Welk Family Foundation
The Welk Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1988 and based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving in the Upper Midwest region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$188K
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
36
+24.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-15.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Welk Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on:
- Human Services
- Education
- Religious Organizations
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, with recent grant distributions reflecting its commitment to its priority areas.
Grant Range
$261–$93,203
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus includes:
- Sisseton, South Dakota
- Aberdeen, South Dakota
- Primary service region: South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,700,109 |
| Total Annual Giving | $188,118 |
| Year Established | 1988 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,700,109 | $2,656,699 | $2,695,113 |
| Revenue | $271,603 | $181,790 | $237,844 |
| Expenses | $228,193 | $220,204 | $244,122 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $211,904 | $203,165 | $223,806 |
| Net Investment Income | $256,875 | $167,011 | $222,992 |
| Distributable Amount | $221,507 | $209,534 | $203,444 |
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
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tekakwitha Living Center ($93,203), Emmanuel United Church of Christ ($15,000), Roberts County Rescue Inc ($14,400).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Browns Valley Health Center Inc Browns Valley, MN | Purchase lounge chairs for residents. | $1,000 |
| Browns Valley Public Library Browns Valley, MN | Purchase audio books, e-books and large print books for the library. | $500 |
| Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church Sisseton, SD | Landscaping | $1,000 |
| Chloe Langager Sisseton, SD | Scholarships | $2,500 |
| Community Transit Inc Sisseton, SD | Support for the rural transportation agency that is available for all residents in Northeast South Dakota | $2,500 |
| Coteau Des Prairies Hospital Sisseton, SD | Leadership development trainings. | $3,000 |
| Emanuel Lutheran Church Sisseton, SD | To install acoustic ceiling panels. | $1,000 |
| Emmanuel United Church of Christ Hankinson, ND | Improve the church's handicap accessibility and parking issues. | $15,000 |
| Ethan DeSpiegler Browns Valley, MN | Scholarships | $2,500 |
| Faith Lutheran Church New Effington, SD | Upgrade the sanctuary sound system. | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is administered through Dacotah Bank, which serves as the contact institution for grant inquiries.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dacotah Bank | Trustee | 5 | $26,360 |
| June Helgeson | Advisor | 0.1 | — |
| Kaye Cahill | Advisor | 0.1 | — |
| Ross Hanson | Advisor | 0.1 | — |
| Mark Pistorius | Advisor | 0.1 | — |
| Pat Dady | Advisor | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 1210 Aberdeen, SD 57402-1210
Phone: 605-225-5611
EIN: 36-3579562
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Welk Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on: • Human Services • Education • Religious Organizations • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Welk Family Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $2,700,109 • Total annual giving: $188,118 • Typical grant range: $261–$93,203 The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, with recent grant distributions reflecting its commitment to its priority areas.
Where does Welk Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus includes: • Sisseton, South Dakota • Aberdeen, South Dakota • Primary service region: South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota
What size grants does Welk Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Welk Family Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $188K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Welk Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Welk Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Welk Family Foundation's EIN?
Welk Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3579562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Welk Family 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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