Tanka Fund
To return buffalo to Native American lands, lives, and economies.
Tanka Fund at a glance
In short: Tanka Fund gave $97K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $96,958
- +29.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,240
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $743,578
- -51.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Tanka Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hochoka Kin Holdings LLC ($67K). Together the top 4 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 19 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tanka Fund gives
- Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $39K (2020) to $97K (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hochoka Kin Holdings LLC Rapid City, SD | Meat Processing System | $66,958 |
| Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Society Porcupine, SD | Buffalo Habitat Infrastructure | $10,000 |
| Native Wise LLC Sawyer, MN | Growth & Development | $10,000 |
| One Spirit Rapid City, SD | Buffalo Habitat Infrastructure | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $743,578 | $1,120,704 | $1,965,809 | $96,958 | 4 | $1,528 |
| 2023 | $1,536,400 | $1,677,065 | $1,883,129 | $75,000 | 3 | $3,313 |
| 2022 | $1,714,211 | $2,116,071 | $1,103,745 | $90,000 | 5 | $2,572 |
| 2021 | $698,977 | $998,594 | $516,579 | $52,123 | 3 | $1,330 |
| 2020 | $201,165 | $329,255 | $177,697 | $39,185 | 4 | $351 |
About Tanka Fund
Based on IRS filings
Tanka Fund is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Rapid City, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $744K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $97K. Net investment income was $2K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Tanka Fund is led by Electa Hare, President on every filing since 2023; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Electa Hare
President
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Sherman
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$62K (2023) → $123K (2024)
Wayne Frederick
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
$25K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Erin Axelrod
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Brown Otter
Vice President
Member → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$60K (2023) → $5K (2024)
Nick Hernandez
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Mark Tilsen (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Trudy Ecoffey (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Electa Hare-Redcorn (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Zach Ducheneaux (2020) — Chair
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $123K, to Dawn Sherman (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Tanka Fund
How much does Tanka Fund give each year?
Tanka Fund gave $97K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $75K across 3 grants.
What is Tanka Fund's typical grant size?
Tanka Fund's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $24,240, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Tanka Fund give grants?
Tanka Fund gives mostly in South Dakota: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rapid City, SD (2 grants).
Does Tanka Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Tanka Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Tanka Fund?
Tanka Fund reported $744K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What is Tanka Fund?
Tanka Fund is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Rapid City, SD. It holds $744K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Tanka Fund's EIN?
Tanka Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5315136. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Tanka Fund funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tanka Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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