Great Plains Education Foundation Inc
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Aberdeen, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $32.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $926K.
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Great Plains Education Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $184K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,105,000
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $184,167
- +53.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $90,000
- Total assets
- $32,032,551
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Great Plains Education Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was South Dakota Board of Regents ($700K). Together the top 6 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 30 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Great Plains Education Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 192% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 75% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $378K (2022) to $12.1M (2020). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Board of Regents Pierre, SD | Educational Impact Campaign and SDSBVI | $700,000 |
| South Dakota Historical Society Foundation Pierre, SD | General Operations | $200,000 |
| Aberdeen School District Aberdeen, SD | Tutoring Program | $115,000 |
| Aberdeen Catholic School System Aberdeen, SD | Educational Programming | $65,000 |
| Aberdeen Christian School Aberdeen, SD | Tuition Assistance Program | $20,000 |
| SPURS Therapeutic Riding Aberdeen, SD | Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,032,551 | $1,060,990 | $1,306,742 | $1,105,000 | 6 | $1,142,773 | $926,115 | $1,532,630 |
| 2024 | $30,893,000 | $1,032,300 | $476,009 | $1,080,000 | 9 | $1,118,955 | $927,930 | $1,463,710 |
| 2023 | $35,946,452 | $4,349,905 | $3,861,820 | $3,500,000 | 7 | — | $849,905 | — |
| 2022 | $32,415,886 | $5,301,626 | $934,931 | $378,225 | 5 | — | $667,413 | — |
| 2021 | $30,187,827 | $5,206,082 | $937,212 | $717,798 | 3 | — | $3,410,373 | — |
| 2020 | $39,417,100 | $3,740,482 | $12,409,848 | $12,117,728 | 5 | — | $2,878,530 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Great Plains Education Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc is led by Harvey C Jewett IV, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harvey C Jewett IV
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eldon Swingler
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Evans
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Thompson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tim Kessler (2020–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Great Plains Education Foundation Inc
How much does Great Plains Education Foundation Inc give each year?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 9 grants.
What is Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $90,000, and its average grant was $184,167, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Great Plains Education Foundation Inc give grants?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Aberdeen, SD (4 grants) and Pierre, SD (2 grants).
Does Great Plains Education Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include South Dakota Board of Regents ($700,000), South Dakota Historical Society Foundation ($200,000) and Aberdeen School District ($115,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Great Plains Education Foundation Inc?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc reported $32.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Great Plains Education Foundation Inc?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Aberdeen, SD. It holds $32.0M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's EIN?
Great Plains Education Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0350016. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Great Plains Education Foundation Inc funds
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