The Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation makes a small number of large, regionally focused capital grants supporting campus and community infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on science and higher-education facilities as well as parks, wildlife and public gardens. Their giving prioritizes building projects and exhibit/education spaces that boost civic assets in Sioux Falls and the surrounding region.
A $1.625 million grant for a science building at Augustana University captures the Robert and Rita Elmen Foundation’s pattern of backing major capital projects that reshape campus and community assets. Across its recent giving, the foundation has supported building funds, exhibit expansions, outdoor education spaces, and infrastructure for parks and wildlife sites, with a clear concentration in South Dakota. The largest grants in the record are paired with smaller awards that still point to the same preference for tangible improvements: a new exhibit at the Great Plains Zoo, a tree education garden at Wegner Arboretum Society, and building work at Augustana College. The foundation’s portfolio also includes grants tied to public institutions and civic amenities, suggesting a focus on projects that are visible, durable, and tied to community use. Its grant list shows repeated support for organizations in Sioux Falls and Pierre, with several recipients appearing more than once across the recent years on file. That combination of large capital gifts and repeat support for select institutions gives the foundation a distinct profile as a builder-oriented funder in its region.
In higher education, the foundation backed campus facilities at Augustana College with grants of $721,707 in 2025, $200,000 in 2024, and $200,000 in 2023, alongside a $1.625 million science-building grant routed through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. In parks and outdoor infrastructure, it gave $960,000 to South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation for a building project and another $125,000 for Palisades State Park capital work, with additional support of $80,000 and $75,000 in earlier years for the same organization. The foundation also funds cultural and public-facing spaces: Great Plains Zoo received $750,000 for new exhibits, while Wegner Arboretum Society received $300,000 for a tree education garden. Beyond capital projects, the record includes operating support for the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Levitt Foundation, showing that the foundation occasionally supports ongoing organizational activity as well.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent record also includes several much larger capital awards. The foundation’s giving pattern is repeated and relationship-based: Augustana College appears in multiple years, South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation appears across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several other recipients recur as well. The foundation is a private foundation with a local geographic scope, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant record available here does not show an application process.
$4.4M
$86.4M
$20M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, large-dollar capital grants to a handful of local institutions rather than many small awards; primarily one-time gifts for building, exhibit, or infrastructure projects.
Notable grantees: SF Area Community Foundation (science building for Augustana University), South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Great Plains Zoo, Augustana College, Wegner Arboretum Society
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 82% of grants go to recipients in South Dakota, and all listed recent grants are in the United States. Sioux Falls is the main recipient city, with additional awards landing in Pierre and Mitchell, plus a smaller number outside the state in Santa Barbara, New York, and Wellesley Hills. The pattern points to a South Dakota-centered portfolio with occasional out-of-state research grants.
The recent record centers on capital and facility projects: a science building for Augustana University, building work for South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, new exhibits at the Great Plains Zoo, and a tree education garden at Wegner Arboretum Society. The foundation also supports some operating needs, including grants to the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Levitt Foundation.
Yes. Augustana College appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and South Dakota Symphony Orchestra also appears more than once. That pattern suggests recurring relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
Its typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger capital gifts, but the distribution shows that many awards cluster below those headline amounts.
The foundation gives locally, with 82% of grants going to recipients in South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the most common recipient city, followed by Pierre and Mitchell in the recent grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD PARKS AND WILDLIFE FDN | PIERRE, SD | $960,000 | 2025 | BUILDING PROJECT |
| GREAT PLAINS ZOO | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $750,000 | 2025 | NEW EXHIBITS |
| AUGUSTANA COLLEGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $721,707 | 2025 | BUILDING |
| SANSUM DIABETES RESERACH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | RESERACH |
| BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESERACH COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | RESERACH |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RES FDN | WELLESLEY HILLS, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | RESERACH |
| SD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $101,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| ABBOTT HOUSE | MITCHELL, SD | $100,000 | 2025 | FOSTER CARE |
