A Helping Hand: The Magic of the Fairy Godmother’s Fund

Though its name sounds otherworldly, the Fairy Godmother's Fund is very real. And it's built on a belief that has been acted upon time and again: South Dakotans don't think twice about helping a neighbor in need.

That spirit was on full display in a recent conversation with two members of the Fairy Godmother's Fund Advisory Council, Sally Christenson of Pierre and Penny Porter of Sioux Falls. Their stories paint a vivid picture of what it means to step in for someone at exactly the right moment.

A Name That Makes People Smile

The Fairy Godmother's Fund was established in 2009, born from a women's conference in Pierre where hundreds of attendees contributed $11,000 in a single gathering, including a $5,000 gift from South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF). Since then, the endowed fund has awarded more than 375 grants totaling nearly $175,000, helping individuals across South Dakota navigate sudden illness, job loss, homelessness, domestic violence and other crises that can upend a life without warning.

The fund's name has always been part of its power. 

"Fairy godmother, just the name sounds exciting. I always picture this little fairy godmother with the magic wand and the dust, just making happiness appear. And I guess that's what attracted me," Christenson said.

Porter was introduced to the fund by fellow Advisory Council member Colette Abbott, a friend from her craft group in Yankton. The late Glenna Fouberg, a charter member of the Advisory Council, sealed her enthusiasm.

"She was jubilant about this fund and what it can do to help those in a critical situation," Porter said. "And I thought, my gosh, that would be such a fun board to be on."

The Work Behind the Magic

What the Fairy Godmother's Fund does is deceptively simple: provide immediate, short-term, critical financial support to individuals in South Dakota whose needs cannot be met through traditional funding sources. There are no lengthy applications and no paperwork for recipients. Referrals come through nonprofit organizations and community members who connect with SDCF, and then the Advisory Council goes to work.

Council members, located across the state, review referrals through a secure online portal and correspond with one another to carefully weigh each situation. Time is of the essence.

"It's the need that needs to be met quickly," Christenson said. "We have a set number of days to reach a conclusion, and then we vote."

The hardest part, shared Porter, is distinguishing between urgent and chronic need, a distinction that requires both compassion and discipline.

"Some of them that come in are heartbreaking, and you just want to help everyone," she said. "But we have to ask: is this a critical need, or more of a chronic need? A young mom who has escaped a domestic violence situation and needs money now to pay for daycare so she can keep her job. That's critical. And that's where we try to step in."

The fund operates with full confidentiality. No names, no photographs are shared publicly. The quiet nature of the work is, in many ways, the point.

Stories That Stay With You

Both women carry stories from their time on the Advisory Council that illustrate why the work matters.

Porter described presenting a gift to a woman who had recently moved out of homelessness and into her first apartment. When Porter and another council member arrived to make the presentation, the woman was asleep on a pile of clothing in an otherwise bare room.

With the grant, roughly $599 at the time, a social worker furnished the apartment. But for Porter, the most meaningful detail was something else entirely.

"The most important thing was that she had a lock on her door," she said. "Living homeless, I'm sure that was huge in her eyes. You should have seen her. She was just giddy, just so elated. And to see the spark in her eyes. It was joyful," Porter said.

Porter also recalled a woman who had escaped a difficult domestic situation and received a grant to help launch a career. Months later, Porter heard back from the social worker who had submitted the referral.

"She had the success story to tell me, how well this woman was doing with her career, how many clients she had. We don't often hear about our successes. So that was really exciting and fun," Porter said. 

Christenson remembered a young, pregnant single mother who had no furniture in her home and no way to purchase a crib.

Giving With Love

Neither woman struggles to explain the fund to prospective donors. The stories, they say, do the work.

"Of all the things I've been a part of, I think the Fairy Godmother's Fund is such a good story to tell. It really sells itself. South Dakotans don't think twice about helping their neighbor in need, and that's the way the fairy godmother operates." Christenson said.

Porter emphasized that any contribution makes a real difference. First-time donors of $100 or more receive a Fairy Godmother lapel pin, a small token that often opens up larger conversations.

"It's amazing what the clergy, the social workers, the advisors can do with $100. Who wouldn't want to give $100 to be able to give someone a hand up in a dire situation?" shared Porter. 

When asked what philanthropy means to her personally, Christenson reflected on watching her husband Bernie grow into his role as the first executive director of SDCF.

"Philanthropy is giving from your heart. Some people have the means to give land and set up funds. Others give smaller amounts, what they feel they can give at that time. And sometimes, several years down the road, the time has come when you can give more. The key is giving with love and channeling it where you feel there's a need," shared Christenson.

Porter offered a closing thought drawn from Winston Churchill: "We make a living by what we receive; however, we make a life by what we give."

"I just think that's pretty cool, giving to something such as this beautiful organization. It makes a difference and it's just awesome."

Join the Story

Every gift to the Fairy Godmother's Fund, large or small, goes directly to individuals facing unforeseen crises. 

To contribute or learn more, visit: https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving/support-an-existing-fund/fgf or become a Fairy Godmother here!

To submit a referral on behalf of an individual in need, nonprofit organizations and community members may contact SDCF to receive access to the referral portal.

And, as Sally Christenson put it, "when we can wave a little magic dust and be a fairy godmother, there's nothing better."