South Dakota State University Foundation
87% goes to programs $7 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
South Dakota State University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Brookings, South Dakota, registered in 1947, with $63,664,809 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 87% of spending to programs.
815 Medary Ave, Brookings, SD, 57006 EIN 46-0273801 Since 1947
Revenue (FY2023)
$63.7M
▼ 26.6% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$68.4M
Net assets
$376.9M
Employees
54
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating87% to programs · $7 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For South Dakota State University Foundation: 87% to programs · $7 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating66 mo reserves · -7% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For South Dakota State University Foundation: 66 mo reserves · -7% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For South Dakota State University Foundation: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For South Dakota State University Foundation: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Uniting the dreams of our students, university, and donors to build a better sdsu.
Contact & location
- Address
- 815 Medary Ave, Brookings, SD, 57006
- City
- Brookings
- State
- South Dakota
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Support Foundations & Fundraising
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $51.1M (FY2013) to $63.7M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $12.5MNet assets $376.9M
Operating margin
-7.5%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$389.4M
Total liabilities
$12.5M
Net assets
$376.9M
Salaries & benefits
$4.9M
7% of expenses
Board members
13
13 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $63,664,809▼26.6% | $68,418,903▲120% | $376,901,100▲4.0% | $389,380,417▲3.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $86,766,590▲1.0% | $31,153,517▲9.2% | $362,449,957▲8.7% | $374,742,480▲7.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $85,922,065▲56.8% | $28,523,415▼16.9% | $333,342,228▲28.3% | $348,997,172▲21.2% | 990 |
| 2020 | $54,798,337▼5.5% | $34,303,687▲22.3% | $259,857,158▲17.4% | $287,960,105▲13.9% | 990 |
| 2019 | $57,978,864▲20.2% | $28,052,053▼40.2% | $221,401,256▲23.3% | $252,841,362▲14.1% | 990 |
| 2018 | $48,237,366▲17.5% | $46,907,490▲43.7% | $179,634,568▼5.3% | $221,617,904▲5.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $41,068,851▼5.3% | $32,650,863▼19.6% | $189,683,953▲7.7% | $209,780,693▲8.2% | 990 |
| 2016 | $43,384,474▲53.2% | $40,607,008▲68.5% | $176,121,095▲4.0% | $193,967,375▲3.5% | 990 |
| 2015 | $28,309,924▼34.6% | $24,102,704▼39.6% | $169,292,756 | $187,378,134▼1.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $43,298,816▼15.2% | $39,902,033▲56.5% | $169,348,609▲0.9% | $191,054,490▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2013 | $51,076,793 | $25,503,442▲70.9% | $167,834,824▲24.4% | $191,862,495▲19.2% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $14,923,071▼49.4% | $134,907,297▲19.2% | $160,983,140▲11.1% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $29,468,783▼1.1% | $113,146,656▼3.3% | $144,963,532▼3.7% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $29,810,745 | $117,046,319 | $150,483,817 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Steve Erpenbach — $243,663 (0.36% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Erpenbach | President/ceo | 55 | $243,663 |
| Tim Dwire | Vp For Finance & Operations | 55 | $188,710 |
| Keith Mahlum | Vp For Development | 55 | $180,804 |
| Rina Reynolds | Assoc Vp For Philanthropy | 55 | $124,754 |
| Arian Bunde | Vp For Strategy & Innovation | 55 | $123,726 |
| Michael Birgen | Assoc Vp For Philanthropy | 55 | $122,503 |
| Ned Gavlick | Assoc Vp For Gift Planning | 55 | $117,274 |
| Bob Schmidt | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Brian Aamlid | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dana Dykhouse | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dave Schaefer | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Kathy Walker | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Kevin Tetzlaff | Chair-elect | 1 | — |
| Marc Mooney | Chair | 1 | — |
| Mark Wahlstrom | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Michelle Mccarville | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Mike Roberts | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Rita Edwards | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Roberta Olson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Travys Harvey-king | Board Member | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Sodexo Inc and Affiliates | Food Services | $734,233 |
| First Bank & Trust Wealth Management | Fiduciary Fees | $248,088 |
| Jackrabbit Ticket Office | Suite and Ticket Sales | $197,920 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Technology Services | $172,876 |
| Mills Construction | Construction | $162,487 |
Grants received · $40.8M total
217 grants to South Dakota State University Foundation totaling $40.8M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | Economic development, physical improvements and housing, workforce development | 2024 | $2,125,000 |
| South Dakota Community Foundation | Education | 2024 | $1,923,915 |
| Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation Inc | Scholarship funding, capital projects, programs support, general support | 2024 | $360,020 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2024 | $200,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $120,250 |
| Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture Inc | To further the continuous active conduct of scientific & agricultural research. | 2024 | $100,000 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $81,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $78,785 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $67,788 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $42,239 |
| American Gift Fund | Operations | 2024 | $17,750 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2024 | $13,000 |
| Sae International | Scholarship | 2024 | $12,500 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Donor advised, education | 2024 | $12,500 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $10,000 |
Grants made · $59.6M in FY2023
3 grants totaling $59.6M in FY2023. All grants made by South Dakota State University Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University | Gifts, grants, scholarships; sdsu dept expenses, building & equipment purchases | $56,899,969 |
| Dakota Bioproducts Innovation Institute | Capital project | $2,124,558 |
| South Dakota State University Alumni Association | Program support | $533,843 |
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Compare South Dakota State University Foundation
Frequently asked questions
- Is South Dakota State University Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. South Dakota State University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 46-0273801, based in Brookings, South Dakota. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is South Dakota State University Foundation's EIN?
- South Dakota State University Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 46-0273801.
- How much revenue does South Dakota State University Foundation report?
- South Dakota State University Foundation reported $63,664,809 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of South Dakota State University Foundation's spending goes to programs?
- South Dakota State University Foundation spends about 87% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does South Dakota State University Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades South Dakota State University Foundation A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does South Dakota State University Foundation's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on South Dakota State University Foundation's latest Form 990 is $243,663, paid to Steve Erpenbach (President/ceo).
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Data for South Dakota State University Foundation (EIN 46-0273801) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.