| LEVITT FOUNDATION | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| FALL AREA SINGLE TRACK | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $100,000 | 2025 | BUILDING NEW TRAILS |
| FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $90,000 | 2025 | FOOD FOR THE NEEDY |
| SD PARKS AND WILDLIFE FDN | PIERRE, SD | $75,000 | 2025 | PALISADES STATEPARKCAPITAL CAMP. |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | MISSION, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE TEACHERSFOR LAKOTA NATIONSINDIAN TRIBES |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AM | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| RED CROSS | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | MULTI CULURALCENTER |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | NEW BUILDING FUND |
| SF YMCA LEIF ERICSON CAMP | SIOU FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | DAY CAMP FOR AGES 6-9 |
| SHIFT GARAGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $45,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| CALL TO FREEDOM | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $40,000 | 2025 | TO STOP SEXTRAFFICING |
| ACTIVE GENERATIONS | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $35,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECT LIBRARY ADDN |
| MIDWEST STREET MEDICINE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $30,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MEDICALCARE FORVULNERABLE POPULATION |
| THE BANQUET | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | FEEDING MEALS |
| CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| WASHINGTON PAVILION | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| COMPASS CENTER | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | ABUSE COUNSELING |
| BOYS SCOUTS OF AMERICA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| SIOUX FALLS CARE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| BISHOP DUDLEY HOUSE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | SHELTER FORHOMELESS |
| FACE IT TOGETHER | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| ST FRANCIS HOUSE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | SHELTER TRAININGFOR THOSE IN NEED |
| THE GLORY HOUSE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $20,000 | 2025 | LONG TERM HOUSING |
| TALL GRASS | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $20,000 | 2025 | ALCOHOL AND DRUGADDICTION TREATMENT |
| PROMISING FUTURE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| HELP LINE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $20,000 | 2025 | SUCIDE PREVENTION |
| LUNCH IS SERVED | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| ST VINCENT de PAUL (DIAPER MINISTRY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $15,000 | 2025 | DIAPERS |
| GREAT PLAINS ZOO | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $15,000 | 2025 | ZOO FOR EVERYONE |
| UNITED WAY YANKTON | YANKTON, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY HURON | HURON, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY WATERTOWN | WATERTOWN, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| AUGUSTANA UNINVESITY | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FORTHE LIBRARY |
| EMILYS HOPE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP THOSE WITH DRUG ADDICTION |
| CENTER FOR WESTERN STUDIES | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY PIERRE | PIERRE, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY RAPIED CITY | RAPID CITY, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| SIOUX EMPIRE HEALTH | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | MENTAL HEALTHSUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY BROOKINGS | BROOKINGS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
| CUSTER MINISTRIAL ALLIANCE | CUSTER, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING |
SD PARKS AND WILDLIFE FDN
$960,000BUILDING PROJECT
GREAT PLAINS ZOO
$750,000NEW EXHIBITS
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE
$721,707BUILDING
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESERACH COUNCIL
$150,000RESERACH
RESERACH
LEVITT FOUNDATION
$100,000OPERATING
FALL AREA SINGLE TRACK
$100,000BUILDING NEW TRAILS
SD PARKS AND WILDLIFE FDN
$75,000PALISADES STATEPARKCAPITAL CAMP.
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$50,000PROVIDE TEACHERSFOR LAKOTA NATIONSINDIAN TRIBES
VOLUNTEERS OF AM
$50,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
RED CROSS
$50,000DISASTER RELIEF
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES
$50,000MULTI CULURALCENTER
SF YMCA LEIF ERICSON CAMP
$50,000DAY CAMP FOR AGES 6-9
SHIFT GARAGE
$45,000OPERATING
CALL TO FREEDOM
$40,000TO STOP SEXTRAFFICING
ACTIVE GENERATIONS
$35,000SPECIAL PROJECT LIBRARY ADDN
MIDWEST STREET MEDICINE
$30,000HEALTH AND MEDICALCARE FORVULNERABLE POPULATION
THE BANQUET
$25,000FEEDING MEALS
CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY
$25,000OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON PAVILION
$25,000OPERATING
BOYS SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$25,000OPERATING
SIOUX FALLS CARE
$25,000OPERATING
BISHOP DUDLEY HOUSE
$25,000SHELTER FORHOMELESS
FACE IT TOGETHER
$25,000OPERATING
ST FRANCIS HOUSE
$25,000SHELTER TRAININGFOR THOSE IN NEED
THE GLORY HOUSE
$20,000LONG TERM HOUSING
TALL GRASS
$20,000ALCOHOL AND DRUGADDICTION TREATMENT
PROMISING FUTURE
$20,000OPERATING
LUNCH IS SERVED
$20,000OPERATING
ST VINCENT de PAUL (DIAPER MINISTRY
$15,000DIAPERS
GREAT PLAINS ZOO
$15,000ZOO FOR EVERYONE
UNITED WAY YANKTON
$10,000OPERATING
UNITED WAY HURON
$10,000OPERATING
UNITED WAY WATERTOWN
$10,000OPERATING
UNITED WAY
$10,000OPERATING
AUGUSTANA UNINVESITY
$10,000OPERATING FORTHE LIBRARY
EMILYS HOPE
$10,000TO HELP THOSE WITH DRUG ADDICTION
CENTER FOR WESTERN STUDIES
$10,000OPERATING
UNITED WAY PIERRE
$10,000OPERATING
UNITED WAY RAPIED CITY
$10,000OPERATING
SIOUX EMPIRE HEALTH
$10,000MENTAL HEALTHSUPPORT
UNITED WAY BROOKINGS
$10,000OPERATING
CUSTER MINISTRIAL ALLIANCE
$10,000OPERATING