Fairy Godmother's Fund
To provide immediate, short-term, critical financial support to women in South Dakota.
Fund Details
Small grants that make a big difference
It isn’t always easy to make ends meet. Sudden illnesses, loss of employment, abuse, and other issues can spring up and devastate strong women in our communities. We help them get back on their feet.
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund was created to improve the health and well-being of South Dakota women with limited resources. The fund helps them address immediate, short-term, critical needs that can't be met by traditional funding options. There are no grant applications, no long forms or dense financial paperwork to fill out. Our advisory council of women throughout the state works to ensure the funds are directly paid to benefit women’s needs throughout the year.
A fairy godmother is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Through your contribution to The Fairy Godmother’s Fund, you can help the women of South Dakota. With your involvement, this can be a never-ending story of people helping people.
Every first-time contributor of $100 or more will receive a fairy godmother lapel pin. For a donation of $250 or more, you’ll also receive a fairy godmother tote. We invite you to wear these to spark interest among other women.
For more information on The Fairy Godmother’s Fund, read our brochure or contact us.
Advisory Council
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund’s Advisory Council consists of women from across the state. The women volunteer their time to ensure funds are paid to the most pressing needs.
- Beth Benning of Spearfish
- Sally Christenson of Pierre
- Linda Erickson of Sioux Falls
- Marilyn Grossenburg of Winner
- Barbara Harms of Brookings
- Jean Koehler of Mitchell
- Amy Mickelson of Sioux Falls
- Penny Porter of Sioux Falls
- Peg Seljeskog of Rapid City
- Ann Sigelman of Watertown
“The Fairy Godmother’s Fund continues to gain momentum. Donations go to meet pressing needs in the lives of women who are struggling with medical challenges, striving for a brighter future or are being mistreated. South Dakotans don’t think twice about helping their neighbors in need, so consequently, I find it fairly easy to ask friends and neighbors to support those who need it most.”
the late Glenna Fouberg, Fairy Godmother’s Fund Advisory Council Charter Member
Grants from the Fairy Godmother's Fund benefit women in a variety of ways including:
- A woman struggling with the after-effects of a rear-end collision was able to purchase a device that cleans her BiPAP machine, which she needs to help her sleep.
- The teenage daughter of one recipient was involved in a debilitating car accident resulting in many unexpected expenses. Your generous contribution helped alleviate some of that.
- Dollars resulted in a woman being able to put a safe distance between her family and their abuser.
- A woman was able to finish Grad School after receiving support for bills accumulating during her final semester. She was working full-time and finishing an internship, which was a requirement for the degree.
- Fairy dust was sprinkled on a recipient that was suffering from numerous medical conditions. The result was that she could fill all her necessary medications without having to "pick and choose".
How to Make a Referral to the Fairy Godmother's Fund
All requests for assistance must come from nonprofit organizations or community members. The Fairy Godmother’s Fund does not accept self-referrals. Contact the SDCF at (800) 888-1842 to obtain a referral form.
Lending a Helping Hand
Your generous contributions make a huge difference in the lives of women all across South Dakota. Your assistance to these women in their time of need is greatly appreciated. So far, donors have contributed nearly $314,000 to the fund. Join your friends and neighbors in supporting the Fairy Godmother’s Fund and help make an impact in your community!
