South Dakota Fund Grants is sponsored by South Dakota Community Foundation. The South Dakota Fund is an unrestricted fund that makes grants in support of culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health and human services.

South Dakota Fund Grants | South Dakota Community Foundation SDCF's Unrestricted Grantmaking Program Funding good across the state. The South Dakota Fund The South Dakota Fund is an unrestricted fund that makes grants to non-profit and charitable organizations across the state in support of culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health and human services.

Beginning in 2026, three new areas are also a focus of the grant program: Child Well-Being, Housing and Workforce Development. South Dakota Fund grants are awarded by the SDCF Board of Directors throughout the year. Eligible organizations may apply for a grant in any of the nine focus areas.

Review our South Dakota Fund booklet to see how previous grant dollars have been used. Applicants should be a public, nonprofit organization as defined by IRS Publication 78. You can also work with a verified fiscal sponsor who can receive funds on your behalf.

The SDCF does not make grants in support of political campaigns, discriminatory practices, or for personal gain. Before you start the application, view our sample application (PDF). This will help you ensure that you have all you'll need for a formal application.

Then visit our online application to begin your grant application. If you've previously submitted a grant application to the SDCF, visit GOapply to submit an application. The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF or Foundation) closely scrutinizes all grant proposals for discriminatory practices and will not fund grants that discriminate based on race, color, creed or national origin.

2. Application Procedures SDCF funds both ongoing, well established projects as well as innovative projects designed to address South Dakota community needs. Staff is available, on a limited basis, to offer support.

Projects which have paid staff but involve significant and continuous community volunteer support to enhance their existing programs will be favorably considered. 2. 3.

Statewide Distribution SDCF funds will be distributed statewide to best meet the needs of the statewide constituency, except for the endowed funds designated for specific charitable purposes by the donor. Grantmaking decisions will be made by the Foundation Board of Directors based upon their evaluation and the recommendations of the Grantmaking Committee and staff. 2.

4. Public Nonprofit Organizations The SDCF will concentrate on funding public nonprofit corporations but will consider other organizations which meet grant guidelines. 2.

5. Capital Improvements Costs of building, remodeling, and capital bricks and mortar projects are funded on a limited basis and receive low priority. The SDCF generally will not provide transportation vehicles or equipment purchases over $10,000.

2. 6. Minimum & Maximum Awards Grant applications requesting less than $2,000 and over $20,000 will usually not be considered, although there can be exceptions.

Applications that are requesting more than half of the total project cost will receive low priority. 2. 8.

Challenge or Matching Grants The SDCF encourages matching funds from all grant applicants. When the Grantmaking Committee sees the need for more local involvement and support of a given project to establish ownership in the community, it may require challenge grants in any proportion. Funding may be contingent upon acquisition of the required matching money.

If the Foundation perceives a need is not being met, it may issue a challenge grant or request for proposal to participate in a challenge grant to address that need. Applications requesting startup money must provide feasibility data indicating a need for the project, support for the project and the ongoing probability of success. 2.

10. Collaborative Projects Applications received from collaborative applications of two or more organizations will be considered if their proposal meets the guidelines of the Foundation. All communications and accountability must be established with only one of the organizations.

2. 11. Financial Literacy Projects Applications may be submitted for credit or debit education or other charitable or consumer education purposes.

Requesting funding for financial literacy opportunities, does not preclude applying for other projects within the South Dakota Fund in a 12-month period. Applicants may apply for more than $20,000. The SDCF accepts grant applications from organizations serving as a fiscal sponsor for charitable projects.

Fiscal sponsors may apply multiple times in one year on behalf of different applicants but only once per year for any single applicant. Fiscal sponsors will be required to submit application attachments if applicable to entity. Checks will be issued to the fiscal sponsor for use by the applicant.

2. 13. Operating Expense for Governmental Entities No SDCF funds will be awarded to pay for operating expenses for governmental entities.

