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Giving Trends in South Dakota
South Dakota is a sparsely populated, largely rural state. That said, its population – and its philanthropic sector – are slightly bigger than neighboring North Dakota’s. As of 2020, there were 178 private foundations in South Dakota, according to the South Dakota Community Foundation. Including grantmakers from within and outside of South Dakota, more than 1,100 funders made grants for South Dakota totaling over $390 million in 2020, reports Candid.
News and information about South Dakota philanthropy flows through the statewide South Dakota Community Foundation. There are more than 1,100 funds at SDCF, which make grants for South Dakota nonprofits across the state. Education and health are top funding priorities for South Dakota.
Grants for South Dakota come from a mix of community, private, and family foundations. Top funders of South Dakota grants include the South Dakota Education Access Foundation, Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation, South Dakota Community Foundation, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation, Great Plains Education Foundation, Sioux Empire United Way, John T. Vucurevich Foundation, and Waitt Foundation.
Foundations in South Dakota
ORRION AND EDITH BARGER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Orrion and Edith Barger Memorial Foundation supports education, children and youth, religion and various city services in South Dakota.
BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Black Hills Area Community Foundation supports arts and culture, disaster recovery, women and children, environment, education, affordable housing, human services, homelessness, and other community needs in the Black Hills region o f South Dakota.
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION FOUNDATION
The Black Hills Corporation Foundation supports arts and culture, civic and community development, education, environment, human services and youth development in South Dakota and other places where the company does business.
MARION BRADLEY VIA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Marion Bradley Via Memorial Foundation supports education, arts and culture and health in South Dakota and Virginia.
BROOKINGS FOUNDATION
The Brookings Foundation supports health, human services, youth, education, arts and culture, environment and parks and recreation in South Dakota.
CLARKSON FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Clarkson Family Foundation supports youth, parks and recreation, local events, community improvement, education and human services in South Dakota.
DAKOTA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Dakota Charitable Foundation supports education and human services causes in Rapid City, South Dakota.
ELEANOR’S FUND
Eleanor's Fund supports education, human services and relief for the poor and underprivileged in South Dakota.
GREAT PLAINS EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Great Plains Education Foundation supports education needs throughout the state of South Dakota.
LARSON FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Larson Family Foundation supports human services, education, and cultural activities in South Dakota.
MILBANK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Milbank Community Foundation supports education, social and economic development and quality of life in South Dakota.
OAHE FOUNDATION
The Oahe Foundation supports Education, human services, youth, churches, health, and the environment in South Dakota.
BOB AND GINNY PETERSON FOUNDATION
The Bob and Ginny Peterson Foundation supports children and youth, education, religion and human services in South Dakota and Iowa.
JOSEPH RAUENHORST FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Joseph Rauenhorst Family Foundation education, religion, community improvement, and children and youth in South Dakota and other places of interest to the founder.
SHELDON F. REESE FOUNDATION
The Sheldon F. Reese Foundation supports youth, education, culture and human services in South Dakota.
SIOUX FALLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation supports education, recreation, health, children and families, arts and culture, veterans, human services, and other community needs in the Sioux Falls region of South Dakota.
SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The South Dakota Community Foundation supports culture, economic development, education, health, human services, and other community needs in South Dakota.
GWENDOLYN L. STEARNS FOUNDATION
The Gwendolyn L. Stearns Foundation supports children and youth, education, family services, food, human services and community arts in and around Rapid City, South Dakota.
WATERTOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Watertown Community Foundation supports arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services and youth programs in South Dakota.
JOHN T. VUCUREVICH FOUNDATION
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation supports the arts, education, health, and human services in South Dakota.