Donors: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Thomas & Diane Agnitsch
Joel & Jane Albrecht
Roberta Ambur
Anonymous
Shari Budahl Avery
Deanell Backlund
Jim & Beth Benning
Tim & Bonnie Bjork
Jim & Donna Boekelheide
Bruce & LeeAnn Brandner
James & Linda Breckenridge
Josh & Marissa Brinkman
Gordon & Jane Brown
Susan Burgard
Doug & Linda Buri
Doug & Linda Buri Charitable Foundation
William, Jr. & Kendra Calhoun
Richard & Mary Carter
Bernie & Sally Christenson Family Fund
Sally Christenson
Catherine Clark
Betty Clay
Deb Fischer Clemens
James & Elizabeth Cox
Janet B. Cronin
Clay & Karen Cudmore
Barb Cutler
Jeanette Daines
Daugaard for South Dakota
Dennis & Linda Daugaard
Jan DeBerg
Kathleen Dredla
Kris & Steve Egger Charitable Fund
Douglas & Anita Eilers
Jeff & Linda Erickson
Michael Evans Revocable Trust
Mary Fargen
David Flicek & June Nusz
Jim & Sharon Forney
Robert & Erin Fouberg
Rodney & Glenna Fouberg
Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Todd & Linda Fulmer
Mary Gederos
Kenneth & Andrea Giedt
Richard & Nancy Gowen
Leah Graham
Linda Mickelson Graham
Barry & Marilyn Grossenburg
Emily Guhin
Wayne Gustafson
William & Patricia Haigh
Barbara Reed Harms
Jim & Nini Hart
Chris & Angela Hase
Theresa Henehan
Marnie Herrmann
Jon & Carla Hoffman
Joan Hogan
Dody Hopkins
Marilyn Hoyt
Dr. Tad & Kathy Jacobs
Glenn & Sharon Jakober
Kay James
Paula Jensen
Ardelle Johnson
Bradley & Carol Johnson
Dusty & Jacquelyn Johnson
Kathryn Johnson
Janet Kahler
Darrel & Deanna Kaiser
Steve & Marty Kalkman Charitable Fund
T. & Karen Kellen
The Kind Foundation
Jacki Koehler
Jean A. Koehler
Mary Lamont
Chad & Michelle Lang
Donley & Carolyn Lang
Mary Ellen Lantis
Delores Lauinger
Edith Lien
Jim & Vicki Lust
Mark & Beth Massa
Robert & Donna Masters
Robert & Pamela McLaughlin
Victoria Mettler
Carmen Meyer
Amy Mickelson
Rees & Bonnie Mielke
Brad & Kathy Moore
Mike & Kathi Mueller
Mark & Lynn Murphy
Diane Ness
Gerald & Galynn Nichols
Dan & Ginger Niemann
Nancy Noess
NorthWestern Energy
Deborah Olson
Tom & Lori Oster
Gary & Connie Palmer
Ann Paradise
Patti Petersen
John & Penny Porter
Presentation Sisters
Georgia Ramos
Lavern & Jean Rasmussen
Geraldine Ray
Regency Development
Eldon & Donna Reich
Sheila Richards
John & Tona Rozum
Tona Rozum
George & Diane Sandhoff
Randall & Nancy Schaap
Daniel & Rebecca Schenk
Melody Schopp
Edward & Peg Seljeskog
Joe & Cindy Senger
Scott & Debra Shephard
Ann Sigelman
Terry & Anita Small
Jerry & Deb Soholt
Dean & Rita Sorenson Charitable Fund
South Dakota Community Foundation
James & Francine Spies
Steve & Julie Statz Charitable Account
John & Nancy Sternquist
Yvonne Streight
Sharon Stroschein
Kathleen Stuck
Bob & Lori Sutton
Linda Theobald
Leon & Virginia Tobin
Peggy Urquhart
Dr. Victoria Walker
Lorene Webb
Helen Wegner
Roger & Jody Werth
Curt A. & Susan R. Wischmeier
Sandra Zinter
A Strong Start
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund began in 2009 with $11,000 in donations from hundreds at a women’s conference in Pierre, including $5,000 from the South Dakota Community Foundation.
With that strong foundation, the fund has continued to grow. During our twelve years of grantmaking, the endowment fund at the South Dakota Community Foundation holds over $390,000 and has awarded 150 grants totaling nearly $68,000.
“The needs that come before the advisory council are tangible and urgent. The Fairy Godmother’s Fund has the power and agility to meet needs that many traditional nonprofits and social service organizations are unable to fulfill. When darkness and challenges loom large, the Fairy Godmother’s Fund shines a ray of hope into the lives of South Dakota women through financial assistance.”
Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer