Valley Queen Charitable Foundation
Valley Queen Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation based in Milbank, South Dakota. Established in 2018, it operates as the corporate foundation of Valley Queen Cheese Factory Inc. The foundation strives to advance positive change by supporting organizations and initiatives that have a community, educational, industry, or humanitarian focus.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-13.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$752K
-3.6% YoY
Grant Count
64
-3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Valley Queen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $103K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on making positive contributions to Milbank and surrounding communities through strategic charitable giving. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to educational institutions, with a long history of supporting South Dakota schools and educational initiatives.
Grantmaking
Valley Queen Charitable Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual grant activity:
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $50 to $501,700
How to Apply
**: Grant requests can be submitted using the foundation's Grant Request Form. Inquiries can be directed to foundation@vqcheese.com.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on the Milbank community and surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,740,954
- Total Revenue: $504,853
- Total Expenses: $651,895
- Total Liabilities: $294,000
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Grants and Contributions: $360,780
- Investment Income and Dividends: $73,386
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $60,947
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,740,954 | $2,007,671 | $2,346,931 |
| Revenue | $504,853 | $466,808 | $1,402,055 |
| Expenses | $651,895 | $789,223 | $980,147 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $755,784 | $783,836 | $799,479 |
| Net Investment Income | $111,938 | $60,734 | $50,635 |
| Distributable Amount | $102,704 | $113,116 | $83,451 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Milbank ($326,831), Milbank High School Educational Foundation ($61,226), Bulldog Booster Club ($52,325).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN LUTHERAN MILBANK, SD | DONATION | $3,000 |
| AMERICA'S MIGHTY WARRIORS SURPRISE, AZ | DONATION | $321 |
| AVERA AT HOME SIOUX FALLS, SD | DONATION | $1,350 |
| AVERA HEALTH SIOUX FALLS, SD | DONATION | $1,000 |
| BACKYARD BULLDOGS CHILD CARE MILBANK, SD | DONATION | $2,000 |
| BEACON CENTER WATERTOWN, SD | DONATION | $300 |
| BIG STONE COMMUNITY HOMES INC ORTONVILLE, MN | DONATION | $100 |
| BIG STONE COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE ORTONVILLE, MN | DONATION | $100 |
| BIG STONE COUNTY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP INC ORTONVILLE, MN | DONATION | $250 |
| BIG STONE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION ORTONVILLE, MN | DONATION | $900 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOUG WILKE | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KENNETH KARELS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MIKE MISTEREK | SECRETARY/TREASURER UNTIL FEB 2024 | 1 | — |
| JODY KUPER | SECRETARY/TREASURER STARTING FEB 2024 | 1 | — |
| TRUDI ROBEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTIN TANNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRYAN JOHNSON | DIRECTOR UNTIL FEB 2024 | 1 | — |
| BRAD SNAZA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TOM SCHUNEMAN | DIRECTOR STARTING FEB 2024 | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation released its 2024 Annual Report, documenting ongoing grant activity and community impact. In 2024, the foundation distributed grants totaling approximately $275,030 across 44 documented grants, with the largest grants supporting educational institutions and youth-focused organizations in the Milbank area.
VCF awards more than $433,000 in\u2026 | Valley Community FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Valley Queen Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on making positive contributions to Milbank and surrounding communities through strategic charitable giving. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to educational institutions, with a long history of supporting South Dakota schools and educational initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Valley Queen Charitable Foundation?
Valley Queen Charitable Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual grant activity: • **Grant Volume**: Made 73 grants in 2024 • **Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $50 to $501,700 • **Recent Major Grants (2024)**: • Milbank High School Educational Foundation: $61,226 • Bulldog Booster Club: $52,325 • Building Our Families: $20,200 **Application Process**: Grant requests can be submitted using the foundation's Grant Request Form. Inquiries can be directed to foundation@vqc…
Where does Valley Queen Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on the Milbank community and surrounding region.
What size grants does Valley Queen Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Valley Queen Charitable Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $752K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Valley Queen Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Valley Queen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $103K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Valley Queen Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Valley Queen Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2581817. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Valley Queen Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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