Tessier Family Foundation Inc
Tessier Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pierre, South Dakota. Its 2021 filing is marked as a final return: the board elected to dissolve the foundation and move its funds to the South Dakota Community Foundation. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down, and the filing’s application information should not be treated as current.
Key facts about Tessier Family Foundation Inc
In short: Tessier Family Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $128K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-3160090
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021
- Annual giving (2021)
- $1,789,882
- Grants made (2021)
- 14
- Average grant
- $127,849
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The final filing listed scholarship application materials: four copies of the application form, two letters of recommendation, and a brief narrative about the applicant and their role in an anticipated field of endeavor. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing listed March 1 preceding the academic year.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2021 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+2632.6% YoY
Grant Count
14
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$128K
+3023.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tessier Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $62K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Tessier Family Foundation Inc gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included scholarships to individuals, support for Edgenuity software, and a capital campaign building project. Separately, Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota described its own mission as providing a safe and empowering environment for victims of domestic violence through advocacy, education, shelter, and family support services.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $1,789,882. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $1,742,382, with a median of $2,500. The largest was a $1,742,382 liquidating distribution to the South Dakota Community Foundation in Pierre. Other reported grants included $10,000 to Abbott House Foundation for Edgenuity software and $10,000 to Mitchell Area Safehouse for a capital campaign building project. The filing also lists $2,500 scholarships to individuals.
Review Cycle
The filing listed March 1 preceding the academic year. That deadline is a past cycle and should not be treated as open.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2021 grant dollars were reported as going to recipients in South Dakota. The final filing also listed a preference for Upper Midwest residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $66K (2020) to $1.8M (2021). In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was South Dakota Community Foundation ($1.7M). Together the top 3 received $1.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 11 individual scholarships ($27,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 30 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Community Foundation Pierre, SD | Liquidating Distribution | $1,742,382 |
| Abbott House Foundation Mitchell, SD | Support of Edgenuity Software | $10,000 |
| Mitchell Area Safehouse Mitchell, SD | Capital Campaign Building | $10,000 |
| 11 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $27,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $566,655 | $1,818,769 | $1,789,882 | 14 | — |
| 2020 | $72,433 | $78,106 | $65,500 | 16 | $1,261,638 |
| Metric | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $1,261,638 |
| Revenue | $566,655 | $72,433 |
| Expenses | $1,818,769 | $78,106 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,791,306 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $565,683 | $64,223 |
| Distributable Amount | $61,716 | $71,078 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed Christine Buche, Susan Mollison, John Tessier, Cathy Tessier, Mark Buche, James Mollison, Ryan Huber, and Anne Huber as directors or officers, and Bank West Trust DE as trustee.
Tessier Family Foundation Inc is led by Mark Buche, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Mark Buche
Director & President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ryan Huber
V President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bank West Trust DE
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2020) → $19K (2021)
Anne Huber
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cathy Tessier
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christine Buche
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Mollison
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John Tessier
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan Mollison
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $19K, to Bank West Trust DE (Trustee).
Contact
Application contact: Chase Cooper
Mailing address: C/O Bank West, 420 S Pierre St, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 224-7392
Frequently asked questions about Tessier Family Foundation Inc
How much does Tessier Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Tessier Family Foundation Inc gave $1.8M across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $66K across 16 grants.
What is Tessier Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Tessier Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2021 was $2,500, and its average grant was $127,849, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tessier Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Tessier Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mitchell, SD (2 grants).
Does Tessier Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Tessier Family Foundation Inc's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (11 grants).
Who are Tessier Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Tessier Family Foundation Inc's largest 2021 grantees include South Dakota Community Foundation ($1,742,382), Abbott House Foundation ($10,000) and Mitchell Area Safehouse ($10,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 11 individual scholarships ($27,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Tessier Family Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included scholarships to individuals, support for Edgenuity software, and a capital campaign building project. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tessier Family Foundation Inc?
The final filing listed scholarship application materials: four copies of the application form, two letters of recommendation, and a brief narrative about the applicant and their role in an anticipated field of endeavor. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Tessier Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Tessier Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $62K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tessier Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Tessier Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3160090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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Tessier Family Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?