Fairy Godmother's Fund | South Dakota Community Foundation

Fairy Godmother's Fund

Hand going through prairie

To provide immediate, short-term, critical financial support to individuals throughout South Dakota.

Fund Details

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Fairy Godmother Fund Brochure

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 individuals 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 people in South Dakota with limited resources. The fund helps them address immediate, short-term, critical needs that can't be met by traditional funding options. An Advisory Council of individuals throughout the state works to ensure the funds are directly paid to benefit individual'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 people 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 donors.

Advisory Council:

The Fairy Godmother’s Fund’s Advisory Council consists of individuals from across the state. They 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
  • Amy Mickelson of Sioux Falls
  • Penny Porter of Sioux Falls
  • Chris Buche of Mitchell

The Fairy Godmother’s Fund continues to gain momentum. Donations go to meet pressing needs in the lives of those 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:

  • An individual with two young children was at risk of losing their daycare because of circumstances beyond their control. You made it possible to keep the children in daycare so that they could retain their employment.
  • A grandparent caring for their grandchild who was born with a disability needed vehicle repairs. To keep their jobs and to transport their grandchild to their appointments, your gift made this possible for a very happy grandparent.
  • A single parent and child found themselves homeless and residing in their car. A gift assisted them with the funds they needed while housing was secured
  • A single parent, recently diagnosed with scoliosis, was able to purchase a washing machine for themselves and their 5-year-old child. They was unable to drive to a laundromat due to their disability.
  • A single parent with four children was approved for housing after living in a Domestic Violence Center. Your gift helped them 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 individuals all across South Dakota. Your assistance in their time of need is greatly appreciated. So far, donors have contributed over $760,000 to the fund. Join your friends and neighbors in supporting the Fairy Godmother’s Fund and help make an impact in your community!
 

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Amy Mickelson
Ann Sigelman
Ann Smith
Bernie & Sally Christenson Family Fund
Beth & Jim Benning
Big Stone Tabor Church
Bonnie & Rees Mielke
Bonnie & Tim Bjork
Brandy Drew
Bruce Brandner
Carmen Meyer
Carolyn & Donley Lang
Catherine Clark
Cherie Hellwig
Cheryl & William Taylor
Connie Colwill
Darlene Even
David & Sean Potas
Deanell Backlund
Deborah Sorenson
Deborah Walrath
Deena Ronayne
DeMaris Paulson Nesheim Charitable Fund
Denise & Patrick Cody
Diane Ness
Dolores Lauinger
Donna Masters
Doneen & Russell Hollingsworth
Ellen & Thomas Lee
Erin & Robert Fouberg
Gail Bonn
George Allen
Ginger & Dan Niemann
Heather Petermann
Jaci Casanova-Keller
Jaqueline & Burton Sly
Jamie & Tony Farmen
Jane & Joel Albrecht
Jane Brown
Janet & Bob Compton
Janice & Dennis Driscoll
Jean A. Koehler
Jean Holle
Jeff & Linda Erickson Family Fund
John T. & Penny L. Porter Family Fund
Judith Duhamel
Karen & Brad Wallenberg
Kathy & Mike Mueller
Kathryn Johnson
Kay Crawford
Kay James
Kelsey & Chase Smith
Kendra "Birdie" Childress
Kendra & William, Jr. Calhoun
Kris & Steve Egger Charitable Fund of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation
Kristine & David Downs
Linda & Dennis Daugaard
Linda & Doug Buri
Linda & William Roth
Linda's Fashion Employees
Lindsey Philips
Lori & Bob Sutton
Lori & Steve Finnesand
Lori & Tom Oster
Lori Leader
M.L. Wilhelm Education Fund
Margaret Amundson
Margaret Lehr
Margot Hood-Rogers
Marilyn & Barry Grossenburg
Marilyn Hoyt
Marsha & Kenneth Bertsch
Martha & Walter Carlson
Mary & Ron Pesek
Mary Ann & Patrick King
Mary Bridget Jensen
Mary Gederos
Mary Lamont
Mary Livingston
Matt & Stephanie Judson Family Fund
Mickelson Family Fund
Nancy & Randall Schaap
Nini & Jim Hart
Pamela & Robert McLaughlin
Pat & Shawn Costello Advised Fund of the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern SD
Patricia & Daniel Eisenbraun
Peg Seljeskog
Peggy Urquhart
Penny & John Porter
Presentation Sisters
R. Sally & Daryl Isburg
Rebecca Schenk
Rita & Dean Sorenson
Roberts & Patrick Gallagher
Roberta Ambur
Rosemary Rounds
Sally Christenson
Sandy & Cy Farner
Sandy & John Lown
South Dakota Community Foundation
Stephanie Harmon
Steve & Marty Kalkman Charitable Fund
Susan & Clayton Johnson
Susan Burgard
Susan R. & Curt A. Wischmeier
Tessier Family Advised Fund
Theresa Henehan
Todd Fulmer
Tona & John Rozum
Victoria Waitman
Virginia & Merle Larson

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. The endowment fund at the South Dakota Community Foundation has awarded over 330 grants totaling nearly $153,000.

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