Supporting the Canton Community

Welcome to the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation

The application period for grants from the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation is open. Grant applications are due by midnight on Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.

Apply for a Grant

About the Foundation

Founded in 1997, the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation was created to improve the quality of life right here in our community. Gifts to the Foundation grow over time thanks to the benefit of a pooled investment that generates long-term asset growth.

Through the power of endowment, more than $100,000 has been granted to nonprofits and causes throughout the Canton area since our founding, touching the lives of people right here at home.

OUR MISSION

The Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation pursues opportunities to improve lives and strengthen our community. Organizations who serve our youth and senior citizens, as well as those dedicated to important causes such as education, the arts, cultural enrichment, historical preservation and more are all made stronger thanks to support from the Foundation.

Our History

In 1997, Caroline Deinema enlisted the support of community members, including longtime Canton resident and local banking executive Mike Broderick, to establish the Foundation following the death of her husband, Jim. Her hope was to honor his life and his legacy of care by helping to improve the quality of life for the Canton community — for good, forever.
 

Local Impact

A few of our recent grant recipients include:

  • Junior Achievement of South Dakota to support Junior Achievement programming in Canton Schools which delivers engaging, hands-on lessons in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship.
  • Prairie Threads Quilt Guild for material expenses associated with the crafting of special quilts for veterans in the community.  They are presented as an expression of gratitude for service to our country.
  • Canton Lutheran Church Restoring Radiance Project for preserving the historical integrity, enhancing structural stability, and improving the aesthetic appeal of the stained-glass windows at the church.
  • Canton Senior Citizens Center to purchase a supply of individual, sealed, metal containers that will prevent spills and keep delivered meals warm longer.
  • Forest Hill Cemetery Association for the resetting and repair of monuments at Forest Hill Cemetery that are damaged, tipping over, or have fallen on the ground.
  • Canton Tri-M Music Honor Society towards operational costs associated with the Young Band Bootcamp.  This workshop experience ignites and fosters personal growth through music for beginning band students.

Enhancing Our Community

The $1000 grant awarded to Junior Achievement of South Dakota will support Junior Achievement programming in Canton Schools which delivers engaging, hands-on lessons in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. PHOTO: Back Row (L to R) Chelsea Cronin Weelborg, Jennifer Aman, Tessa Wilber, Sydney Cowan; Front Row (L to R) Kelsey Dice, Bob Lier, Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board member presents the grant award check to Janice Sutera, Senior Manager--Investor Relations, Junior Achievement of South Dakota.
The $1500 grant awarded to the Prairie Threads Quilt Guild will be utilized for material expenses associated with the crafting of special quilts for veterans in the community. They are presented as an expression of gratitude for service to our country. PHOTO: (L to R) Linda Ekle, Joan Lund, Sterling Heath, Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board Member presenting check, Deb Harris, and Rhonda Festa.
The $1000 grant awarded to the Restoring Radiance Fund at Canton Lutheran Church will be utilized for preserving the historical integrity, enhancing structural stability, and improving the aesthetic appeal of the stained-glass windows at the church. PHOTO: Front Row Chuck Smith (L), Chairman of the Restoring Radiance Committee at Canton Lutheran Church is shown accepting the grant award check from Edith Nelson (C), Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board Member, along with committee members Melinda Larson (R), and back row (L to R) Joshua Smith, Dan Rath, and Jill Peltier.
PHOTO: Sterling Heath, second from left, Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board member presents a check for $3500 to members of the Forest Hill Cemetery Association. L to R: Paul Iverson, Sterling, Bill Peterson, John Anderson, Bob Lier, and Cheryl Johnson. The awarded grant funds will be used for the resetting and repair of monuments at Forest Hill Cemetery that are damaged, tipping over, or have fallen on the ground.
PHOTO: Front Row (L to R) Noah Burmeister, Gwen Genzlinger, Harper Ostrom, CharleeAnn Winter, Eliana Myburgh, Addy Bakker; Second Row Sophia Evanglista, Josie Wog, Jackson DeJong, Riley Dixon, Naomi Brower, Kara Kose, Eva Stansbury, Wes Fong, Harper Meendering; Third Row Lilliana Vogel, Hannah Fong, Lilyanna Smith, Brooke DeBruin, Kiley Dose, Carson Patch, Josie Nelson, Haven Isais, Taylor Kroger, Maliah Laleman, Brynlee Sieler, Edith Nelson, Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board Member, presenting the check to Andrea Harstad, Advisor & 5th/6th Grade Band Instructor; Fourth Row Jaylee Strand, Joanna Drannen, London Falk, Layla Sowell, Larissa Fossum, Amelia Gubbels, Marin Rhode, Allegra Machmuller, Jeremy Eich, Erin Legg, Stevie Falk, Jackson Baldwin The $700 grant award for the Canton Tri-M Music Honor Society from the Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation will be used towards operational costs associated with the Young Band Bootcamp. This workshop experience ignites and fosters personal growth through music for beginning band students.
The $1120 check from the Jim & Caroline Deinem Canton Community Foundation will allow the Canton Senior Citizens Center to purchase a supply of individual, sealed, metal containers that will prevent spills and keep delivered meals warm longer. PHOTO: Cheryl Johnson (R), Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board Member, presents the check to Canton Senior Citizens Center committee members Austin Block (C) and John Anderson (L).
PHOTO: Trina Kuper (L), Canton Community Education Coordinator accepts a $1000 check from Leah Peterson, Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation Advisory Board member. The grant award will be utilized for expenses associated with offering community education that will provide meaningful learning opportunities and community connection for residents of all ages.

Our Board

We're grateful to the following community members who volunteer their time to serve on our board: 
 

  • David Amundson (Chair)
  • Sterling Heath (Vice Chair)
  • Eric Hohman (Secretary)
  • Jonathan Toso (Treasurer)
  • John Devick
  • Steve Deinema
  • Molly Heath
  • Cheryl Johnson
  • Karla Lems
  • Bob Lier
  • Edith Nelson
  • Sam Nelson
  • Leah Peterson
  • Brenda Van Zee
  • Tracey Zylstra

Show Your Support

Join the movement to help enhance and ensure the vitality of the community we all call home.

Make your gift to the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation today.

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