Fairy Godmother's Fund
To provide immediate, short-term, critical financial support to women in South Dakota.
Fund Details
Small grants that make a big difference
It isn’t always easy to make ends meet. Sudden illnesses, loss of employment, abuse, and other issues can spring up and devastate strong women in our communities. We help them get back on their feet.
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund was created to improve the health and well-being of South Dakota women with limited resources. The fund helps them address immediate, short-term, critical needs that can't be met by traditional funding options. There are no grant applications, no long forms or dense financial paperwork to fill out. Our advisory council of women throughout the state works to ensure the funds are directly paid to benefit women’s needs throughout the year.
A fairy godmother is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Through your contribution to The Fairy Godmother’s Fund, you can help the women of South Dakota. With your involvement, this can be a never-ending story of people helping people.
Every first-time contributor of $100 or more will receive a fairy godmother lapel pin. We invite you to wear these to spark interest among other women. Contact us or see our brochure.
Advisory Council
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund’s Advisory Council consists of women from across the state. The women volunteer their time to ensure funds are paid to the most pressing needs.
- Beth Benning of Spearfish
- Bonnie Bjork of Rapid City
- Linda Buri of Milbank
- Sally Christenson of Pierre
- Linda Daugaard of Garretson
- Linda Erickson of Sioux Falls
- Erin Fouberg of Aberdeen
- Marilyn Grossenburg of Winner
- Barbara Harms of Brookings
- Jean Koehler of Mitchell
- Amy Mickelson of Sioux Falls
- Penny Porter of Sioux Falls
“The Fairy Godmother’s Fund continues to gain momentum. Donations go to meet pressing needs in the lives of women who are struggling with medical challenges, striving for a brighter future or are being mistreated. South Dakotans don’t think twice about helping their neighbors in need, so consequently, I find it fairly easy to ask friends and neighbors to support those who need it most.”
the late Glenna Fouberg, Fairy Godmother’s Fund Advisory Council Charter Member
Grants from the Fairy Godmother's Fund benefit individuals in a variety of ways including:
- A Mother of two young children was at risk of losing her daycare because of circumstances beyond her control. You made it possible for her to keep her children in daycare so that she could retain her employment.
- A grandmother caring for her grandson who was born with a disability needed vehicle repairs. To keep her jobs and to transport her grandson to his appointments, your gift made this possible for a very happy Grandmother.
- A single mother and daughter found themselves homeless and residing in their car. A gift assisted them with the funds they needed while housing was secured
- A single mom, recently diagnosed with scoliosis, was able to purchase a washing machine for her and her 5-year-old son. She was unable to drive to a laundromat due to her disability.
- A single mother of four children was approved for housing after living in a Domestic Violence Center. Your gift helped her get the necessities to make their house a home.
How to Make a Referral to the Fairy Godmother's Fund
All requests for assistance must come from nonprofit organizations or community members. The Fairy Godmother’s Fund does not accept self-referrals. Contact the SDCF at (800) 888-1842 to obtain a referral form.
Lending a Helping Hand
Your generous contributions make a huge difference in the lives of women all across South Dakota. Your assistance to these women in their time of need is greatly appreciated. So far, donors have contributed over $620,000 to the fund. Join your friends and neighbors in supporting the Fairy Godmother’s Fund and help make an impact in your community!
