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Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$434k
Granted FY2024still arriving
31
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$25k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Human Services$1.0MYouth Development$560kHealth$300kEducation$300kFood & Nutrition$258kArts & Culture$199kCrime & Legal$185kRecreation & Sports$146kOther$0
02FY2024 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k3 grants · $17k
  • $10k–50k28 grants · $417k
$15,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$3.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ADULT DAY CENTER OF THE BLACK HILLS$25,000
FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA$25,000
Individual grant recipient$20,000
RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES$20,000
Individual grant recipient$20,000
SEVENTH CIRCUIT CASA PROGRAM$20,000
LIFEWAYS INC$20,000
JOURNEY ON INC$20,000
KIWANIS$18,500
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA SENIOR SERVICE$15,000
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SD FOUN$15,000
ALLIANCE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVEN$15,000
PASSAGES WOMENS TRANSITIONAL LIVING$15,000
DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY$15,000
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES$15,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $104k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%PASSAGES WOMENS TRANSITIONAL LIVING: $15k → 14%WELLSPRING: $15k → 14%PASSAGES WOMENS TRANSITIONAL LIVING: $15k → 14%WELLSPRING: $14k → 14%WELLSPRING: $10k → 14%PASSAGES WOMENS TRANSITIONAL LIVING: $10k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $5k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $5k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $5k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $5k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $3k → 14%YMCA OF RAPID CITY: $2k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

98%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.2M · 45 repeat orgs$60k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +43% since the first grant, against -19% for those funded once.

45 repeat relationships: 27 still active in FY2024, 18 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

45
2

Total granted

$3.2M
$15k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+43%
-19%

Still filing today

44%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $45k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Youth DevelopmentHuman ServicesCommunity ImprovementFood & NutritionCivil RightsEmploymentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FS
    FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA
    7× · 2017–2024 · $220k · revenue +28%
  • 7C
    7TH CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM
    8× · 2017–2024 · $175k · revenue +1%
  • LI
    LIFEWAYS INC
    7× · 2017–2024 · $165k · revenue +89%

Funded once

  • RC
    RAPID CITY PUBLIC PARKS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
  • SK
    SPARE KEY
    one grant, 2017 · $5k · revenue -19%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Regional West Health Services

Health care services for the people of western nebraska and eastern wyoming.

Health
2
Dakotabilities Inc

Together, we create a warm and welcoming community enriching the lives of those we support.

Human Services
3
Wayside House Inc

Our mission is to break the cycle of addiction and trauma for women, children, and families.

—
4
Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency

Southeastern north dakota community action agency (sendcaa) was formed in 1965 to provide a range of services and activities in a six county area designed to alleviate poverty and give low-income people the opportunity to improve their…

Human Services
5
South Dakota Voices for Peace

Sd voices for peace provides five programming areas to assist vulnerable communities access services throughout the state: legal services, multilingual outreach, training and education, advocacy and civic engagement and rapid response.

—
6
Homeward Bound Inc

Providing innovative and life-enriching services for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities.

Human Services
7
Prairie Harvest Mental Health

We promote independence and an enhanced quality of life for adults with serious mental illness.

Human Services
8
Pathways Behavioral Services Inc

Offering help for today and inspiring hope for tomorrow through outstanding personalized care, support and education.

Health
9
Western Resources for Independ

To assist disabled individuals

Human Services
10
Children's Home Society of South Dakota

Children's home society of south dakota is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trauma-informed services to children and families impacted by abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and mental health challenges. our mission is to…

Human Services
11
Lifeworks Services Inc

Lifeworks' mission is to partner with people with disabilities to drive change by increasing opportunity and access in the community.

