government grants, private donations, and other revenue sources to sustain their vital services. The loss of a major donor and uncertainty around federal funding has forced CVIC to make difficult staffing and program cuts, underscoring the need for more stable and reliable funding streams for organizations that play a crucial role in public safety and community well-being.