Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Rapid City, SD EIN: 46-0422869

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in health, community improvement, cultural activities, and other areas.

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in South Dakota. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,194,765
-49.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
19
-17.4% vs 2023
Average grant
$62,882
-39.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$20,297,535
-6.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (8 of 19, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
South Dakota (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 3140, Rapid City, SD 57709
Phone: (605) 342-5630

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Monument Health Foundation: $250KMonument Health Foundation$250KNational Buffalo Foundation: $250KNational Buffalo Foundation$250KOneheart: $250KOneheart$250KMain Street Square: $150KMain Street Square$150KRemembering the Children Memorial: $100KRemembering the ChildrenMemorial$100KCatholic Relief Services: $60KCatholic Relief Services$60KElevate Foundation: $50KElevate Foundation$50KBlack Hills Pow Wow Assoc: $20KBlack Hills Pow Wow Assoc$20KLakota Nation Invitational: $20KLakota Nation Invitational$20KWarren Wilson College: $15KWarren Wilson College$15K

The largest 2024 recipient was Monument Health Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

125 grants across all recorded years

76<$50K16$50–100K14$100–250K10$250–500K6$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 125 (61%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota and 21% to recipients in Nevada. Maryland received 5%, while North Carolina and Washington each received 1%.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

Rapid CityFort CollinsBoulderCulverRenoMill ValleyPine RidgeAlbuquerqueDupreeHot SpringsKyleMissionSan AnselmoSan FranciscoSioux FallsSturgisBaltimoreBolinasBox ElderBuffalo

Is Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 8 of 19 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $87K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M25 grants2020 32 grants2021 26 grants2022 23 grants2023 19 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2024) to $7.1M (2020). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $1.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Monument Health Foundation Rapid City, SDCharitable$250,000
National Buffalo Foundation Reno, NVCharitable$250,000
Oneheart Rapid City, SDCharitable$249,765
Main Street Square Rapid City, SDCommunity Improvement$150,000
Remembering the Children Memorial Rapid City, SDCharitable$100,000
Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MDCounseling for Needy$60,000
Elevate Foundation Rapid City, SDCommunity Improvement$50,000
Black Hills Pow Wow Assoc Rapid City, SDNative American$20,000
Lakota Nation Invitational Rapid City, SDCultural$20,000
Warren Wilson College Swannanoa, NCCharitable$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$20,297,535$1,235,974$2,599,961$1,194,76519$1,249,263—$1,060,880
2023$21,663,399$1,865,145$3,725,017$2,371,14923$2,435,427—$1,786,467
2022$23,730,699$1,459,338$3,782,523$2,426,00026$2,488,958$153,359$1,284,572
2021$26,047,186$2,168,472$5,134,496$3,810,62632$3,874,119$920,895$1,454,378
2020$29,017,954$1,568,830$8,801,993$7,129,50125——$1,459,051

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants include purposes described as charitable, community improvement, counseling for those in need, Native American, and cultural.

Among its grantees, the National Buffalo Foundation says its mission is to fund bison research and education and strengthen partnerships for the future of the bison. ONEHEART describes its mission as empowering people to overcome crisis and achieve self-sustainability. Main Street Square says it operates Rapid City’s town square as a gathering place and works to strengthen the community’s downtown. Warren Wilson College describes an educational approach integrating academics, work, and community engagement.

Grantmaking

The foundation reported 19 grants totaling $1,194,765 in 2024. Grants ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. Recent reported grantmaking totals were $2,371,149 across 23 grants in 2023 and $2,426,000 across 26 grants in 2022.

Among the largest 2024 grants were $250,000 each to Monument Health Foundation and the National Buffalo Foundation, $249,765 to ONEHEART, $150,000 to Main Street Square, and $100,000 to Remembering the Children Memorial. Other grants included $60,000 to Catholic Relief Services, $50,000 to Elevate Foundation, and $20,000 each to Black Hills Pow Wow Association and Lakota Nation Invitational.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Margaret Hillenbrand, Heidi Hillenbrand, Gretchen Hillenbrand, Julian DeStefano, Magnolia Arlt, and Tigerlily Arlt as directors.

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 6 officers; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Gretchen Hillenbrand

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $24K (2020) → $22K (2024)

  • Heidi Hillenbrand

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $24K (2020) → $22K (2024)

  • Margaret Hillenbrand

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $24K (2020) → $10K (2024)

  • Julian Destefano

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Magnolia Arlt

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tigerlily Arlt

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Heidi Hillenbrand — Director: $22KHeidi HillenbrandDirector$22KGretchen Hillenbrand — Director: $22KGretchen HillenbrandDirector$22KMargaret Hillenbrand — Director: $10KMargaret HillenbrandDirector$10K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $22K, to Heidi Hillenbrand (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc

How much does Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.4M across 23 grants.

What is Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $62,882, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $30K on average.

Where does Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Dakota: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nevada (21%) and Maryland (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rapid City, SD (11 grants).

Does Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (13 grants).

Who are Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Monument Health Foundation ($250,000), National Buffalo Foundation ($250,000) and Oneheart ($249,765), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc reported $20.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants include purposes described as charitable, community improvement, counseling for those in need, Native American, and cultural. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?

Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0422869. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 2, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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The foundation funds community needs across areas including youth and families, social services, education, basic needs, arts, animal welfare, and nonprofit capacity building in seven Black Hills counties of South Dakota. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $15,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dakota-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_e8627c266e0c4fc186b64565cfbee8ec

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460422869_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/dakota-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_e8627c266e0c4fc186b64565cfbee8ec},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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