Human Services
12
Sd Association of Healthcare Organizations

Advancing healthy communities through a unified voice across the health care continuum.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Black Hills Works Inc; the most unlike its peers is Front Porch Coalition. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 52 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
18/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $160,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientFRONT PORCH COALITION: $145,000 · OtherFRONT PORCH COALITIONADULT DAY CENTER OF THE BLACK HILLS: $125,000 · OtherADULT DAY CENTER OF THE BLACK HILLSCONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING: $123,000 · OtherCONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELINGCATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $120,000 · OtherCATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICESKIWANIS: $101,000 · OtherRAPID CITY ARTS COUNCIL: $96,000 · OtherWORKING AGAINST VIOLENCE INC: $95,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $87,150 · OtherSUNCATCHERS THERAPEUTIC: $85,500 · OtherCORNERSTONE RESCUE MISSION: $77,047 · OtherALLIED ARTS FUND DRIVE INC: $75,000 · Other+28 more: $940,900 · Other+28 moreLIFEWAYS INC: $165,000 · Youth DevelopmentLIFEWAYS IN…RAPID CITY CLUB FOR BOYS INC: $70,000 · Youth DevelopmentRAPID CITY …GIRL SCOUTS - DAKOTA HORIZONS: $47,000 · Youth DevelopmentGIRL SCOUTS…Journey On Inc: $40,000 · Youth DevelopmentJourney On …FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA: $220,000 · Food & Nutrition7TH CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM: $175,000 · Civil RightsRURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES: $150,000 · Community Improvement+1 more: $5,000 · Community ImprovementWELLSPRING INC: $54,000 · Human ServicesPASSAGES WOMEN'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING INC: $40,000 · Human ServicesRAPID CITY Y M C A: $24,950 · Human ServicesBLACK HILLS WORKS INC: $41,697 · Employment
Other$2,230,597Youth Development$322,000Food & Nutrition$220,000Civil Rights$175,000Community Improvement$155,000Human Services$118,950Employment$41,697

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetFEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA: $220,000 over 7y, 0.2% of budget7TH CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM: $175,000 over 8y, 8.7% of budgetLIFEWAYS INC: $165,000 over 7y, 4.7% of budgetRURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES: $150,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetADULT DAY CENTER OF THE BLACK HILLS: $125,000 over 5y, 4.9% of budgetWORKING AGAINST VIOLENCE INC: $95,000 over 8y, 1.0% of budgetCORNERSTONE RESCUE MISSION: $77,047 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetALLIED ARTS FUND DRIVE INC: $75,000 over 8y, 30% of budgetRAPID CITY CLUB FOR BOYS INC: $70,000 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetWELLSPRING INC: $54,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetYOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES INC: $47,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS - DAKOTA HORIZONS: $47,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA SENIOR SERVICES INC: $45,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetBLACK HILLS WORKS INC: $41,697 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetJourney On Inc: $40,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetPASSAGES WOMEN'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING INC: $40,000 over 3y, 3.7% of budgetLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SD FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 2y, 2.3% of budgetBLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRAPID CITY Y M C A: $24,950 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetONEHEART: $19,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetDAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF THE BLACK HILLS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - HE SAPA: $10,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetHELPLINE CENTER INC: $6,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSPARE KEY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA ↗
  • Who funds 7TH CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM ↗
  • Who funds LIFEWAYS INC ↗
  • Who funds RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES ↗
  • Who funds ADULT DAY CENTER OF THE BLACK HILLS ↗
  • Who funds WORKING AGAINST VIOLENCE INC ↗
  • Who funds CORNERSTONE RESCUE MISSION ↗
  • Who funds ALLIED ARTS FUND DRIVE INC ↗
  • Who funds RAPID CITY CLUB FOR BOYS INC ↗
  • Who funds WELLSPRING INC ↗
  • Who funds YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds GIRL SCOUTS - DAKOTA HORIZONS ↗
  • Who funds WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA SENIOR SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds BLACK HILLS WORKS INC ↗
  • Who funds Journey On Inc ↗
  • Who funds PASSAGES WOMEN'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING INC ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SD FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds RAPID CITY Y M C A ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Black Hills Area Comm…South Dakota Communit…United Way of the Bla…Midcontinent Foundati…Synchrony FoundationFirst Interstate Banc…Larson FoundationClarkson Family Found…American Gift FundJohn T Vucurevich Fou…Sioux Falls Area Comm…Dakota Charitable Fou…
Black Hills Area Community FoundationSD45.1× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Black Hills Area Community Foundation · South Dakota Community Foundation · United Way of the Black Hills · Midcontinent Foundation · Synchrony Foundation · First Interstate BancSystem Foundation Inc · Larson Foundation · Clarkson Family Foundation Pioneer Bank & Trust Trustee · American Gift Fund · John T Vucurevich Foundation · Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation Inc · Dakota Charitable Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Gwendolyn L Stearns Foundation Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 52 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Gwendolyn L Stearns’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home