The MDU Resources Foundation is accepting applications for its 2027 funding cycle from qualified organizations serving communities within the operating footprint of MDU Resources companies. In Oregon, Cascade Natural Gas serves 28 communities concentrated in central and eastern Oregon, including Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Pendleton, Hermiston, Boardman, Umatilla, Baker City, Ontario and other listed communities.
Funding and deadline
Applications for 2027 funding are due October 1, 2026. The official foundation pages do not publish an exact closing clock time or time zone, so Atlas does not infer one. The foundation does not state a universal maximum award amount or total 2027 funding pool.
Who can apply
The foundation contributes to IRS-qualified recipients, generally organizations recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3), with primary consideration for charitable institutions, organizations and programs in the geographic areas where MDU Resources member companies conduct business. The application also accepts evidence of government-agency status under IRC Section 170(c).
Relevant focus areas
Funding categories include Education and Human Services. Education includes classroom resources, after-school programs, scholarships, and career and technical training. Human Services includes food and housing assistance, access to healthcare, crisis response, and other essential supports.
Request types and restrictions
The application accepts capital construction or improvements, program support, special projects, and sponsorships. The foundation states that staffing, ongoing operating expenses, and hospital equipment have sometimes been funded but receive low priority. Organizations and hospitals are encouraged to request support for new programming needs not met by regular operating expenses. The foundation generally does not fund 100% of a project’s total cost and encourages applicants to seek other financial support, but it does not publish a fixed match percentage.
Generally, no consideration is given to private individuals or athletic, labor, fraternal, political, or lobbying requests, or to regional or national organizations without local affiliation. Endowment requests receive low priority, concurrent contributions to a single grant recipient are generally not considered, and loans, venture capital, and participation in loan pools are outside the foundation’s focus.
Application requirements
The official application requires the organization’s Tax ID, website and legal name, contact information, 501(c)(3) status or other recipient tax status, primary funding category, request type, project focus, total project cost, and request amount. Required supporting documents include a complete request budget when applicable; for special-project or capital requests, an implementation timeline and list of major contributions requested or received; a list of officers and board members; an organization history and geographic-service description; and proof of 501(c)(3) or qualifying government-agency status. Uploaded files must be PDF.
Atlas analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 67/100. This is a legitimate Oregon education and human-services opportunity with an explicit healthcare-access pathway and a defined Cascade Natural Gas service footprint. N9+ Fit Score: 45/100 conditional. A remote physical examination platform could be plausible only within an applicant-led new healthcare-access program if the applicant and foundation confirm the project-specific equipment cost is allowable. Hospital equipment is explicitly low priority, so no device fit should be represented as established. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100 conditional. Direct Dr. Miltie applicant fit: 0/100 under the published charitable-recipient rules.
Outreach control: do not begin new applicant outreach until the exact October 1 closing clock time and time zone are authoritatively verified.
Official sources: MDU Resources Foundation Community Support, MDU Resources Foundation Grant Application, and Cascade Natural Gas Oregon communities served.