Free funder guide · South Dakota · Last checked 16 October 2026
Which South Dakota environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in South Dakota have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 11 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in South Dakota that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Of the 28 open South Dakota foundations, only 8 made an environmental grant in their latest filing, and 6 of those also gave to a church, Habitat for Humanity or another faith-based group. The other two give almost nothing to South Dakota conservation. So no private foundation is on this list; the open money here is public, regional and community-foundation money.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In South Dakota, 79 of the 107 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 74%.
That leaves 28 larger South Dakota foundations that say they will read an application. It is a higher share of closed doors than in North Dakota (57%, 34 of 60), Nebraska (62%, 178 of 286) and Wyoming (68%, 122 of 179), and about the same as Minnesota (75%, 676 of 907), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a South Dakota address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (mostly tax year 2025). Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Minnesota. Counting them too gives 74% (86 of 117).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
11 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in South Dakota.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 16 Oct 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeCheck site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
South Dakota DANR: Section 319 Watershed Protection Grants
Pierre · statewide
Federal Clean Water Act money for projects that find and fix nonpoint source pollution, in three categories: watershed, ground water, and information and education. Government agencies, conservation districts, water development districts, universities, certain nonprofit organizations and tribes are eligible.
Typical grant
Award size is not published. Projects that also want state cost share must already be on the State Water Facilities Plan (its site).
Next deadline
2027 funding year: applications had to be received by October 1, 2026, and that round has closed. Next deadline about October 1, 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Electronic or paper application under DANR's project guidance and application requirements.
Federal urban and community forestry money passed through to South Dakota communities and service organizations for projects that solve a specific community forestry problem: tree inventories, care and maintenance, planting, urban food forests, education and professional services.
Typical grant
Up to $5,000, matched by the community or organization with volunteer labor, donated or bought supplies, or cash (its site).
Next deadline
Applications are taken any time and considered in the current or next round. The annual round opens September 1 and runs about a month, so the 2026 round has closed. Next round opens September 1, 2027 Verified.
How to apply
Application form and requirements on the program page.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks: Recreational Trails Program
Pierre · statewide
Federal money to build and maintain motorized and non-motorized recreational trails. Private nonprofits are eligible sponsors, along with public agencies (program manual).
Typical grant
Up to 80 percent reimbursement of project costs (its site).
Next deadline
The 2026 deadline was April 10, 2026. Next about April 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Recreation Trails Program application and manual on GFP's partnerships page.
Bureau of Reclamation: WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
South Dakota and 18 other western states
Funding for watershed groups to organize, write a watershed restoration plan and design projects. An existing watershed group incorporated as a nonprofit can apply, and a nonprofit can apply to sponsor a new group.
Typical grant
Up to $100,000 a year for up to three years, with no cost share (its site).
Next deadline
Four closing dates under the current notice: October 7, 2026 (passed), February 24, 2027, September 1, 2027 and February 15, 2028. Next: February 24, 2027 Verified.
How to apply
Apply to funding opportunity R26AS00349 through Grants.gov; the program page links a recorded July 2026 applicant webinar.
Washington, DC · nationwide, including South Dakota
Pays for qualified conservation nonprofits, local governments and tribes to buy private forest land outright and keep it as a community forest with public access. Conservation easements are not eligible.
Typical grant
Up to $600,000, covering at most 50% of project costs with a 50% non-federal match (its site).
Next deadline
Fiscal 2026 round: applications were due to state foresters by October 13, 2026, and that round has closed. The next round is not posted yet Check site.
How to apply
Notice of funding opportunity on Grants.gov; the application goes to the state forester (in South Dakota, DANR's Resource Conservation and Forestry Division).
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Northern Great Plains Program
Washington, DC · Dakota Grasslands focal area
Voluntary grassland conservation and restoration with ranchers and tribes: grazing management, prescribed fire, wet meadow and prairie restoration, grassland bird habitat. The Dakota Grasslands is one of its four focal areas.
Typical grant
Typically $200,000 to $1.5 million, 15 to 25 grants a year, with 1:1 match encouraged (2026 request for proposals). South Dakota grant in its 2026 slate: South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust $400,000. Grants in its filing for the year to September 2025, which does not name the program: South Dakota Grassland Coalition $214,646, South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust $175,243.
Next deadline
About February 2027 Expected. The 2026 round closed February 25, 2026; the 2027 request for proposals is not posted yet.
How to apply
Online proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system, following the request for proposals when it is posted.
National Forest Foundation: Matching Awards Program
Missoula, MT · national forests and grasslands, including the Black Hills
Stewardship and community engagement projects on national forests and grasslands, or adjacent public land that benefits them: trail and restoration work, youth and volunteer crews, watershed and habitat projects. Nonprofits, tribes and universities are eligible.
Typical grant
Requires a 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind match (its site). I found no South Dakota grantee in its latest filing or its past awards list.
Next deadline
Twice a year. The second 2026 round ran May 27 to July 9, 2026 and has closed; dates for the next round are not posted yet Check site.
How to apply
Online application during an open window, following the round's request for proposals.
South Dakota Discovery Center: Section 319 Information and Education Mini-grants
Pierre · statewide
Small grants from the state's nonpoint source education program for outreach and education on water pollution from runoff, aimed at citizens, stakeholders, decision makers and students. 501(c)(3) organizations, local governments, schools and some state agencies can apply.
Typical grant
Up to $10,000, covering no more than 60% of total project cost; the rest is cash or in-kind match that cannot be federal (its site).
Next deadline
Rolling, reviewed monthly Rolling. The page still says projects must end by June 1, 2026, so the current funding period is unclear Check site.
How to apply
Proposal through the mini-grant site; ask the Discovery Center which funding period is open before applying.
Black Hills Area Community Foundation: Beautiful Black Hills Fund
Rapid City · Black Hills
A fund seeded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Helmsley Charitable Trust and local donors for nature-focused nonprofits in the Black Hills: restoring ecosystems and wildlife habitat, responsible recreation such as trail upkeep, and projects that connect people with the place.
Typical grant
Award sizes are not published (its site).
Next deadline
No open round is posted; the foundation asks nature-focused nonprofits to contact its staff about funding for 2026 and beyond Check site.
How to apply
Contact BHACF staff in writing through the fund page to ask about current funding.
Black Hills Area Community Foundation: Capacity Building Grants
Rapid City · Oglala Lakota, Fall River, Custer, Pennington, Meade, Lawrence and Butte counties
One-year grants that strengthen a nonprofit's organization: evaluation, partnerships, strategic planning, board development, marketing, technology and staff development. Open to nonprofits and public bodies working in its seven western South Dakota counties.
Typical grant
$10,000 each (its site).
Next deadline
Once a year, February 1 to March 15. Next: February 1 to March 15, 2027 Expected.
Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation: Community Fund Grants
Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls area
Grants from the foundation's unrestricted endowment for new programs, capacity building, financial challenges and community events at nonprofits serving the Sioux Falls area.
Typical grant
Award size is not published. Environmental grants in its filing for the year to June 2025, which mixes donor funds with open grants: Wegner Arboretum $49,669, Ducks Unlimited South Dakota $22,430, Falls Area Single Track $15,895, Friends of the Big Sioux River $8,600.
Next deadline
Letters of inquiry any time Rolling; the committee usually reviews a full proposal six to eight weeks after it arrives.
How to apply
Submit a letter of inquiry online; if invited, the foundation sends application information and a deadline.
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
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