Sheldon F Reese Foundation
The Sheldon F Reese Foundation is a private foundation based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including social services, education, arts and culture, and community programs.
Sheldon F Reese Foundation at a glance
In short: Sheldon F Reese Foundation gave $346K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in South Dakota. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $345,900
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,530
- -4.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,056,079
- +4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sheldon F Reese Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact the organization for information about the form and materials.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- No submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Sheldon F Reese Foundation Co John
Mailing address: Box 1428, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-1010
Phone: (605) 336-1699
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sheldon F Reese Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Dysmas of South Dakota ($25K). Together the top 10 received $192K.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 131 grants of 132 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota and 7% to recipients in Minnesota. The listed recipients include organizations in Sioux Falls and other South Dakota communities, as well as Hope Coalition in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sheldon F Reese Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 30 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $232K (2019) to $346K (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $346K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Dysmas of South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $25,000 |
| Call to Freedom Inc Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $24,000 |
| Hope Coalition Red Wing, MN | General Assistance | $24,000 |
| Augustana University Associaion Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $21,400 |
| Friends of the Levitt Shell Sioux Falls Inc Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $20,000 |
| Great Plains Zoo and Aquarium Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $20,000 |
| South Dakota Voices for Peace Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $20,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $15,000 |
| Lutheran Social Services of SD Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $12,500 |
| Beacon Center Watertown, SD | General Assistance | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sheldon F Reese Foundation?
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 | $5,056,079 | $570,167 | $359,722 | $345,900 | 30 | $356,800 | $567,257 | $323,117 |
| 2024 | $4,845,634 | $353,017 | $332,415 | $301,000 | 25 | $312,443 | $349,068 | $307,447 |
| 2023 | $4,825,032 | $699,869 | $307,034 | $292,175 | 27 | $302,372 | $696,807 | $271,557 |
| 2022 | $4,432,197 | $325,474 | $284,019 | $261,750 | 27 | $272,198 | $323,002 | $282,170 |
| 2021 | $4,390,742 | $453,297 | $248,072 | $235,075 | 23 | $244,977 | $451,027 | $316,271 |
| 2020 | $4,185,517 | $230,002 | $310,528 | $300,900 | 25 | — | $228,380 | $254,927 |
| 2019 | $4,266,043 | $301,948 | $258,022 | $232,300 | 23 | — | $297,124 | $250,648 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheldon F Reese Foundation reported a distributable amount of $323K for 2025 — 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 statement is provided. Its grants went to organizations whose work includes addressing trafficking and exploitation, supporting people affected by violence and economic hardship, providing advocacy and services, and offering educational and cultural programs. For example, Call to Freedom describes its mission as supporting people impacted by trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, while Hope Coalition says it supports people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and economic hardship. The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as inspiring people through music.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $345,900. Individual grants ranged from $2,500 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $25,000 to St. Dismas of South Dakota; $24,000 each to Call to Freedom and Hope Coalition; $21,400 to Augustana University Association; and $20,000 each to Friends of the Levitt Shell Sioux Falls, Great Plains Zoo and Aquarium, and South Dakota Voices for Peace.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Quello as president, Virginia Pavelka Luke as vice-president, Deborah Olson as secretary, Vance Goldammer as treasurer, and Gregg Gohl as director.
Sheldon F Reese Foundation is led by John Quello, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Quello
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregg Gohl
Director
Director Begin May → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Pavelka Luke
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$6K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Deborah Olson
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$6K (2023) → $6K (2025)
Vance Goldammer
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Curtis Hage (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ernest Carlson (2019–2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to Deborah Olson (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Sheldon F Reese Foundation
How much does Sheldon F Reese Foundation give each year?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation gave $346K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $301K across 25 grants.
What is Sheldon F Reese Foundation's typical grant size?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,530, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sheldon F Reese Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Sheldon F Reese Foundation give grants?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sioux Falls, SD (21 grants) and Rapid City, SD (3 grants).
Does Sheldon F Reese Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of Sheldon F Reese Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sheldon F Reese Foundation's largest grantees?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Dysmas of South Dakota ($25,000), Call to Freedom Inc ($24,000) and Hope Coalition ($24,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sheldon F Reese Foundation?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $357K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $323K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sheldon F Reese Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants went to organizations whose work includes addressing trafficking and exploitation, supporting people affected by violence and economic hardship, providing advocacy and services, and offering educational and cultural programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sheldon F Reese Foundation?
Contact the organization for information about the form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sheldon F Reese Foundation's EIN?
Sheldon F Reese Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0358682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sheldon F Reese Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sheldon-f-reese-foundation-morg_91006e42dafe43659d188264b5673685
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460358682_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sheldon F Reese Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sheldon-f-reese-foundation-morg_91006e42dafe43659d188264b5673685},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Sheldon F Reese Foundation'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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