SFS Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- SFS Foundation funds work in the Sioux Falls area, with stated award restrictions covering medical research, veterans, youth programs, behavioral health or education, so a project needs to sit squarely within one of those themes and that locality to be eligible.
- Most of its 56 grants to organisations fall between $40,000 and $835,000, with a median of about $105,000, so a modest request in that band is realistic rather than aiming for its largest grant of $3,000,000.
- Application is by written request, and the filing lists no deadlines, so there is no fixed cycle to work around.
- With 68% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, it looks relationship-led, so first-time applicants should expect it to take time to build a connection rather than assume a single approach will secure funding.
- Organisations whose work falls outside the Sioux Falls area or outside medical research, veterans, youth programs, behavioral health or education are not within its stated restrictions.
Overview
SFS Foundation is a US private foundation based in Sioux Falls, SD.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filing describes providing funding to other 501(c)(3) organisations to administer as part of their programmes, with an initial focus on local nonprofits, schools supporting scholarships for higher education, nonprofits providing behavioural-health resources for children and adolescents, and medical-research organisations. The grant record includes schools and education foundations, health foundations, community foundations, and nonprofits serving children and families. Recorded purposes include scholarships, medical research and support, mental-health programmes, and care and services for children and their families. Its grants are channelled through a varied group of educational, health, community and youth-serving organisations, with an emphasis on local nonprofit activity.
Themes
- Youth behavioural health
- Higher education scholarships
- Medical research
Geographic Focus
Sioux Falls area.
How to apply
Submit a written request.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 68% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 56 grants to organisations were about $105,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The filing lists the Sioux Falls area and medical research, veterans, youth programs, behavioral health or education as award restrictions.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to organisations SFS Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 16% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 22 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $213k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium · We can't wait campaign$2,000,4002025 tax year
- Children's Home Society · Support for care and services needed for children and their families$1,120,0002025 tax year
- Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation · Donor fund$1,016,2962025 tax year
- Sanford Health Foundation · Peds cancer treatment genetic research, sponsor multiple events$835,0002025 tax year
- Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation · Community fund$503,0002025 tax year
- Avera Health Foundation · Avera behavioral health family weekend, medical assistance, visiting expenses$440,0002025 tax year
- Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation · Scholarships$378,7002025 tax year
- Parkinson's Foundation Southwest Chapter · Medical research and support$330,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kristi Metzger — Director
- Molly Stine — President-Treasurer
- Marianne Von Seggern — Chairman-VP-Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $3,833,775 | $3,669,500 | $2,014,741 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,367,478 | $5,192,883 | $1,937,408 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $8,587,014 | $8,418,517 | $22,773 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to SFS Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (605) 310-6994
- MARIANNE@SEEDFORSUCCESS.ORG
- Sioux Falls, SD
Applying to SFS Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (605) 310-6994
- MARIANNE@SEEDFORSUCCESS.ORG
- Sioux Falls, SD