Gwendolyn L. Stearns Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Gwendolyn L. Stearns Foundation supports children and youth, education, family services, food, human services and community arts in and around Rapid City, South Dakota.

FUNDING AREAS: Children and youth, education, family services, food, human services, community arts

IP TAKE: This low-key funder is all about improving the quality of life in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it is a particularly accessible one that accepts ongoing grant requests from local groups. The foundation lacks a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines.

PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Gwendolyn L. Stearns Foundation is a private foundation based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Kathy Miller is the president of the foundation, and there are numerous other directors and officers who serve the foundation. Limited information is publicly known about the founder and her family. The foundation funds local efforts for children and youth, education, family services, food, human services and community arts.

The Gwendolyn L. Stearns Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, past tax records reveal that this foundation supports a wide variety of nonprofits in a narrow geographic area. Grantmaking is typically for programs and specific projects. Past funding has gone towards hot meals for seniors, suicide prevention, programs for at-risk youth, food and nutrition programs for children and community enrichment through the arts.

Grants range between about $5,000 and $20,000. The foundation typically grants less than $500,000 per year. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the Rapid City area of South Dakota. Past local grantees include Western SD Senior Services, Alliance of Tribal Tourism and the Rapid City Club for Boys.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. There are no specific application forms to complete, as the foundation only requests details about the organization, specific project and purpose of the grant. There are no deadlines for grant applications. Direct grant applications and general questions to the attention of James Clement on the staff at 605-737-5923.

PEOPLE:

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