The SDCF does not make loans. 3. Exceptions to Application Procedures The SDCF may make an exception to any grantmaking guideline upon motion duly made, seconded and carried by a majority of the members present and voting.

Motion must state rationale for the exception. Exceptions taken in one instance do not constitute precedent exceptions for future grant decisions. 4.

Letter of Inquiry, Review Process and Communications 4. 1. Grant Review Process Letters of Inquiry (LOI) will be accepted throughout the year.

The Foundation will respond to all applicants in a timely manner. Staff will eliminate LOI’s that do not fit the mission of the Foundation or clearly do not qualify. Following review of the LOI, applicants may be invited to complete a full grant application.

All grant applications will be forwarded by staff to the Grantmaking Committee. The Grantmaking Committee will review the applications and make their recommendations to the board of directors who will review the recommendations of the Committee and may approve the awards. 4.

2. Communications with Applicants All applicants will be informed by e-mail in a timely manner of any action taken on their grant application. The Grantmaking Committee will hold decisions in confidence until publicly announced by the SDCF.

Multiple or repeat applications from one organization in less than a twelve-month period are not allowed, except as may be allowed under Section 2. 10. A due diligence form shall be completed and returned to the Foundation before a grant of funds is disbursed.

Applicants shall inform the Foundation office by e-mail of any significant changes in grant applicant status, organizational status, or project status. Funding may be changed based upon the significance of changes in project status. 6.

2. Final Evaluation Report A final evaluation report shall be submitted to the Foundation office immediately following project completion. A grant file is considered complete only after the final evaluation report is received in the Foundation office, and until received, no additional grant requests will be considered.

Organizations applying for funds from the SDCF must be verified by the Internal Revenue Service under Publication 78. Follow these steps to complete your application. If you have not already done so, read the grantmaking guidelines above to ensure you meet all eligibility requirements.

Download our sample grant application (PDF) to see what information you will need. Submit a Letter of Inquiry through GOapply . We'll respond within approximately 15 business days with a decision.

If the Letter of Inquiry is accepted, you will be invited to complete a full application in GOapply. An email confirmation will be sent to you when your application has been received by the South Dakota Community Foundation. The SDCF staff and board of directors will review your application.

We will notify within approximately 90 days after you submit your application with a decision. Access GOapply to complete your application online. Frequently Asked Questions South Dakota Fund Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Funding Good Across the State We award a lot of grants through the South Dakota Fund to charitable organizations across South Dakota.

As a statewide philanthropic resource, we have provided grants to nonprofit organizations in all 66 counties. This unrestricted fund makes grants to non-profit and charitable organizations across the state in support of culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health and human services. To learn more about past recipients, visit our News section.

South Dakota Fund Booklet South Dakota Fund Booklet Grant Programs Informational Webinar February 18, 2026 Click here to view the presentation from the webinar held on February 18, 2026 Click here to view the recording from the webinar held on February 18, 2026 Since 1998, Ginger has been a member of the South Dakota Community Foundation team.

Nearly a decade of her time at the Foundation has been spent overseeing the administration of grant programs. Currently, Ginger works closely with the Grantmaking Committee to make distributions from the South Dakota Fund, Nonprofit Savings Account, Fairy Godmother's Fund, Beyond Idea Grant (BIG) and Bush Prize: South Dakota grant programs. BIG and Bush Prize: South Dakota are offered in partnership with the Bush Foundation.

Ginger is committed to connecting nonprofits with the funds they need to help South Dakotans. Traveling across the state, she meets with grant applicants, conducts grant recipient site visits and awards grant checks. Stephanie joined the Foundation in September 2024 as Program Assistant for SDCF’s grants team.

She provides technical support to grant applicants and program staff members. Stephanie also works on communication projects related to the Foundation’s program and development efforts. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked in state government and higher education.

Born and raised in Pierre, Stephanie graduated from Black Hills State University. After some time working in the Black Hills area, Stephanie returned to Pierre in 2022. She has three children, two of them married, and two grandchildren.

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