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Sanford Health Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Sioux Falls, SD EIN: 36-3297853 Website

To inspire philanthropy to advance the mission of sanford health, the premier rural health system in the U.S., and related exempt entities. 100% of donor dollars fuel local priorities to care, comfort and cure.

Key facts about Sanford Health Foundation

In short: Sanford Health Foundation gave $55.0M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $9.2M), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
36-3297853
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$55,011,161
Grants made (2024)
6
Average grant
$9,168,527
Median grant
$401,317
Total assets
$1,283,437,010
Primary geography
South Dakota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3B

+7.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$55.0M

+12.7% YoY

Grant Count

6

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9.2M

+12.7% YoY

How Sanford Health Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 68% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Sanford Health Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Sanford Health Foundation is a public charity, based in Sioux Falls, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $55.0M. Net investment income was $52.1M.

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2 open opportunities from Sanford Health Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Sioux Falls

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20M$40M$60M1 grant2020 6 grants2021 6 grants2022 6 grants2023 6 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $32.8M (2021) to $55.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $55.0M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2024

Sanford Medical Center: $53.4MSanford Medical Center$53.4MSanford Health Network: $494KSanford Health Network$494KSanford Research: $490KSanford Research$490KSanford Home Health: $313KSanford Home Health$313KSanford Clinic: $273KSanford Clinic$273KSanford World Clinics: $49KSanford World Clinics$49K

The largest 2024 recipient was Sanford Medical Center ($53.4M). Together the top 6 received $55.0M.

Grant Size Distribution

25 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K2$50–100K6$100–250K8$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M5$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 8 grants of 25 (32%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Sanford Medical Center Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$53,392,425
Sanford Health Network Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$493,727
Sanford Research Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$489,680
Sanford Home Health Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$312,954
Sanford Clinic Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$273,289
Sanford World Clinics Sioux Falls, SDSee Form 990, Page 2, Part III$49,086

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$100M$200M$300M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,283,437,010$1,197,031,734$1,051,795,268
Revenue$214,434,250$191,125,295$182,417,940
Expenses$55,013,694$48,812,932$35,450,465
Net Investment Income$52,121,544$62,337,452$46,232,605

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Sanford Health Foundation is led by Bill Gassen III, Trustee, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 18 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bill Gassen III

    Trustee, President & CEO

    CAO, President, CEO, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b → Trustee, President & CEO, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    0.8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lauris Molbert

    Trustee & Chairperson

    Trustee- → Trustee & Vice Chair, 2022

    Trustee & Vice Chair → Trustee & Chairperson, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andy North

    Trustee, Secretary & Indep Contractor

    Secretary → Trustee & Secretary, 2021

    Trustee & Secretary → Trustee, Secretary & Indep Contractor, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brent Teiken

    Trustee

    Trustee & Chairperson → Trustee & Past Chair, 2022

    Trustee & Past Chair → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Cain

    Trustee & Treasurer

    Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Lundeen MD

    Trustee

    Trustee, Ortho Chair, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b → Trustee & Physician, 2021

    Trustee & Physician → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Neil Gulsvig

    Trustee & Past Chair

    Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee & Chairperson, 2022

    Trustee & Chairperson → Trustee & Past Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wesley Engbrecht

    Trustee

    Trustee- → Trustee, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marnie Hermann

    Trustee & Vice Chair

    Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2023

    Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee & Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana Dykhouse

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Shulkin

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bill Marlette

    Interim, Executive Vice President & CFO

    CFO, Treasurer, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b → Executive Vice President, CFO, Treasurer-, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b, 2021

    Executive Vice President, CFO, Treasurer-, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b → Interim, Executive Vice President & CFO, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Don Jacobs

    Former Trustee

    Trustee & Vice Chairperson → Trustee, 2022

    Trustee → Former Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Deb Koski

    Chief Philanthropy Officer

    Vice President & Chief Phil Officer- → Vice President & Chief Phil Officer, 2022

    Vice President & Chief Phil Officer → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    12 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Bruhn

    Former Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer

    Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer- → Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, 2022

    Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer → Former Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Nick Olson

    Executive Vice President & CFO

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott Wooten

    Executive Vice President & CFO

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (10)
  • Former: Bobbie Tibbetts (2020–2023) — Former Chief Philanthropy Officer
  • Former: Micah Aberson (2020–2023) — Former Executive Vice President
  • Former: Robin Smith (2021–2023) — Trustee & Treasurer
  • Former: Joann Kunkel (2020–2022) — Former Cfo-Sch J, Part III & Line 4a
  • Former: Maria Bell MD (2020–2022) — Trustee & Physician
  • Former: Mark Paulson MD (2020–2022) — Trustee & Physician
  • Former: Barb Everist (2020–2021) — Trustee-
  • Former: David Beito (2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Kelby Krabbenhoft (2020) — President, CEO, See Sch J, Part III & Lines 4a-4b
  • Former: Patrick Durick (2020) — Trustee

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.

Frequently asked questions about Sanford Health Foundation

How much does Sanford Health Foundation give each year?

Sanford Health Foundation gave $55.0M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $48.8M across 6 grants.

What is Sanford Health Foundation's typical grant size?

Sanford Health Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $401,317, and its average grant was $9,168,527, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Sanford Health Foundation give grants?

Sanford Health Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sioux Falls, SD (6 grants).

Does Sanford Health Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Sanford Health Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Form 990, Page 2, Part III" (6 grants).

Who are Sanford Health Foundation's largest grantees?

Sanford Health Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Sanford Medical Center ($53,392,425), Sanford Health Network ($493,727) and Sanford Research ($489,680), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Sanford Health Foundation?

Sanford Health Foundation reported $1.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $214.4M.

What is Sanford Health Foundation's EIN?

Sanford Health Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3297853. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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