The Edward L Schwab Memorial Foundation (through Dakotah Bank) concentrates almost all of its giving on postsecondary scholarships in South Dakota, splitting major awards between South Dakota State University and Lake Area Technical College. Grants are clearly targeted to student financial aid—both academic and technical/vocational pathways—supporting local workforce development and access to higher education in the Aberdeen region. The foundation’s support emphasizes practical, regionally focused education rather than broad national causes.
Highly concentrated: six grants totaling $406k all categorized as education, split between two repeat grantees (three grants each). Large, targeted scholarship awards to a small number of local institutions rather than many small or diverse recipients.
A defining feature of Edward L Schwab Memorial Foundation Dacotah Bank is how consistently it channels scholarship dollars to South Dakota postsecondary students, with the largest recent awards going to South Dakota State University and Lake Area Technical College. The pattern is narrow and highly specific: grants are almost entirely restricted to tuition and scholarship support rather than broad charitable programming. Within that focus, the foundation supports both academic and technical pathways, which points to an interest in access to college and workforce-oriented training for students in the region. The foundation’s recent record shows repeated support for several South Dakota institutions, including South Dakota State University, Lake Area Technical College, Mount Marty College, and the University of South Dakota. It also extends scholarship support to other in-state colleges and universities such as Northern State University, University of Sioux Falls, Dakota State University, Mitchell Technical Institute, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and Black Hills State University. A smaller share of grants has gone outside the state, but the center of gravity remains clear: student financial aid in South Dakota, especially for postsecondary learners tied to local education and training pipelines.
Scholarship support is the core of the foundation’s giving, and the recent grants make that visible across a range of institutions. It gave $18,244 to Northern State University for scholarships and $12,052 to the same school in 2024, showing repeat support for Aberdeen-based higher education. The foundation also backed Mount Marty College with $20,722 in 2023, $16,728 in 2024, and $13,865 in 2025, all for scholarships. Technical and vocational training is another clear thread. Lake Area Technical College received $69,460 in 2025, $61,842 in 2024, and $53,689 in 2023 for scholarships, while Mitchell Technical Institute received $10,466 in 2025 for scholarships. The foundation also funded South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with $7,566 in 2025, extending scholarship aid to another in-state pathway into specialized postsecondary study.
Typical grants are modest: the 25th percentile is $1,225, the median is $2,416, and the 75th percentile is $6,335. That distribution sits alongside a small number of much larger scholarship awards to South Dakota institutions, including several five-figure grants. The grant record shows repeated support for the same colleges across multiple years, indicating a continuing scholarship pattern rather than isolated one-time gifts. The foundation is not identified as making program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals directly; its giving is routed through institutions.
$298K
$1.7M
$378K
$426K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Notable grantees: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, LAKE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, Regional postsecondary scholarship programs/beneficiaries (local students)
Grants are overwhelmingly concentrated in the United States, and 42% of all grants go to recipients in South Dakota, the foundation’s top giving state. Within that state, Brookings, Watertown, Yankton, Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Madison, Mitchell, Spearfish, and Rapid City all appear as recipient locations. Outside South Dakota, the foundation has also made scholarship grants to institutions in Fargo, North Dakota; Springfield, Missouri; and Sioux Center, Iowa. The geographic pattern is regional rather than national, with South Dakota clearly anchoring the portfolio.
Its recent grantmaking is almost entirely scholarship support for postsecondary students. The largest awards go to South Dakota State University and Lake Area Technical College, and the wider list includes multiple South Dakota colleges and universities as scholarship recipients.
The grant-size distribution is small on most awards: the 25th percentile is $1,225, the median is $2,416, and the 75th percentile is $6,335. Larger scholarship grants also appear in the record, but most awards cluster in the low-thousands.
Yes. The grants include support for academic institutions and technical or vocational training. South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and Northern State University appear alongside Lake Area Technical College and Mitchell Technical Institute, all receiving scholarship funding.
