South Dakota Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

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.

The First Nations’ Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort is a 12-month enrichment opportunity designed to enhance the knowledge and networks of young natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. This program directly aligns with the First Nations Development Institute's mission to support Native American communities, particularly in areas of natural resource management and tribal sovereignty. The grant, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, aims to foster professional development and community-led conservation efforts within tribal lands. The primary beneficiaries of this program are 15 early-career natural resource professionals, aged 18-30, who are tribally-affiliated and employed by tribal natural resource and/or environmental departments in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The program's impact goals are to develop professional, leadership, and technical skills among these individuals, enabling them to effectively employ tribal and community conservation priorities. The cohort prioritizes a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices, specialized project management training, and the ability to communicate the importance of upholding tribal sovereignty, cultural grounding, and connection to ancestral lands in resource management. Participants will gain access to a $5,000 stipend for their hosting Tribe, travel support for professional development, a $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project, and a supportive network with mentorship opportunities. Expected outcomes include participants gaining a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices, receiving specialized training in project management, and becoming adept at communicating the importance of tribal sovereignty and cultural connection in resource management. Measurable results will be demonstrated through the completion of conservation-focused projects and the sustained professional growth of the cohort members within their tribal communities. The project period runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to universities in specific states and territories to enhance their research capabilities in science and engineering, aligning with the needs of the Department of Defense.

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.

The South Dakota Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) is a grant program designed to foster economic development in South Dakota by increasing the availability of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for families and individuals. This aligns with a foundational mission to support community well-being and economic stability through essential housing solutions. The HOF is administered by South Dakota Housing and the SD Housing Board of Commissioners, ensuring a strategic approach to addressing housing needs across the state. The target beneficiaries of the HOF include low to moderate-income households, with a maximum income at or below 115% of the county or state area median income (AMI), whichever is higher, as determined by HUD criteria. The impact goals are broad, aiming to expand housing options, prevent homelessness, and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This comprehensive approach seeks to create a more equitable and supportive housing landscape for vulnerable populations. The HOF prioritizes various activities to achieve its goals. These include new construction or the purchase and rehabilitation of rental or homeownership housing, housing preservation (such as home repair grants and grants for accessibility modifications), homelessness prevention activities, and support for community land trusts. For development projects, there are application limits of $350,000 for rural development and $150,000 for urban development, ensuring a focused allocation of funds. Eligible projects encompass new construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of rental housing, as well as the purchase and rehabilitation of homeownership housing, substantial or moderate rehabilitation, housing preservation, and rehabilitating homes for individuals with disabilities. The expected outcomes include an increased supply of affordable housing units, improved housing conditions, and reduced instances of homelessness. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of housing units created or preserved, the number of households served, and the number of homes made accessible. The underlying theory of change is that by investing in diverse housing solutions and supporting eligible entities, the HOF can directly address the housing crisis, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for South Dakota residents.

The Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) is offering its Summer Capacity Building Grant, a program designed to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and efficiency of eligible organizations within specific counties of South Dakota. While the description doesn't explicitly detail the BHACF's overarching mission, the focus on "capacity building needs" suggests an alignment with fostering a robust and resilient non-profit sector in the Black Hills area. This grant directly supports the foundation's implied strategic priority of empowering local organizations to better serve their communities through enhanced operational capabilities. The target beneficiaries for this grant include IRS 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, government entities, and religious organizations operating within Oglala Lakota, Fall River, Custer, Pennington, Meade, Lawrence, and Butte counties in South Dakota. The core impact goal is to strengthen these organizations, enabling them to achieve greater effectiveness, sustainability, or efficiency. This focus on internal organizational health indicates a theory of change where by investing in the operational capacity of these entities, the foundation expects a ripple effect of improved service delivery and community impact. The grant prioritizes several key areas for capacity building. Eligible projects include measurements and evaluation, partnership development, strategic planning, board engagement/development, marketing and donor engagement, technology needs and technical support, and staff development/retention. These focus areas are indicative of the foundation's understanding that a holistic approach to organizational development is necessary for long-term success. The expected outcomes are directly tied to improvements in these areas, leading to more effective and sustainable organizations. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the types of eligible projects, the emphasis on "measurements and evaluation" as a funding area suggests that grantees will be expected to demonstrate how their capacity-building efforts lead to tangible improvements in their operations and service delivery. The grant duration of one year and a maximum grant amount of $5,000 further indicate a focused approach on achievable, short-to-medium term improvements in the selected capacity-building areas. Ineligible projects, such as religious or political activity, fundraising, debt retirement, or multi-year funding, further define the boundaries and strategic intent of this capacity-building initiative.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

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

United Way of the Black Hills is offering the Early Learner Community Toolkit Grant in South Dakota to help communities create early learning stakeholder groups, saturate the community with early learning messaging, and provide funding and organizational support. The grant includes Planning Grants, Advocacy Toolkit Grants, and Implementation Grants. Planning Grants offer $500-$1,000 in grant funds for a 6-month planning period and require following the structure of the Early Learning Toolkit or National League of Cities Guide. Advocacy Toolkit Grants also offer $500-$1,000 in grant funds for a 6-month planning period and require following the same guidance. Implementation Grants consist of two rounds: Round 1 offers up to $5,000 with access to marketing materials on the Early Learner website and a 6-month check-in, while Round 2 offers an additional up to $10,000 for large-scale roll-out. Applicants must show progress of stakeholder buy-in and initial planning to qualify for these grants. For more information, visit United Way of the Black Hills.

