South Dakota Humanities Council Awarded a $50,000 South Dakota Fund Grant
January 2, 2026 // Grants, South Dakota Fund Grants
South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) recently awarded a $50,000 South Dakota Fund grant to South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC) due to the loss of critical federal funding support. Funding will support general operating support for the Festival of Books, the Young Readers Program and more.
“This tremendous gift from South Dakota Community Foundation helped save the humanities in South Dakota,” said Christina Oey, SDCH Executive Director. “Because of this generous support, the South Dakota Humanities Council will be able to continue providing free books to more than 15,000 third graders, celebrate literature at our annual Festival of Books, and ensure that stories, culture, and lifelong learning remain accessible to communities across our state.”
Founded in 1972, SDHC is the only cultural organization in South Dakota. SDHC’s sole mission is to deliver humanities programs across the state. Programs offered by SDHC ensure that all South Dakotans from rural towns to tribal communities have access to stories, ideas, and opportunities that strengthen understanding and connections. The Festival of Books is a free annual event which brings together over 5,000 people to connect with their favorite authors and writers. The Youth Readers Program provides free books to every third grader across state. Through these programs and much more, SDHC celebrates literature, promotes civil conversation, and tells stories that define our state.
“South Dakota Humanities Council leads statewide advocacy for humanities by partnering with others to foster literary and civic engagement,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “We are proud to provide support for them to continue their work during these uncertain times.”
To learn more about funding opportunities offered by SDCF, please visit our website at SDCommunityFoundation.org.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,300 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $40 million in grants in 2024 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.