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South Dakota

Grants, foundations, and funding data for South Dakota (SD).

Foundations

343

Total Assets

$2.2B

Total Giving

$461.3M

Active Grants

206

National Rank

#49

South Dakota Grant Programs: Funding for Rural Communities, Small Businesses, and Nonprofits

South Dakota offers a distinctive landscape of grant funding shaped by its rural character, agricultural heritage, and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. The state's Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) serves as the central hub for business incentives, workforce training grants, and economic development programs designed to attract and retain employers across the state.

From the Proof of Concept program that supports early-stage innovators to the REDI Fund that provides low-interest financing for expanding businesses, South Dakota has built a targeted portfolio of programs that punch well above their weight for a state of fewer than one million residents. Grant seekers should also look to the South Dakota Community Foundation, which distributes millions annually through programs like the Beyond Idea Grants and the newly launched South Dakota Fund targeting child wellbeing, housing, and workforce development priorities.

Key State Programs

GOED Proof of Concept Grant

Grants of up to $25,000 for South Dakota innovators and entrepreneurs to prove the feasibility of a new product or technology before bringing it to market. Designed to foster early-stage innovation across the state.

Beyond Idea Grants (SD Community Foundation)

Competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per year for community projects across South Dakota. One application round per year, with focus areas including child wellbeing, housing, and workforce development beginning in 2026.

Dakota Seeds Internship Program

Annual grant program that reimburses eligible businesses up to 50 percent of salary costs for STEM interns, with a cap of $2,000 per intern per semester and up to five interns per company.

South Dakota Arts Council Grants

Funding for South Dakota artists, arts organizations, and nonprofits pursuing arts projects and cultural programming. Annual application cycle with a March deadline supporting creative initiatives statewide.

MicroLOAN South Dakota

Flexible financing from $1,000 to $100,000 for South Dakota companies and residents, covering working capital, equipment, real estate, and other fixed-asset project costs for businesses at various stages of growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What state agency manages most business grants in South Dakota?

The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) is the primary state agency administering business grants and incentive programs. GOED manages the Proof of Concept grants, Dakota Seeds internship program, workforce development reimbursements, and the REDI Fund, among other programs. Their website at sdgoed.com is the best starting point for business-related grant opportunities.

Are there grants specifically for rural communities in South Dakota?

Yes, South Dakota offers several grants targeting rural communities. The Industrial Park Road Grants program helps towns build infrastructure for new industries, while the Community Access Road Grants program assists small towns with road improvements. The South Dakota Community Foundation's Beyond Idea Grants and South Dakota Fund also prioritize rural community development, and the REDI Fund provides low-interest financing specifically for businesses in underserved areas.

How can South Dakota nonprofits find current grant opportunities?

South Dakota nonprofits should monitor the Governor's Office of Economic Development website, the South Dakota Community Foundation grant portal, and the South Dakota Arts Council for state-level opportunities. The SDCF Beyond Idea Grants open annually in June, and the Arts Council accepts applications each March. Additionally, federal pass-through grants are available through various state departments including transportation, health, and social services.

What workforce training funding is available for South Dakota employers?

South Dakota employers can access the GOED Workforce Development Program, which reimburses up to 50 percent of eligible training costs to a maximum of $500 per employee. The Dakota Seeds program supports STEM internships with reimbursements up to $2,000 per intern per semester. These programs are designed to help South Dakota companies develop talent pipelines without bearing the full cost of employee development.

Top Foundations

Largest Foundations in South Dakota

#FoundationAssets
1Esther And Harold Mertz Foundation$665.6M
2John T Vucurevich Foundation$152M
3Waitt Foundation$136.3M
4Harvey W Peters Research Foundation$134.5M
5Pine Rock Foundation Inc.$94.3M

Active Grants

Open Grants in South Dakota

Bureau of Reclamation
Grants.govActive

WaterSMART: Applied Science Grants

Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan and implement actions to increase water supply and hydropower reliability. The WaterSMART Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332). The goal of the WaterSMART Applied Science Grants (ASG) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to improve access to and use of hydrologic data, develop and improve water management tools, and improve hydrologic modeling and forecasting capabilities.Water managers and reservoir operators rely on hydrologic data, modeling, and water supply forecasts to make decisions to meet future water demands. Water supply forecasts are estimates of current and future water supplies based on measured basin conditions (e.g., such as the quantity of upstream mountain snowpack). Results from these projects will be used by water managers to increase water supply reliability to meet water delivery requirements (e.g., compacts, decrees, etc.), provide flexibility in water operations to be more resilient during droughts, and enhance water supply forecasts to better predict floods and optimize limited water supplies. Example projects include improving operational models for irrigation water deliveries or reservoir operations, improving the use of snow monitoring technologies to enhance the skill of water supply forecasts, and improving data acquisition, data analysis, and data delivery, including the development of hydrologic databases.The ASG NOFO will build on and complement projects funded under the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Funding Opportunity by providing funding for applicants to improve the integration of innovative snow measurement data into water supply forecasts. Funding Opportunity Number: R25AS00280. Assistance Listing: 15.557. Funding Instrument: CA,G. Category: NR. Award Amount: Up to $400K per award.

Up to $400K per awardDeadline: Jul 8, 2026
DOT Federal Highway Administration
Grants.govActive

Fiscal Year 2026 Type 3 Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Competitive Grant Program

The purpose of the BIT3 Program is to fund the replacement or rehabilitation of county-owned bridges that are classified as Type 3 bridges[1] by the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and cross a water conveyance structure owned by USBR. Eligible applicants under the BIT3 Competitive Grant Program are counties which own a Type 3 bridge crossing a water conveyance structure owned by USBR. Projects eligible for funding are projects for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges that: (A) are owned by a county; (B) are classified as a Type 3 bridge by USBR; (C) are eligible under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) (23 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 204); and (D) cross a water conveyance structure owned by USBR. The BIT3 Competitive Grant Program does not require a minimum cost share. The Federal share for BIT3 Competitive Grant Program funds shall be 100 percent of funds requested for eligible project scope. [1] Type 3 bridge means any non-USBR-owned bridge over 20 feet in length, or bridge-like structure between 6 and 20 feet in length, that crosses a USBR dam, associated facility, power facility, or land interest (Reclamation Manual Directives and Standards FAC 07-01, as updated on June 9, 2023). An associated facility means all remaining Reclamation facilities other than high- and significant-hazard potential dams. Types of associated facilities include: carriage, distribution, and drainage systems [canals]; pumping and pump-generating plants; tunnels; penstocks, siphons, and pipelines; diversion and storage dams (low-hazard potential) and regulating reservoirs; fish passage and protective facilities, including hatcheries; river channelization features; rural/municipal water systems; desalting and other water treatment plants; facilities constructed under past loan programs; and recreation facilities (Reclamation Manual Directives and Standards FAC 01-04, as updated on April 13, 2020). Funding Opportunity Number: FHWA-BIT3-26-001. Assistance Listing: 20.198. Funding Instrument: G. Category: T. Award Amount: $1 – $25M per award.

$1 – $25M per awardDeadline: Jul 16, 2026
Nexus Community Partners
VerifiedActive

Open Road Fund

Open Road Fund is sponsored by Nexus Community Partners. The Open Road Fund provides $50,000 wealth-building gifts to Black individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to create tangible pathways to liberation, prosperity, and healing.

$50,000Deadline: Jul 19, 2026

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