Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

About Grants

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and programs by making grants across a wide spectrum of charitable needs and interests. More than 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 Grant Application

Grantmaking Categories

Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation provides 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 healthcare, prevention of substance abuse, support of mental health needs, medical research.

Human Services
Assistance to families, youth, the elderly, disabled, special groups, social service providers, 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

The grants committee uses proceeds from unrestricted funds 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 understanding 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 projects undertaken 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 the organization's 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
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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