South Dakota Science and Technology Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that preserve and enhance access to cultural and paleontological resources on public lands, targeting state and local governments, educational institutions, tribal organizations, and nonprofit groups.

This funding opportunity supports doctoral-granting institutions in underfunded regions to establish and expand research centers that enhance STEM education and workforce development.

This grant provides funding for conservation projects that restore and enhance habitats for monarch butterflies and other native pollinators, targeting nonprofit organizations, government entities, tribal groups, and educational institutions.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by supporting collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry to develop sustainable research infrastructure.

This program provides funding for graduate students in the North Central Region to conduct research that promotes sustainable agriculture practices.

This grant provides funding to various stakeholders in South Dakota's specialty crop industry to enhance production, consumption, and sustainability of specialty crops for the benefit of the broader community.

This scholarship provides financial support to LGBTQ+ individuals from the Upper Midwest pursuing various educational paths, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries in the Black Hills region to address critical community issues such as education, mental health, substance abuse, and food security.

This funding opportunity supports programs and projects that improve the lives of children in the Siouxland area, focusing on education, health, and safety initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in the greater Siouxland area for community projects that engage volunteers and address local needs.

This fellowship provides up to $150,000 over two years to individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota who are committed to personal growth as leaders and driving equitable, large-scale change in their communities.

Arts Midwest is offering Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations rooted in communities of color, providing general operating support for those with annual expenses up to $500,000 in selected states.

First Nations’ Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort (“cohort”) is a 12-month enrichment opportunity, designed to support the knowledge and networks of young natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. Donor Name: First Nations Development Institute State: Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The goal of the cohort is to support and convene 15 early-career natural resource professionals who are employed by Tribes in the Northern Great Plains. Members of the cohort will develop professional, leadership, and technical skills, and learn how to employ tribal and community conservation priorities. By the end of the cohort, participants will 1.) gain a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices that improve and conserve tribal lands, 2.) receive specialized training to manage projects, and 3.) be able to communicate the importance of upholding tribal sovereignty, cultural grounding, and connection to ancestral lands in resource management. Members of the cohort have access to the following: A $5,000 stipend to hosting Tribe Travel support for professional development A $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project Participation in a supportive network comprised of other young professionals in your region. Mentorship in project planning, management, reporting, and much more! Project Period The start date of the cohort is October 1, 2024, and the end date is September 30, 2025. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants must be early-career tribally-affiliated natural resource professionals that are employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains (Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming). Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to: Applicants must be tribally-affiliated with a Native American community. Applicants must be employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains. Applicants must be between the age of 18-30 years old. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information, visit First Nations Development Institute.

First Nations is currently accepting applications under Stewarding Native Lands program to support the development of tribal co-stewardship agreements and related capacity building. Donor Name: First Nations Development Institute State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The federal government has embarked upon an era of co-stewardship of public lands as directed by Joint Secretarial Order 3403 and other authorities. States have also launched new policies consistent with this approach. These efforts to restore tribal stewardship can help to advance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and adaptation to climate change. Central to this work is restoring buffalo and fire to grasslands. This grant will provide Tribes with resources to build necessary capacity to negotiate, implement, and monitor co-stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service in the Great Plains Region. This includes technical assistance, trainings, and networking opportunities all centered in the space of co-stewardship. The ultimate goal is to strengthen and increase tribal co-stewardship on National Grasslands in the Great Plains region, allowing Tribes to serve as anchors in promoting greater ecological connectivity to grassland protection and health. Funding Information Total requested funds in project budgets under this funding opportunity should not exceed $125,000. Grant Period  The grant period for this funding opportunity is October 15, 2024, to November 30, 2026. Eligibility Criteria Tribes that border or are in proximity of National Grasslands and are interested in establishing a co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Forest Service on the National Grasslands in the Northern Great Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).  Types of eligible applicants include:  Federal- and State-Recognized tribal Governments and Departments For more information, visit First Nations Development Institute.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to dairy farms and processing facilities in select Midwestern states to promote product development, diversification, and value-added dairy innovations.

The Forecast Public Art’s Midwest Memory Grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is open to non-profit organizations in rural Midwest communities, aiming to elevate and preserve the stories of BIPOC communities through monuments, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities and advancing racial justice.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations conducting medical research, especially those focused on improving disease treatment and health outcomes, with a preference for projects based in the Midwest.