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 Community Foundation of Will County (CFWC) is accepting applications for its FY2024 Community Partner Grant Cycle, an initiative central to the foundation's mission of enhancing the quality of life in Will County. This program aligns directly with CFWC's core purpose of supporting not-for-profit organizations that address a broad array of charitable needs within the area, including healthcare, human services, education, and cultural arts. By offering these grants annually, the CFWC demonstrates its commitment to being a responsive and proactive community partner with the local not-for-profit sector, fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for community development. The Community Partner Grants specifically target not-for-profit organizations operating within Will County, Illinois. The impact goals of this program are to address critical community needs, foster collaborative partnerships, and build the organizational capacity of the non-profit sector. While the CFWC does not provide general funding for daily operations, it strategically offers support for essential administrative costs to launch or conduct specific projects. This approach ensures that funding directly contributes to impactful initiatives rather than routine expenses, maximizing the grant's reach and effectiveness. The program prioritizes projects that reflect a strategic collaborative partnership, encouraging not-for-profits to work together to address wider community needs. It also focuses on initiatives that tackle critical issues impacting a significant segment of the community, ensuring that the grants address pervasive challenges. A key focus is also on building the organizational capacity of non-profits, enabling them to operate more effectively and efficiently in their vital work. This strategic emphasis helps strengthen the entire non-profit ecosystem in Will County. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of projects that address identified community needs, the formation of stronger collaborative networks among local non-profits, and an increase in the overall effectiveness and efficiency of participating organizations. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on addressing critical needs and building capacity suggests that successful projects would demonstrate tangible improvements in the areas they serve. The CFWC's strategic priorities are rooted in being a community partner that not only responds to existing needs but also proactively supports the growth and development of the non-profit sector. This theory of change suggests that by investing in collaborative, need-based, and capacity-building projects, the foundation can create lasting positive change and significantly enhance the quality of life for residents across Will County.

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.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is inviting proposals for its ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation program, which is specifically designed to advance bird species and habitat conservation. This program directly aligns with NFWF's mission to address the alarming loss of 3 billion birds since 1970. The foundation's strategic priority is to support projects that conserve, restore, or enhance critical habitats and to gather essential bird population data, ultimately aiming to reverse population declines. The primary beneficiaries of this program are bird populations, both migratory and non-migratory, particularly those inhabiting grassland, wetland, sage-steppe, and coastal habitats. The program's impact goals include improving habitat quality and quantity, enhancing breeding and wintering grounds, and supporting stopover periods for birds along major migratory routes. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in bird populations, improved habitat conditions, and the collection of vital data to inform future conservation efforts. The program's priorities and focuses are centered on implementing science-driven and strategic conservation. This involves addressing habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss. Geographic focal areas are critical, spanning major migratory routes from the northern slope of Alaska to the north-south axis of the central United States, including the Gulf Coast regions of Texas and Louisiana. The program emphasizes innovative methods for gathering lacking bird population data and conserving specific habitat types. Grant awards typically range from $100,000 to $275,000, with projects expected to be completed within two years. Eligible applicants include a broad range of non-profit organizations, government agencies (U.S. federal, state, local, municipal, tribal), and educational institutions. This inclusive eligibility criteria reflects NFWF's theory of change, which recognizes that collaborative efforts across various sectors are essential for achieving large-scale, sustainable conservation impacts for bird populations and their habitats.

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.

The Stewarding Native Lands program, offered by First Nations Development Institute, is designed to bolster tribal co-stewardship agreements and related capacity building. This initiative aligns with the broader movement towards co-stewardship of public lands, as mandated by Joint Secretarial Order 3403 and other authorities, including new state policies. The core mission is to restore tribal stewardship, which is seen as crucial for advancing ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and adaptation to climate change, particularly through the reintroduction of buffalo and fire to grasslands. The target beneficiaries are Tribes located near or bordering National Grasslands in the Northern Great Plains, specifically in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Eligible applicants include Federal- and State-Recognized tribal Governments and Departments. The program's impact goals center on empowering these Tribes with the necessary resources and capacity to effectively negotiate, implement, and monitor co-stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service. The program's priorities and focuses include providing technical assistance, trainings, and networking opportunities specifically tailored to co-stewardship. A key emphasis is placed on strengthening and increasing tribal co-stewardship on National Grasslands in the Great Plains region. This strategic approach positions Tribes as vital anchors in promoting greater ecological connectivity for grassland protection and health. The expected outcomes and measurable results include a demonstrable increase in the number and effectiveness of tribal co-stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service. The ultimate goal is enhanced ecological connectivity and improved health of National Grasslands through tribal leadership and participation. While the description doesn't explicitly detail the First Nations Development Institute's overall strategic priorities or theory of change beyond this program, it clearly indicates a belief that empowering Indigenous communities in land stewardship leads to significant environmental and cultural benefits. The grant period is from October 15, 2024, to November 30, 2026, with individual project budgets not exceeding $125,000.

This program provides funding to universities in eligible states to enhance their research capabilities in science and engineering that support the needs of the Department of Defense.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

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