Tennyson Family Foundation Inc
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Custer, South Dakota. Its 2024 filing reports 32 grants totaling $46,400, including support for organizations and programs in Custer and elsewhere in South Dakota.
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Tennyson Family Foundation Inc gave $46K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in South Dakota. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,400
- +21.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,450
- +29.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $107,339
- +4.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Tennyson Family Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists “Jill Tennyson Memorial Scholarship” as the contact and says to see the attached application form for the form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Jill Tennyson Memorial Scholarship
Mailing address: 11983 Mellow Meadows Place, Custer, SD 57730
Phone: (605) 673-2350
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tennyson Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Growing Roots Inc ($12K). Together the top 10 received $31K.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 161 grants of 161 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota. It also lists recipient-state shares of 1% for Tennessee and 0% each for Iowa and Michigan. The 2024 grants included recipients in Custer, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as a recipient in Sacramento, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Tennyson Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 32 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 618% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2020) to $46K (2024). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Growing Roots Inc Custer, SD | General Funding | $11,600 |
| Custer School District Custer, SD | Scholarships | $5,750 |
| Black Hills Area Community Foundati Rapid City, SD | Fund Programs | $2,500 |
| Custer Youth and Alumni Foundation Custer, SD | Fund Program | $2,500 |
| Custer Ministerial Alliance Inc Custer, SD | Rent/Utility Assistance | $2,000 |
| Custer YMCA Custer, SD | Fund Program | $2,000 |
| The Storehouse Custer, SD | Fund Food Distribution Programs | $2,000 |
| Black Hills Works Foundation Rapid City, SD | Fund Program | $1,000 |
| Children's Home Society of SD Sioux Falls, SD | Fund Program | $1,000 |
| Christmas for Kids Custer, SD | Fund Program | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $107,339 | $53,248 | $48,308 | $46,400 | 32 | $46,400 | $13,248 | $7,513 |
| 2023 | $102,399 | $59,105 | $39,156 | $38,190 | 34 | $38,190 | $8,605 | $6,293 |
| 2022 | $82,450 | $38,553 | $32,795 | $31,550 | 32 | $31,550 | $3,553 | $5,690 |
| 2021 | $76,692 | $34,917 | $25,146 | $24,400 | 32 | $24,400 | $9,917 | $5,505 |
| 2020 | $66,921 | $29,544 | $23,171 | $21,500 | 31 | — | $4,544 | $4,411 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tennyson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — 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 formal mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and needs. For example, Growing Roots Inc says its mission is to provide learner-centered early childhood education focused on socio-emotional development and academic readiness. The Storehouse received support for food distribution programs, and Custer School District received a grant for scholarships.
Other grantees describe work that includes supporting survivors of violence, providing positive experiences for boys, enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and offering a therapeutic environment for combat-wounded veterans. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $46,400. Grants ranged from $100 to $11,600, with a median of $1,000. Its largest grant was $11,600 to Growing Roots Inc for general funding. Other notable grants included $5,750 to Custer School District for scholarships; $2,500 each to Black Hills Area Community Foundation and Custer Youth and Alumni Foundation; and $2,000 each to Custer Ministerial Alliance, Custer YMCA, and The Storehouse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael E Tennyson, Bonnie L Tennyson, Sonja A Tennyson, and Jerad M Tennyson as directors.
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bonnie L. Tennyson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerad M. Tennyson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael E. Tennyson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonja A. Tennyson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Tennyson Family Foundation Inc
How much does Tennyson Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc gave $46K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $38K across 34 grants.
What is Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,450, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tennyson Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Dakota: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Custer, SD (17 grants), Rapid City, SD (7 grants) and Sioux Falls, SD (2 grants).
Does Tennyson Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Fund Program" (26 grants).
Who are Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Growing Roots Inc ($11,600), Custer School District ($5,750) and Black Hills Area Community Foundati ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tennyson Family Foundation Inc?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc reported $107K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $46K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tennyson Family Foundation Inc fund?
No formal mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and needs. For example, Growing Roots Inc says its mission is to provide learner-centered early childhood education focused on socio-emotional development and academic readiness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tennyson Family Foundation Inc?
The filing lists “Jill Tennyson Memorial Scholarship” as the contact and says to see the attached application form for the form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Tennyson Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5632475. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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