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
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.
Ready to take the next step with Valley Queen Charitable Foundation?
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire
SIOUX FALLS, SD
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Protector Project Inc
TEA, SD
Assets
$19
Grants
0
Total Given
—
East River Electric Power
MADISON, SD
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
5
Total Given
$36K
Sanford Group Return
SIOUX FALLS, SD
Assets
$4.3B
Grants
166
Total Given
$25.9M
A Coe & Dorothy Frankhauser Trust
SIOUX FALLS, SD
Assets
—
Grants
9
Total Given
$64K
Ride Therapy Project
SUMMERSET, SD
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Valley Queen Charitable Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities