South Dakota Fund

The South Dakota Fund Grants program, administered by the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), provides unrestricted philanthropic support to charitable organizations across the state of South Dakota. As a cornerstone initiative of SDCF, the fund backs a broad range of community-focused projects in areas such as culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, and health and human services. Beginning in 2026, the SDCF Board of Directors has identified Child Wellbeing, Housing, and Workforce Development as critical priority areas for future grantmaking through this program. Grants are open to public nonprofit organizations as recognized under IRS Publication 78, and fiscal sponsorship is permitted if the sponsor can receive funds and meet documentation requirements. Faith-based organizations may be eligible, though political campaigns, discriminatory activities, and requests for personal gain are strictly ineligible. Governmental entities cannot receive operating funds, and equipment purchases over $10,000 or transportation vehicles are generally not funded. Applications under $2,000 or over $20,000 are discouraged unless otherwise justified. The application process starts with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which is accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applicants whose LOI aligns with SDCF’s mission may be invited to submit a full application via the GOapply portal. Once submitted, the application is reviewed by SDCF staff, the Grantmaking Committee, and the Board of Directors. Final decisions are typically communicated within 90 days. A due diligence form must be completed prior to disbursement, and a final evaluation report is required post-project to close out the grant. Grant requests that involve substantial community volunteer support or represent collaborative projects are favorably considered. Projects requesting more than 50% of the total cost from SDCF receive low priority. While capital improvements and seed funding are eligible, they are considered low priority unless strong feasibility and sustainability evidence is provided. SDCF encourages applicants to secure matching funds, and in some cases may issue challenge grants requiring a specific match proportion to ensure local commitment. Though there are no fixed deadlines, the foundation's rolling process ensures decisions are made throughout the year. This rolling structure allows SDCF to remain responsive to evolving community needs and facilitates flexible access for eligible nonprofits. SDCF has historically awarded grants in all 66 South Dakota counties, reinforcing its commitment to broad, equitable impact. Organizations interested in applying should review the sample application provided on the foundation’s website and begin with an LOI submission through GOapply.

Projects involving strong volunteer engagement or matching funds are favorably considered; collaborative and innovative projects are encouraged.