The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation is a private foundation based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It made 57 grants totaling $4,428,707 in 2024, supporting organizations that include South Dakota institutions and social-service organizations, as well as research organizations in other states.
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation gave $4.4M across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $78K), mostly in South Dakota. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,428,707
- +26.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- +62.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $77,697
- -22.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $86,428,076
- -1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (26 of 55, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (89% 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 The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2901 W 11Th, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 338-1800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was SD Parks and Wildlife Fdn ($1.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
190 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 190 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota. The remaining reported shares were Massachusetts, New York, and California at 3% each, and Colorado at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 55 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $128K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 446% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $787K (2020) to $4.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SD Parks and Wildlife Fdn Pierre, SD | Building Project | $960,000 |
| Great Plains Zoo Sioux Falls, SD | New Exhibits | $750,000 |
| Augustana College Sioux Falls, SD | Building | $721,707 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Res Fdn Wellesley Hills, MA | Reserach | $150,000 |
| Brain & Behavior Reserach Council New York, NY | Reserach | $150,000 |
| Sansum Diabetes Reserach Santa Barbara, CA | Reserach | $150,000 |
| SD Symphony Orchestra Sioux Falls, SD | Operating | $101,000 |
| Levitt Foundation Sioux Falls, SD | Operating | $100,000 |
| Abbott House Mitchell, SD | Foster Care | $100,000 |
| Fall Area Single Track Sioux Falls, SD | Building New Trails | $100,000 |
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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 | $86,428,076 | $20,026,745 | $5,087,047 | $4,428,707 | 57 | $4,588,707 | $19,853,021 | $5,334,016 |
| 2023 | $87,501,103 | $13,109,432 | $3,965,957 | $3,503,815 | 35 | $3,638,815 | $3,494,931 | $4,573,081 |
| 2022 | $80,642,090 | $16,575,811 | $1,595,747 | $1,199,500 | 32 | $1,247,500 | $1,930,706 | $3,665,120 |
| 2021 | $65,662,026 | $52,291,069 | $975,817 | $811,000 | 31 | $859,082 | $1,617,987 | $1,247,899 |
| 2020 | $14,199,791 | $774,985 | $907,295 | $787,020 | 35 | — | $332,634 | $835,801 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.3M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for building projects, new exhibits, research, operating costs, foster care, food assistance, and trail construction.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms: Abbott House provides psychiatric residential treatment for female youth and foster care for boys and girls; Shift Garage works to address generational poverty through reliable transportation and education; Call to Freedom supports people impacted by trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation through a continuum of care; and The Banquet serves meals to people in the Sioux Falls community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 57 grants totaling $4,428,707. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $960,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $960,000 to SD Parks and Wildlife Foundation for a building project, $750,000 to Great Plains Zoo for new exhibits, and $721,707 to Augustana College for a building. Other grants included $150,000 each to Alzheimer’s Disease Research Foundation, Brain & Behavior Research Council, and Sansum Diabetes Research; $100,000 to Abbott House for foster care; and $90,000 to Feeding South Dakota for food for people in need. Abbott House, Shift Garage, Call to Freedom, and The Banquet also received $100,000, $45,000, $40,000, and $25,000, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julie D. Elmen as president, Thomas J. Whalen as treasurer, Vance Goldammer as secretary, Sarah Kopp as vice president, and Alex Kopp and Sadie Keuning as members.
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation is led by Julie D. Elmen, President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julie D. Elmen
President
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $35K (2024)
Sarah Kopp
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Thomas J. Whalen
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $53K (2024)
Vance Goldammer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $35K (2024)
Alex Kopp
Member
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
$18K (2024)
Sadie Keuning
Member
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
$18K (2024)
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 $53K, to Thomas J Whalen (Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation
How much does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation give each year?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation gave $4.4M across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 35 grants.
What is The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $77,697, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation give grants?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sioux Falls, SD (34 grants), Pierre, SD (3 grants), Mitchell, SD (2 grants) and Custer, SD (2 grants).
Does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Reserach" (3 grants).
Who are The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include SD Parks and Wildlife Fdn ($1,035,000 across 2 grants), Great Plains Zoo ($765,000 across 2 grants) and Augustana College ($721,707), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation reported $86.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for building projects, new exhibits, research, operating costs, foster care, food assistance, and trail construction. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation?
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's EIN?
The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5767798. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-rita-elmen-foundation-morg_d0d6c88ed86b4699aaf70ccdd452d62e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205767798_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-rita-elmen-foundation-morg_d0d6c88ed86b4699aaf70ccdd452d62e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 The Robert and Rita Elmen 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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