OVERVIEW: The Dakota Charitable Foundation supports community development and human services causes in Rapid City, South Dakota.
IP TAKE: While this is one of the largest grantmakers in South Dakota, it is not a particularly accessible one for local grantseekers. It does not maintain a website, restricting transparency and clarity. It also prefers to take a proactive funding approach and does not accept unsolicited LOIs or applications from nonprofits. Given it’s multi-million dollar annual giving, Dakota Charitable remains an important philanthropic engine of the state and should be on the radar of grantseekers as a reach, but potentially fruitful source of funding. Grantseekers should note that while this funder makes significant human services and community-centered grants in South Dakota, it’s education and environmental funding tends to head out-of-state.
PROFILE: Established in 1992, the Dakota Charitable Foundation (DCF) is a private grantmaking foundation based in Rapid City, South Dakota. This is the foundation of the late Margaret Hillenbrand Lally, who was active in the Rapid City community after moving here from Indiana and later Pittsburgh to live with her brother. Lally, who passed away in 2011, was dedicated to making downtown Rapid City a better place to live for all residents. Today, the foundation funds local efforts for community and economic development, human services and education.
The Dakota Charitable Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. But according to past tax records, DCF is one of the top grantmakers in the state of South Dakota. Members of the Hillenbrand family serve as directors of the foundation to award general operating support and program support to nonprofits in the area. While education and human services are the foundation’s primary interests, DCF has also awarded grants for Catholic religious causes, mental health, and community improvement.
Grants for Community Development and Human Services
Tax records indicate the Dakota Charitable Foundation’s consistent giving to community and human services-oriented nonprofits.
- The Foundation supports local nonprofits, as well as local branches of national organizations, in prioritizing the wellbeing of underserved children and families, homeless populations, victims of domestic violence, veterans and those in need of treatment for substance abuse.
- Recent grantees include OneHeart, Catholic Social Services and the Sioux YMCA.
On the community development front, the Foundation has given significant support in recent years to the community improvement initiatives of Main Street Square of Rapid City, SD, as well as the Black Hills Community Foundation.
Grants for the Environment
The Dakota Charitable Foundation appears to support environmental conservation, environmental education, climate change measures and biodiversity in South Dakota. Some of its larger environmental grants head to out-of-state nonprofits. Recent grantees include Idea Wild, Savory Institute Org and the Institute of Range & the American Mustang.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $2,000 and $1 million, depending on scale of recipient. Most grants hover around $10,000. In a recent year, this funder awarded $2.4 million in total grants.
- Grantmaking largely focuses on Rapid City, South Dakota. Other geographic interests are Indiana, Colorado, and California.
- This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Instead, DCF only awards grants to pre-selected charitable organizations.
- Direct general questions to the staff at (605) 341-3620.
PEOPLE:
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