About Grants

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and programs by making grants across a wide spectrum of charitable needs and interests. Nearly 200 worthy organizations and programs receive support from nearly $5 million in grants SFACF makes annually.

For more information on grantmaking visit the following links:

Grant Application Due Dates
Grantmaking Categories
Grantmaking Guidelines
Applying For Grants
Grant Application Form
Recent Grants
Grantmaking FAQ

Excellence in Education Grants

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is pleased to again offer grants to teachers who have innovative ideas for classroom projects through the Excellence in Education initiative!

The Excellence in Education initiative, now in its 19th year, has funded hundreds of programs and activities created by teachers throughout the Sioux Falls area wanting to provide an enriching educational experience to their students.

Download an application here. Submissions must be received or postmarked by September 30, 2010. 

Grantmaking Categories

The Grants Committee uses proceeds from Unrestricted Community Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and Donor-Advised Funds to provide grants in the Sioux Falls area to:

Arts and Humanities
Theatre, music, arts, dance, cultural development, historic preservation, library programs, museums.

Community Affairs and Development
Citizen participation, public use of parks and recreation, administration of justice, economic development, employment, training.

Education
Lifelong learning activities in formal educational settings, support of educational facilities and systems, scholarships.

Environment
Protection of natural areas, conservation of energy, prevention and elimination of pollution or hazardous waste, wildlife protection, water quality.

Health
Improvement of health care, prevention of substance abuse, support of mental health needs, medical research.

Human Services
Assistance to families, youth, the elderly, disabled, special groups, social service, and those who stand in need.

Religion
Support for churches, religious institutions, and religion programs.

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Grantmaking Guidelines for Unrestricted Community Funds

Community Fund grants are intended to address emerging or priority issues of the Sioux Falls area.

Eligible Requests

SFACF considers grant requests for:
  • Programs that require start-up funds to address important community needs or opportunities
  • Expansion of programs that meet important community needs or opportunities
  • Assistance to organizations weathering unforeseen or unusual financial crises
  • Programs that increase an organization's capacity to advance its mission more efficiently or effectively
  • Programs or studies that inform the community's understandind of needs or opportunities

Ineligible Requests

SFACF does not consider grant requests for:

  • Individuals
  • National fundraising efforts
  • Political advocacy
  • Sectarian religious programs
  • Endowments
  • Programs or projects not serving residents of Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook, or Turner counties

Requests That Are Discouraged

  • Large capital improvements or construction drives
  • Ongoing operational support (one to three years of operational support may occasionally be provided for smaller nonprofits beginning or expanding their operations or weathering a financial crisis)
  • Reducing or eliminating organizational deficits
  • Reimbursement of expenses for programs or projectsundertaken prior to submission of a grant application
  • Computer hardware and software, unless it is part of a request for a new or enhanced program or when equipment is the focus of the program
  • Public art unless the request is made by a community group that has secured approval for its acceptance and placement
  • Programs or projects that require a multi-year commitment of grant support
Evaluation CriteriaGrant requests are evaluated based on the following criteria:
  • The comparative benefit to the community, based on SFACF's understanding of community needs and opportunities
  • A reasonable expectation that the organization has the capacity to achieve the proposal's stated objectives; when applicable, this expectation is informed by assessment of the organization's prior SFACF grant performance
  • The program or project benefits appropriate numbers of people compared to the amount of support requested
  • The proposal demonstrates a well-planned approach to achieving stated objectives
  • When applicable, a reasonable expectation that the program can be sustained over time
  • The organization has a demonstrated history of working collaboratively to address community needs and opportunities

In addition, SFACF's Grants Committee uses Sioux Falls Tomorow II as a guide to grantmaking. SFT II is a comprehensive, community-based planning project that resulted in a ten-year vision that will enhance the quality of life in our area. Because the SFT II plan is a reliable indicator of community needs, SFACF’s Grants Committee uses the goals outlined for each key performance area as criteria for grantmaking decisions. For a copy of SFT II, contact program officer Patrick Gale at 336-7055, extension 20.

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Applying for Grants

Grants from unrestricted Community Funds are made only to programs serving SFACF's service area. Grant applications are accepted anytime and will be reviewed by the Grants Committee at their next scheduled meeting, usually within six to eight weeks of receiving the application. For specific grant deadlines, go to Publications.

Grant Requests Under $1,000
Grant proposals under $1,000 do not require a standard application and can generally be reviewed and processed within two weeks. In lieu of the standard application form, please submit:

  • a typed summary of the program in two pages or fewer
  • signatures of your executive director and board chair
  • board of directors roster
  • IRS tax determination letter
  • project budget

Grant Requests Over $1,000
Grant proposals for more than $1,000 are submitted on a standard, SFACF application form, which includes:

  • a summary outline of the project
  • financial information
  • details about the project
  • an evaluation form
  • supplemental information

Please do not enclose these materials in a folder or binder.

To fill out an application, download here, or for further information on SFACF's grants program please contact us or read our Grantmaking FAQ.

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2009 Winning Art. An abstract painting.

"Collective Momentum"
by Liz Heeren
2009 Featured Artist

Find out more about all of our featured artists…

© 2009 Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

CF Standards logo. Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations