Best Local Government Grants in South Dakota

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Grant supports organizations dedicated to preserving American exceptionalism through a commitment to individual liberty, free markets, and civic responsibility. It prioritizes proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that promote informed citizenship and strong communities. With ongoing acceptance of Letters of Inquiry, the Foundation seeks to empower initiatives that align with its principles of limited government and the rule of law, fostering a rich community culture.

South Dakota local governments and public schools can access funding through Safe Routes to School National Parternship to host Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events. Grants of US $500 - US $1,000 support student-led activities that promote activism, anti-racism, anti-bullying, and walking or rolling to school, especially for first-time, middle and high school celebrations.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or civic life can receive US $35,000 - US $50,000 in one-year project support from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on social and economic equity, this program invites scholars, including those in South Dakota, whose work may inform local government and civic engagement initiatives.

South Dakota local governments and other eligible nonprofits, schools, and agencies can seek support for community health events, memberships, and engagement activities that promote well-being and civic participation. Funding from Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation may benefit initiatives in public health, mental health, wellness, poverty reduction, economic stability, and community health education.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in South Dakota working on civic engagement, financial literacy, housing insecurity, technology education, or community development can apply for funding to support scalable, high-impact programs. Affirm Cares provides grants across the U.S. and its territories, including South Dakota, for initiatives that build vibrant, economically inclusive, and tech-enabled communities.

Nonprofit public charities with 501(c)(3) status running national or multi-state democracy and civil liberties initiatives can apply for invitation-only support from the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund. Programs that protect voting rights, curb money in politics, or prevent gun violence may be eligible, including organizations serving South Dakota communities.

Local governments and 501(c)(3) organizations in South Dakota working on civic engagement and voter participation may be eligible for Park Foundation’s Civic Participation Program. Focused on democracy and voting rights, it supports state and national groups that educate, motivate, and mobilize voters, protect election integrity, and counter voter suppression through year-round organizing.

South Dakota youth leaders planning community service or civic engagement projects can access funding through Youth Service America for Youth Service Month and Global Youth Service Day activities. Youth ages 5–25 in the U.S. and Canada may receive US $250 - US $500 to support youth-designed, youth-led projects that engage diverse peers as volunteers and build social and emotional skills.

Local government and community partners in South Dakota supporting youth civic engagement may be eligible for this national fellowship-style funding. With a mission to strengthen civic engagement, Institute for Citizens & Scholars provides young people ages 14–24 with up to US $4,500 per team for community-based civic projects and leadership development across the U.S.

Local or tribal governments and other eligible entities running civic participation programs in rural communities, including South Dakota, can apply for Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Trust for Civic Life Civic Experiment Grants; awards Up to US $25,000 for non-partisan, community-led projects that strengthen local civic life and long-term civic infrastructure in priority rural regions.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing communications, journalism, leadership, or historic preservation can receive US $500 - US $2,500 in multi-year tuition assistance through the Jeannett Slesnick Community Spirit Scholarship. Offered by Coral Gables Community Foundation, this award supports college success and civic-minded education; South Dakota civic engagement programs may find it informative as a comparative opportunity.

South Dakota civic engagement and social justice groups can access funding through the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute’s Rapid Response Grants for urgent grassroots, nonviolent organizing needs. U.S.-based organizing projects may receive up to US $5,000 to respond quickly to unexpected political opportunities with powerful community actions, especially those pursuing systemic change with limited existing funding.

South Dakota civic engagement and community service organizations can access funding through M J Murdock Charitable Trust for major capital projects, with awards typically more than US $50,000. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, select government or tribal entities, and universities can seek support for construction, renovation, property acquisition, and related infrastructure that expand long-term capacity.

Local governments and public entities in South Dakota that qualify as eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal entities, or certain government institutions can seek equipment and technology grants supporting civic engagement, education, health, environment, and research. M J Murdock Charitable Trust provides more than US $50,000 for new, capacity-building equipment and technology, with grantees covering at least half the purchase cost.

South Dakota local government–adjacent civic and education-focused organizations, including eligible 501(c)(3)s, tribal entities, and certain government institutions, can seek more than US $50,000 to expand programs and add staff. M J Murdock Charitable Trust provides declining three-year capacity-building support for strategic projects that primarily benefit the Pacific Northwest, with some impact-based flexibility for broader U.S. initiatives.

Local governments and 501(c)(3) partners in South Dakota working on civic engagement, education, arts and culture, health, or human services can seek large grants over US $10,000. Focused on social justice and underserved communities, the James B and Lois R Archer Charitable Foundation supports programs, capital projects, and general operations nationwide.

South Dakota local government entities and 501(c)(3) organizations working on civic engagement, education, arts and culture, health, or human services can access funding through the James B and Lois R Archer Charitable Foundation for programs, capital projects, or general operations. Grants are available up to US $10,000, with funding offered nationwide, including South Dakota.

Local governments, nonprofits, academic institutions, and individuals in South Dakota working on long-term global catastrophic risk mitigation can apply for Centre for Effective Altruism’s Long-Term Future Fund, awarding US $1,000 - US $500,000. With a mission to support projects on AI risk, governance, and related civic education, it may benefit civic engagement initiatives and policy-focused programs.

Scientists and engineers interested in civic engagement and science policy can apply for the American Chemical Society Congressional Fellowship, a U.S.-based policy placement program. With a mission to strengthen civic education, American Chemical Society provides fellows with a year working on Congressional staff, which may benefit South Dakota professionals seeking policy experience and public service impact.

South Dakota local government and civic-focused entities working on civic engagement and education through film projects may be eligible for funding to develop educational films. LearningTimes Foundation’s Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant offers up to US $10,000 for U.S.-based emerging filmmakers creating work that connects communities with educational ideas and movements.

The Amanda Reed Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Amanda Reed, a Rockford resident and 2001 Boylan Central Catholic High School graduate, who tragically lost her life due to domestic violence. This scholarship supports individuals committed to stopping domestic abuse and promoting community safety. Applicants are encouraged to provide references from those familiar with their work in domestic violence prevention. Academic performance will be considered moderately in the selection process, fostering a compassionate and proactive community.

The Bezos Scholars Program, supported by the Bezos Family Foundation, is a transformative, no-cost leadership development initiative designed for high school juniors. Each year, selected scholars from the U.S. and Africa engage in a year-long program, developing leadership skills through civic engagement and community projects. Participants receive personalized college advising, funding for their projects, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival, fostering a diverse community of changemakers committed to making a difference.

The Thriving Community Impact Fund offers grants up to $2,499 to support local programs that enhance community health and well-being. This initiative by Gundersen Health emphasizes collaboration, focusing on areas such as physical and mental health, poverty alleviation, and neighborhood improvements. Organizations like non-profits and government agencies can apply for funding during a rolling application period, with decisions made monthly. The fund aims to empower communities and address health inequities through impactful partnerships.

Alliance for Social Trust: Trust in Practice Awards

Trust is the foundation of vibrant, resilient communities and healthy civic life. Across the country, local and national organizations are demonstrating the profound ways trust shapes our collective well-being—strengthening relationships between neighbors, cultivating confidence in institutions, and enabling people to work together to solve shared challenges. These efforts are often rooted in the knowledge and leadership of those closest to the work. 

The Trust in Practice Awards support non-profit organizations that are collaborating on new initiatives to build trust across local or virtual communities. Grantees will be part of a national network dedicated to fostering trust through the Alliance for Social Trust’s programs and storytelling platforms. Award recipients will also participate in the annual Trust in Practice Summit to celebrate the work of trust builders.

South Dakota Community Foundation

As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day.

Grants

The South Dakota Community Foundation offers an array of grants to help state nonprofits realize their dreams and continue investing in their communities. 

Beresford Area Foundation Grant

The Beresford Area Foundation (BAF) promotes philanthropy and invests in a wide range of programs that contribute to our community's social, health, economic and well-being. Beresford Area Foundation’s annual grant program is made possible by generous donors who have contributed general and area-of-interest gifts which allow us to respond to community needs, changing opportunities and challenges. Beresford Area Foundation is an agent of the South Dakota Community Foundation.

Grant Program Objectives

Beresford Area Foundation strives to support a broad spectrum of programs and projects through nonprofit organizations that focus on emerging community needs, arts and culture, education, health and human services, economic development, historical significance, and community and civic engagement. BAF grant funds will NOT be awarded to subsidize normal operating expenses, elimination of budget deficit, annual fund drives, and capital campaigns. The foundation will not continually support the same project. BAF funds ongoing and established programs as well as innovative projects that address existing community needs. Grant funds may only be used for the purpose stated on the application.

Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund partners with foundations, individual donors, activists, and other allies to work strategically towards racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully-representative democracy. We curate an ecosystem of mutually reinforcing, aligned donor collaboratives and fiscally sponsored projects that deploy a creative array of strategies and tactics to further this vision.

RISE Together Fund: Small Grants

Call For Application

RISE Together Fund (RTF), an initiative of Proteus Fund, is announcing an open call for inquiries for our 2026 Small Grants Fund for U.S. public charity organizations or fiscally sponsored projects of such organizations, that support Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (BAMEMSA) communities.

As part of RTF’s commitment to prioritizing the needs and sustainability of the fields we collectively support, RTF will provide organizations with general operating grants to allow for organizational flexibility when possible. 

About RTF's Small Grants Fund

BAMEMSA movements have a strong history of organizing and collaboration, and are well poised with the knowledge, learning and experience to build an inclusive, multiracial democratic future and respond to the current unconstitutional threats facing the country. Through this fund, RTF aims to resource community power building organizations that use a multiplicity of approaches to create change rooted in the strength and leadership of BAMEMSA movements.

RTF supports groups that build community power, strengthen movement bases, defend civil and human rights including freedom of protest, speech, religion, and association, end the criminalization and surveillance of our communities, and respond to the rise in xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate. RTF values groups that are intersectional in their approach and have or are developing sustainable long-term strategies to support BAMEMSA communities and movements.

Priority Issue Areas

• Protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant and refugee BAMEMSA communities by responding to harmful policies and practices, and strengthening community-led advocacy at the local, state, or federal level.

• Mobilizing BAMEMSA communities for nonpartisan civic engagement and election protection by increasing nonpartisan voter participation, combating voter suppression, and building sustained civic infrastructure ahead of, during, and between elections.

• Advocating for U.S. policy changes that end violence in Gaza and the West Bank by elevating Palestinian voices, influencing public discourse, and engaging in advocacy that shifts U.S. political, diplomatic, or funding decisions.

• Challenging harmful national security frameworks and their impacts on BAMEMSA communities by documenting, exposing, and organizing against surveillance, Islamophobia, and policies rooted in the War on Terror, particularly in the context of 9/11’s 25-year legacy.

• Responding to emerging opportunities and threats affecting BAMESMA communities such as influencing policy developments, addressing civic issues in the U.S., or developing narratives to change public discourse. This includes work addressing weaponizing issues around bodily autonomy and LGBTQ+ identity to fracture movements and communities.

Priority Strategies

RTF values organizations that take an intersectional approach and are intentionally building long-term community power. We prioritize support for groups that strengthen movement ecosystems, deepen their base, and defend the rights of BAMEMSA communities through the following strategies:

• Convening, Collaboration, and Movement Coordination: Bringing together organizations, leaders, and coalitions to align shared goals, coordinate strategies to advance shared visions, and reduce fragmentation across the field. This includes facilitating strategic convenings, developing platforms for collaboration, building cross-issue or cross-regional partnerships, developing shared agendas or issue campaigns, and strengthening trust and alignment among movement actors.
• Community Power-Building, Base Building, Civic Engagement, and Organizing: Expanding and activating a grassroots base within BAMEMSA communities to drive collective action and policy change. This includes community leadership development, public education campaigns, community organizing, nonpartisan voter engagement and election protection, and ongoing nonpartisan civic participation efforts that build sustained community power.
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Infrastructure: Advancing legal strategies and policy advocacy that expand and protect the rights of BAMEMSA communities. This includes impact litigation, legal advocacy, know-your-rights efforts, policy development, and advocacy at a local, state, or federal level.
• Communications and Narrative Strategy: Shaping public discourse and advancing narratives that reflect the experiences, dignity, and demands of BAMEMSA communities. This includes developing messaging strategies, producing and amplifying media, countering harmful or divisive narratives (including those targeting immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and reproductive rights), and increasing the voice share of BAMEMSA community members.
• Bolstering Movement Infrastructure: Strengthening the internal capacity and long-term sustainability of organizations and the broader movement ecosystem. This includes organizations supporting leadership development and pipelines, data and technology infrastructure, security and safety, and other core functions that enable groups to operate effectively and respond to evolving challenges.

Limited funding may be available for requests above $25,000.

U.S. Civil Society Microgrants

We seek to support projects that engage Pulitzer Center journalism to amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement with our focus areas.

Audience engagement has been at the core of the Pulitzer Center’s work since its founding in 2006. In addition to grants and fellowships that facilitate breakthrough journalism, we support initiatives that connect the reporting to the audiences that need it the most. Our goal is pursuing real-world impact: engaging and mobilizing communities, increasing understanding and connection, and influencing decisions locally and globally. 

This microgrant aims to support civil society organizations and groups in the United States to utilize Pulitzer Center-supported reporting as part of projects that contribute to a more informed and empowered community.

 For this grant cycle, we are seeking grant proposals for civic engagement projects to be completed by early December 2026 that focus on one of the following issues:

• Climate and the environment, with a focus on U.S fisheries and fishing communities or climate and labor
• Information and Artificial Intelligence
• Global health, with specific focus on mental well-being or connections to the Global South

The objective is to use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism as the inspiration for the projects supported by this civil society microgrant. By leveraging this reporting, we expect to build projects that amplify the voices of affected communities, foster public debate, and drive meaningful audience engagement that will lead to impactful conversations in communities in the U.S. and beyond.

Grants range from US$2,000 to US$4,000. Project proposals can support existing activities or support the launch of new activities.