The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Sioux Falls, SD EIN: 20-5767798

The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation is a private foundation based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Established in 2006, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking to charitable organizations across multiple states.

Key facts about The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation

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.

EIN: 20-5767798
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $4,428,707
Grants made (2024): 57
Average grant: $77,697
Median grant: $25,000
New grantees (estimate): 47% first-time grantees (26 of 55, 2024)
Total assets: $86,428,076
Primary geography: South Dakota (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Quick answers 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.

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.

Next steps with The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation

How to evaluate The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$86.4M

-1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$4.4M

+26.4% YoY

Grant Count

+62.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$78K

-22.4% YoY

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 April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:

Education
Human Services and poverty alleviation
Philanthropy and voluntarism
Nursing home and social service support

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$500–$200,000

Average Grant

$31,000

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports organizations in South Dakota, with additional grantmaking in New York, California, and Texas. Grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, with South Dakota, New York, and California accounting for 89% of all grants.

Grant Distribution by State

South Dakota $3.9M (89%)

Massachusetts $150K (3%)

New York $150K (3%)

California $150K (3%)

Colorado $25K (1%)

All other $6K (0%)

Share of all 57 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Massachusetts Minnesota New York South Dakota Texas

Cities

Sioux FallsPierreNew YorkDenverMissionSaint PeterSanta BarbaraWellesley HillsAustinCusterMitchellWashingtonAberdeenBrookingsCedar ParkHuronMadisonRapid CitySiou FallsVermillion

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

Total assets: $86,428,076
Total revenues: $20,026,745
Total expenses: $5,087,047
Total grants and contributions: $17,121,645
Investment income and dividends: $2,292,965
Net rental income: $435,724

Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $6.7 million in 2011 to $86.4 million in 2024.

Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee and is governed by 4 officers and trustees.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$86,428,076	$87,501,103	$80,642,090
Revenue	$20,026,745	$13,109,432	$16,575,811
Expenses	$5,087,047	$3,965,957	$1,595,747
Qualifying Distributions	$4,588,707	$3,638,815	$1,247,500
Net Investment Income	$19,853,021	$3,494,931	$1,930,706
Distributable Amount	$5,334,016	$4,573,081	$3,665,120

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

190 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

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

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Robert C Elmen serves as the principal officer of the foundation.

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

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2025

In 2025, the Elmen family made a $2 million transformational gift to Augustana University to support the Elmen Center Revitalization Project.

Elman Family donates $2 million to Elmen Center Revitalization Project

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation fund?

The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Human Services and poverty alleviation • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Nursing home and social service support

How do I apply for a grant from The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

How much is The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.