More than $134,000 is on its way to non-profit organizations across South Dakota. The grant funding targets innovation in communities, and 15 different groups are receiving funding this round. This is the second of three waves of grant funding in 2015.
Earlier this year, the South Dakota Community Foundation and the Bush Foundation based in St. Paul Minnesota awarded about $130,000 to area non-profits. Now just as much is headed toward local groups through the second round of grants.
Stephanie Judson is president of the South Dakota Community Foundation. She says the state has no shortage of programs that seek funding.
“We had a pool of 38 organizations apply for funds in this round requesting over $300,000 in funding. We use a criteria that we have established and how these organizations are going about solving problems within the communities that they do work,” Judson says. “These organizations rose to the top out of that group, and we’re really excited about the work that they’re doing across South Dakota.”
Some of the 15 organizations awarded funding offer services statewide. Others focus on the eastern half or the western side of South Dakota.
The grants range from $2,000 to $10,000. They target education, underserved populations, homeownership, economic development, diversity, child safety, art, and more.
Judson says grant money can be difficult to receive, so this money is critical to non-profits.
“We were chosen as the South Dakota intermediary partner for the Bush Foundation for this program, and the work that we’re trying to establish is identifying some really great work that’s being done to solve problems in our state and potentially move those through to larger grant opportunities that the Bush Foundation might offer,” Judson says.
The South Dakota Community Foundation is opening up the final round of grant applications in September. Judson says the group plans to distribute about $400,000 by the end of this year.
This is the second year of the partnership between the Bush Foundation and the South Dakota Community Foundation. Last year, non-profits in the state received $225,000 in grants.
Read about the programs receiving grants at this link.