| Amber Arlint Insurance & Financial Services |
| Amy Mickelson |
| Amy Penning |
| Andrea & Kenneth Giedt |
| Andrea Fouberg |
| Andrew Bialek |
| Angela Contreras |
| Anita & Douglas Eilers |
| Ann & Evan Buckmiller |
| Ann Paradise |
| Ann Sigelman |
| Arnold Waldner |
| Ashley Podhradsky |
| Barbara Reed Harms |
| Bernie & Sally Christenson Family Fund |
| Beth & Jim Benning |
| Beth Davis |
| Betty & Rickter Clay |
| Bonnie & Rees Mielke |
| Bonnie & Tim Bjork |
| Brittany Schmidt |
| Bruce Brandner |
| Bury Farms Inc |
| Carmen Meyer |
| Carol & Bradley Johnson |
| Carolyn & Donley Lang |
| Catherine Clark |
| Cheryl & William Taylor |
| Connie Williams |
| Cynthia & Richard Korman |
| Cynthia G. & Mark Mickelson |
| Daugaard for South Dakota |
| Davison County |
| Deanna & Darrel Kaiser |
| Deb & Jerry Soholt |
| Deb Fischer-Clemens |
| Deborah Olson |
| Deena Ronayne |
| Delta Dental of South Dakota |
| Diana & David Olson |
| Diane & Thomas Agnitsch |
| Diane Ness |
| Dody & Boyd Hopkins |
| Donna Masters |
| Doug & Linda Buri Charitable Foundation |
| Edith Lien |
| Emily Guhin |
| Erin & Robert Fouberg |
| First National Bank Philip |
| Gail & William Fuller |
| Georgia Ramos |
| Ginger & Dan Niemann |
| Gloria & Gene Fastnacht |
| Grossenburg Cattle Company, Inc. |
| Heidi Gullickson |
| Holly & Mark Engelhart |
| Jacqueline & Burton Sly |
| Jane & Joel Albrecht |
| Janet Grasse |
| Jean A. Koehler |
| Jean Holle |
| Jeff & Linda Erickson Family Fund |
| Jill Sigelman |
| Joan Hogan |
| John T. & Penny L. Porter Family Fund |
| Julia & Scott Jones |
| Karen & Brad Wallenberg |
| Karen & Corey Brown |
| Kari Bevers |
| Kathi & Mike Mueller |
| Kathleen & Charles Riter |
| Kay Crawford |
| Kellie & Scott Kolb |
| Kelly & Jim Weaver |
| Kelsea & Billie Sutton |
| Kelsey & Chase Smith |
| Kendra "Birdie" Childress |
| Kendra & William Jr. Calhoun |
| Kim & Steve Malsam-Rysdon |
| Kris & Steve Egger Charitable Fund of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation |
| Laura & Jay Mitchell |
| Linda & Dennis Daugaard |
| Linda & Doug Buri |
| Linda & James Breckenridge |
| Linda & Stephen Peters |
| Linda & William Roth |
| Linda Mickelson Graham |
| Lois & Larry Nebben |
| Lori & Bob Sutton |
| Lori & Clayton Moen |
| Lori & Steve Finnesand |
| Lori & Tom Oster |
| Lori Wilbur |
| Margaret Amundson |
| Margaret Lehr |
| Margie & Gary Caviezel |
| Margot Hood-Rogers |
| Marilyn & Barry Grossenburg |
| Marilyn & Lynn Hurley |
| Marilyn Hoyt |
| Mary & Richard Carter |
| Mary C. Schmidt |
| Mary Jane & Elliott Nelson |
| Mary Lamont |
| Mary Louise Miller |
| Matt & Stephanie Judson Family Fund |
| MeChelle & Chad Lang |
| Molly & Jared Daniel |
| Nancy & John Sternquist |
| Nancy & Richard Gowen |
| Nichole & Jerry Bury |
| Nini & Jim Hart |
| Paige & Matt Bock |
| Pam & Clay Roberts |
| Pamela & Gregory Sands |
| Pamela & Robert McLaughlin |
| Pat & Shawn Costello Advised Fund |
| Paul Christen |
| Paula & Craig Meyer |
| Peg Seljeskog |
| Penny & John Porter |
| Pioneer Bank & Trust |
| Presentation Sisters |
| Rhonda Rylance |
| Rita & Dean Sorenson |
| Roberta Ambur |
| Rodney Fouberg |
| Roxane Fouberg |
| Sally & Daryl Isburg |
| Sally Christenson |
| Sandra Spencer |
| Sandra Zinter |
| Sandy & Cy Farner |
| Sandy & John Lown |
| Sara & Tonnis Venhuizen |
| Sharon McGovern |
| South Dakota Community Foundation |
| Supporters of Fairy Godmother's Fund |
| Susan & Kent Edson |
| Susan & Todd Fjelland |
| Susan Evans |
| Susan R. & Curt A. Wischmeier |
| Suzanne & Randal Welter |
| The Wellmark Foundation |
| Theresa Henehan |
| Tina & Bill VanCamp |
| Todd Fulmer |
| Valerie & David Mickelson |
| Valerie & Rick Melmer |
| William Haugen |
| Yvonne Streight |
A Strong Start
The Fairy Godmother’s Fund began in 2009 with $11,000 in donations from hundreds at a women’s conference in Pierre, including $5,000 from the South Dakota Community Foundation.
With that strong foundation, the fund has continued to grow. During our fourteen years of grantmaking, the endowment fund at the South Dakota Community Foundation holds over $640,000 and has awarded 279 grants totaling nearly $125,000.