The South Dakota Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) is designed to promote economic development in South Dakota by expanding the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for families and individuals in South Dakota. Donor Name: South Dakota Housing State: South Dakota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The HOF is being administered by South Dakota Housing and the SD Housing Board of Commissioners. HOF funds may be used for new construction or the purchase and rehabilitation of rental or homeownership housing, housing preservation, including home repair grants and grants to make homes more accessible to individual with disabilities, homelessness prevention activities, and community land trusts. Any for-profit entity, nonprofit entity, tribal government, housing authority, political subdivision of this state or agency of such subdivision, or agency of this state is eligible to apply for funding. Funding Information Development Projects Rural Development: Application Limit of $350,000 Urban Development: Application Limit of $150,000 Eligible Activities Activities allowed under HOF include:  Rental Housing  New construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or conversion of a building for rental housing (permanent or transitional) are eligible activities. Homeownership  Funds may be used for new construction, or acquisition with rehabilitation of single-family housing units. Eligibility Criteria Eligible Projects HOF funds may be used for new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of rental housing, the purchase of homeownership housing, substantial or moderate rehabilitation of rental or homeownership housing, housing preservation, including home repair, and rehabilitating homes to make them accessible to individuals with disabilities, homelessness prevention activities, and community land trusts. Housing developments previously receiving HOF funds will not be considered as an eligible project until such time the initial affordability period or the extended use period has been met.  Eligible Applicants Any for-profit entity, nonprofit entity, tribal government, housing authority, political subdivision of this state or agency of such subdivision, or agency of this state is eligible to apply for funding. No individual may apply for funding directly unless authorized by SDHDA.  Eligible Households HOF funds shall be targeted to serve low to moderate income households with a maximum income at or below one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the county areamedian income (AMI) or state area median income (AMI), whichever is higher, based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) criteria. For more information, visit HOF.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation program proposals to advance bird species and habitat conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The purpose of this program is to help address the loss of 3 billion birds since 1970 by supporting projects that conserve, restore, or enhance grassland, wetland, sage-steppe, and coastal habitats for birds, or gather lacking bird population data with innovative methods, with an emphasis in focal geographies. Priorities Bird populations typically require a series of different seasonal or local habitats for their breeding, stopover, and wintering periods. Degradation, fragmentation, and loss of habitat can negatively impact bird populations, highlighting the need to implement science-driven and strategic conservation. With geographic focal areas that span major migratory routes in Alaska and along the north–south axis of the central United States, including the Gulf Coast, the program focuses on improving habitat quality and quantity for both migratory and non-migratory bird populations. Funding Information Grant awards will typically range from $100,000 to $275,000. Funded projects should be completed within two years following finalization of a grant agreement.  Geographic Focus Projects must occur in a major migratory route ranging from the northern slope of Alaska to the north-south axis of the central United States, including the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Funding is limited to the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund to advance pollinator conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The goal of the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators.  The most competitive projects will demonstrate clear benefits to both monarch butterfly and additional at-risk native insect pollinator species (i.e., federally listed, candidate, or proposed native insect pollinator species). Special consideration will be given to projects benefiting rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. Categories Grants will be awarded in two categories:  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands Funding in this category will support implementation of technical assistance to increase the number of private landowners voluntarily engaged in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation practices on private working lands. Up to $2 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to three years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. This category aims to support conservation planning and practice design with private landowners to advance voluntary conservation efforts on working lands that align with NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks or initiatives, and especially increase Working Lands for Wildlife participation among farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. The 2024 Pollinator Fund RFP will support projects that: Direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices. Increase Farm Bill program participation and conservation practice implementation among agricultural producers, especially farmers and ranchers in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Hiring additional staff or contractors, based on demonstrated need, including staff to assist private landowners and NRCS with developing pollinator habitat management plans and implementation of new and existing NRCS financial assistance contracts. Targeting outreach to landowners and other partners to prioritize, plan, and deliver financial assistance available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other Farm Bill programs to improve pollinator habitat and support at-risk pollinator species. Habitat Improvement Funding in this category will support on-the-ground work to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. Up to $3.1 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to two years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. Applicants in this category should define a step-by-step restoration plan including site preparation, equipment used, planting techniques, size of the project area, description of target native plant community, and maintenance plan (e.g., prescribed burning, mowing, grazing schedules). Projects proposed to benefit other at-risk native insect pollinators should specify habitat needs for those species and how the proposed work will support their breeding, nectaring, nesting, or other habitat needs. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Restore and enhance pollinator habitat, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate milkweed and a diversity of native nectar plants. Increase native seed and seedling supply, with an emphasis on improving the sustainability and affordability of regionally appropriate, local ecotypes. Program Priorities  All proposals must specifically address how the proposed project will directly and measurably contribute to the accomplishment of the Pollinator Fund’s goals as outlined in NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Business Plan. As such, all proposals must provide the number of acres restored or enhanced as a result of the project. Proposals must include plans to restore or enhance a minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states. Acres may be counted from multiple sites; the sites do not need to be contiguous. Since 2015, successful proposals have included a median of 960 acres and an average of 2,120 acres restored or enhanced.  Funding Information The Pollinator Fund will award up to $5.1 million in grants in 2024: up to $2 million for Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands and up to $3.1 million for Habitat Improvement. Funding is provided by Bayer Crop Science, Danone North America, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  Geographical Areas  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands  Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. Projects are restricted to private working lands. Habitat Improvement Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. West of the Rocky Mountains, priority will be given to projects on or adjacent to the following: monarch butterfly overwintering sites, BLM lands, and USFS lands. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Entities: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.