Sam F Weller Family Foundation
The Sam F Weller Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mitchell, South Dakota. Its 2023 filing reports grants to South Dakota recipients. Its 2022 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Sam F Weller Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam F Weller Family Foundation gave $5.6M across 19 grants in 2023 (avg $295K), mostly in South Dakota. 68% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $5,600,861
- +3525.2% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 19
- +46.2% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $294,782
- +2380.4% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (13 of 19, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sam F Weller Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2022 filing names David G Olson as the contact and provides a grant application summary form. Because that filing is marked as the final return, these application details should not be treated as current.
- Contact
Application contact: David G Olson
Mailing address: PO Box 249, Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone: (605) 996-7717
Email: dave.olson@elocpa.com
Website: https://www.sfwff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam F Weller Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was South Dakota Community Foundation ($5.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 72 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2023 grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota. The listed grants include organizations and projects in Mitchell and other South Dakota communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sam F Weller Family Foundation open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 13 of 19 grantees (68%) 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 $411K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 26% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2018–2023). 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
From 2018 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2018) to $5.6M (2023). In 2023 it made 19 grants totaling $5.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Community Foundation Pierre, SD | Transfer Funds | $5,035,361 |
| Abbott House Mitchell, SD | Program Support | $125,000 |
| Dakota Discovery Museum Mitchell, SD | Construct Theater | $100,000 |
| St Mary's Episcopal Church Mitchell, SD | Windows and Insulation | $100,000 |
| Mitchell Area Housing Inc Mitchell, SD | Housing Grants | $50,000 |
| Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota Mitchell, SD | Building Project | $50,000 |
| Mitchell Baseball Association Mitchell, SD | Grandstand Project | $50,000 |
| Mitchell Weekend Snackpack Mitchell, SD | Vehicle | $17,500 |
| Mitchell Music Boosters Mitchell, SD | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Mitchell Public Library Mitchell, SD | Shelving | $15,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $2,672,901 | $5,617,752 | $5,600,861 | 19 | $5,614,797 | $6,893 | $39,804 |
| 2022 | $3,255,433 | $332,885 | $168,784 | $154,500 | 13 | $159,474 | $173,575 | $177,494 |
| 2021 | $3,762,644 | $58,232 | $138,433 | $130,878 | 15 | — | $30,431 | $132,783 |
| 2019 | $2,440,485 | $60,376 | $136,257 | $123,925 | 14 | — | $51,660 | $118,932 |
| 2018 | $2,440,050 | $557,554 | $83,374 | $73,275 | 11 | — | $17,566 | $110,158 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam F Weller Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2023 grants supported organizations and projects including youth services, housing, museums, churches, community facilities, and local programs. These are descriptions of grantees and funded projects, not a stated foundation mission.
Abbott House describes its work as providing psychiatric residential treatment for female youth ages 7–17 and foster care for boys and girls. Mitchell Area Housing says it helps families secure quality housing and encourages home ownership in the Mitchell area. Mitchell Baseball Association says it promotes baseball activities for local youth ages 13–18, while Mitchell Music Boosters says it supports students, teachers, and parents in the Mitchell music program. Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village describes its work as preserving and developing an archaeological site and providing public education; Mitchell Area Development Corporation says it promotes economic development in the Mitchell area.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $5,600,861. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,035,361, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest award was $5,035,361 to South Dakota Community Foundation for “TRANSFER FUNDS.” Other notable grants included $125,000 to Abbott House for program support; $100,000 each to Dakota Discovery Museum for a theater and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for windows and insulation; and $50,000 each to Mitchell Area Housing, Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota, and Mitchell Baseball Association.
The 2022 filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It provides a grant application summary requesting information about the organization, its objectives and target population, the type of funding requested, and the proposed expenditure. The filing lists no deadlines or award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists David G Olson, Tona Rozum, Ken Tracy, David Brooks, and Trudy Morgan as directors.
Sam F Weller Family Foundation's 2023 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
David Brooks
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
David G. Olson
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Ken Tracy
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Tona Rozum
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Trudy Morgan
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2023. "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 Sam F Weller Family Foundation
How much does Sam F Weller Family Foundation give each year?
Sam F Weller Family Foundation gave $5.6M across 19 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $155K across 13 grants.
What is Sam F Weller Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam F Weller Family Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $15,000, and its average grant was $294,782, across 19 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam F Weller Family Foundation that year got $411K on average.
Where does Sam F Weller Family Foundation give grants?
Sam F Weller Family Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mitchell, SD (17 grants).
Does Sam F Weller Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Sam F Weller Family Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (4 grants).
Who are Sam F Weller Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam F Weller Family Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include South Dakota Community Foundation ($5,035,361), Abbott House ($125,000) and Dakota Discovery Museum ($100,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Sam F Weller Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2023 grants supported organizations and projects including youth services, housing, museums, churches, community facilities, and local programs. These are descriptions of grantees and funded projects, not a stated foundation mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam F Weller Family Foundation?
The 2022 filing names David G Olson as the contact and provides a grant application summary form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Sam F Weller Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Sam F Weller Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sam F Weller Family Foundation's EIN?
Sam F Weller Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1887384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2023.
Data last updated September 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
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS February 6, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2023
Live grants for the work Sam F Weller Family Foundation funds
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Sam F Weller Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?