Celebrating a legacy of philanthropy

How South Dakota Community Foundation is building a stronger South Dakota

The South Dakota Community Foundation has been bringing philanthropy to life for 35 years—connecting generous donors and advisors with nonprofits and communities where they can make a difference.

We offer straightforward giving options and professional investment expertise for our donors and community and nonprofit partners.

A history of generosity. A future of transformation.

• 1987 - SDCF is established through matching grants from 3M and the McKnight Foundation with Bernie Christenson as founding executive director.

  • Learn about our history

• 1988 - $10 million total assets

• 1989 - South Dakota Fund grants are awarded for the first time.

  • Learn about the South Dakota Fund

• 1992 - $13 million total assets; $1.5 million total grants distributed

• 1997 - SDCF receives a $500,000 grant from the Northwest Area Foundation to expand our Community Savings Account Program.

  • Learn more about CSAs

• 1997 - 10th anniversary; $22 million total assets; $5 million total grants distributed

• 2002 - $30 million total assets; $15 million total grants distributed

• 2003 - Bob Sutton is named executive director of SDCF.

  • Read about Bob Sutton

• 2007 - 20th anniversary; $80 million total assets; $30 million total grants distributed

• 2011 - SDCF receives our then-largest gift, a $22 million legacy gift from Paul and Muffy Christen including a $2.5 million challenge in unrestricted funds.

  • Learn about our legacy society

• 2012 - $150 million total assets; $61 million total grants distributed

• 2012 - all 66 counties in SD received a SD Fund grant

• 2013 - Stephanie Judson becomes president & CEO of SDCF.

  • Meet the SDCF team

• 2013 - SDCF partners with Bush Foundation in distributing Community Innovation Grants.

  • Learn more about community-based grants

• 2014 - Sioux Falls regional office established.

• 2015 - Rapid City regional office established.

• 2015 - SDCF launches our Nonprofit Savings Account program to build endowed funds for South Dakota nonprofits.

  • Learn more about nonprofit savings accounts

• 2015 - SDCF makes a historic $2 million program-related investment in the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

  • Read our story about the Sanford Underground Research Facility

• 2017 - 30th anniversary; $330 million total assets; $110 million total grants distributed

• 2020 - Aberdeen regional office established.

• 2020 - SDCF provides immediate response grants and challenge grants to assist communities and nonprofits responding to the COVID-19 pandemic—a record-breaking year for both contributions and grants.

• 2021 - Freedom Scholarship: SDCF launches the state’s largest public-private needs-based scholarship in partnership with First PREMIER Bank, PREMIER Bankcard, the State of South Dakota, and early partners including Avera Health and Sanford Health.

  • Read about the Freedom Scholarship

• 2021 - SDCF’s CSA program grows to 80 community partnerships since inception, creating a sustainable funding source for local nonprofits across the state.

  • Learn more about our local impact

• 2021 - Cumulative statewide grants from the South Dakota Fund exceed $16 million.

  • Learn more about South Dakota Fund grants

• 2022 - SDCF selected as Bush Foundation intermediary partner for Community Based Grant Program.

  • Read our story about partnering with the Bush Foundation

• 2022 - 35th anniversary; $800 million total assets; $224 million total grants distributed

As SDCF continues to grow, so does our impact on South Dakota. Together with the generosity of our donors, we’re helping build a better future for South Dakota for generations to come.

Ready to support a stronger South Dakota?

Learn more about the South Dakota Community Foundation

Call us at 800.888.1842

Photography courtesy of South Dakota Tourism