Yes. South Dakota is the top state by grant count, with 42% of grants going to recipients there. The recipient list also includes a smaller number of grants to institutions in North Dakota, Missouri, and Iowa.
Yes. The record shows repeated scholarship grants across multiple years to South Dakota State University, Lake Area Technical College, Mount Marty College, University of South Dakota, University of Sioux Falls, Dakota State University, and Northern State University.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $86,993 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LAKE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | WATERTOWN, SD | $69,460 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA | VERMILLION, SD | $15,263 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MOUNT MARTY COLLEGE | YANKTON, SD | $13,865 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $12,233 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FARGO, ND | $12,233 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,965 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE | MITCHELL, SD | $10,466 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | MADISON, SD | $9,333 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY | RAPID CITY, SD | $7,566 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY | SPEARFISH, SD | $6,933 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DORDT UNIVERSITY | SIOUX CENTER, IA | $5,800 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | ABERDEEN, SD | $4,033 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY - MOORHEAD | MOORHEAD, MN | $2,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MITCHELL, SD | $2,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $2,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE | ORANGE CITY, IA | $2,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| US AIR FORCE ACADEMY | USAF ACADEMY, CO | $2,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $2,531 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN ST PAUL | ROSEVILLE, MN | $2,266 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EVANGEL UNIVERSITY | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $2,266 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,767 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY | DEKALB, IL | $1,767 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA | GRAND FORKS, ND | $1,767 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,767 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CASPER COLLEGE | CASPER, WY | $1,133 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE | DUBUQUE, IA | $1,133 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $1,133 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CONCORDIA COLLEGE | MOORHEAD, MN | $1,133 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $73,727 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LAKE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | WATERTOWN, SD | $61,842 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MOUNT MARTY COLLEGE | YANKTON, SD | $16,728 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA | VERMILLION, SD | $14,528 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $13,304 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | ABERDEEN, SD | $12,052 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY | SPEARFISH, SD | $7,292 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | MADISON, SD | $7,140 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FARGO, ND | $6,067 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EVANGEL UNIVERSITY | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $4,843 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY | RAPID CITY, SD | $4,843 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE | MITCHELL, SD | $3,673 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $3,673 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DORDT UNIVERSITY | SIOUX CENTER, IA | $3,646 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $2,449 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CONCORDIA COLLEGE | MOORHEAD, MN | $2,421 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| US AIR FORCE ACADEMY | USAF ACADEMY, CO | $2,421 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $2,421 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE | LINCOLN, NE | $2,394 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY - MOORHEAD | MOORHEAD, MN | $1,225 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,225 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$86,993SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$15,263SCHOLARSHIPS
AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY
$12,233SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,233SCHOLARSHIPS
MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
$10,466SCHOLARSHIPS
DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$9,333SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY
$7,566SCHOLARSHIPS
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,933SCHOLARSHIPS
DORDT UNIVERSITY
$5,800SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY
$4,033SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN
$2,900SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE
$2,900SCHOLARSHIPS
US AIR FORCE ACADEMY
$2,900SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$2,531SCHOLARSHIPS
EVANGEL UNIVERSITY
$2,266SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES
$1,767SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
$1,767SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
$1,767SCHOLARSHIPS
CASPER COLLEGE
$1,133SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
$1,133SCHOLARSHIPS
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$1,133SCHOLARSHIPS
CONCORDIA COLLEGE
$1,133SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$73,727SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,052SCHOLARSHIPS
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,292SCHOLARSHIPS
DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,140SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,067SCHOLARSHIPS
EVANGEL UNIVERSITY
$4,843SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY
$4,843SCHOLARSHIPS
MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
$3,673SCHOLARSHIPS
AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY
$3,673SCHOLARSHIPS
DORDT UNIVERSITY
$3,646SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$2,449SCHOLARSHIPS
US AIR FORCE ACADEMY
$2,421SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN
$2,421SCHOLARSHIPS