DAR Foundation grants over $200,000 to South Dakota organizations in 2025!
Annual giving supports historic preservation, patriotism, education in the state.
12/18/20251 min read
The Mary Chilton DAR Foundation awarded 35 grants totalling over $200,000 in 2025. These grants supported the DAR Foundation’s goal of encouraging historic preservation, patriotism and education throughout the state of South Dakota.
The DAR Foundation offers two different categories of grants to South Dakota-based organizations each year. Mini Grants for amounts up to $1,000 are awarded six times per year. Regular Grants for $1,000 to $15,000 are offered three times per year. In addition to these grants, the annual Dorothy Day Davenport Grant awards one Sioux Falls-based organization $50,000.
In 2025, the DAR Foundation awarded 11 Mini Grants totalling $8,750 and 17 Regular Grants totalling $146,582. Sioux Falls nonprofit Emily’s Hope received the Dorothy Day Davenport Grant for $50,000 to support a substance use prevention curriculum in Sioux Falls schools.
One notable Regular Grant from 2025 supported a church bell tower repair at Augustana Lutheran Church. The $13,500 regular grant funded tuck pointing of the tower at the 101-year-old church in Sioux Falls.
This year, the DAR Foundation also introduced the America 250 Grant. This program awards matching funds up to $2,500 for an event, project or patriotic program that celebrates the nation's 250th birthday. Thus far, six America 250 Grants totalling $13,576.24 have been awarded. Just over $36,000 of funds remain for future America 250 Grants to be awarded through May 2026
DAR Foundation grant deadlines are rapidly approaching for 2026. The DAR Foundation is accepting applications for Mini Grants, Regular Grants, and the next round of America 250 Grants by January 5, 2026. The following dates are future grant deadlines through 2026:
● Mini Grants (up to $1,000): March 5, May 5, July 5, September 5 and November 5
● Regular Grants ($1,000 to $15,000): May 5 and September 5
● Dorothy Day Davenport Grant ($50,000): May 1
● America 250 Grants (up to $2,500 in matching funds): March 5 and May 5