Grow South Dakota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
GROW SOUTH DAKOTA IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES AND UNDERSERVED MARKETS IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -63 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 46%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 100% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $938,288 spent. NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT PROGRAM: GROW SOUTH DAKOTA OWNS AND LEASES TWO SCHOOL BUILDINGS TO OGLALA LAKOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH THE YEAR.
- $1.6 million spent. HOUSING: GROW SOUTH DAKOTA OWNS A 60 UNIT HUD PROPERTY IN MILBANK, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY MANAGED BY MILLS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND CONSISTS OF 30 ONE-BEDROOM ELDERLY UNITS AND 30 FAMILY TWO- AND THREE- BEDROOM UNITS IN TOWN HOUSE STRUCTURES. THE ORGANIZATION MADE 95 ON- BALANCE SHEET HOUSING LOANS TOTALING 1,586,529. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ASSISTED 61 HOME OWNERS WITH HOUSING REHAB ON EXISTING PROPERTY THAT TOTALED 690,574 IN REPAIRS.
- $258,293 spent. BUSINESS REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS: IN FY2025, GROW SOUTH DAKOTA MADE 18 BUSINESS LOANS TOTALING 1,352,500 CREATING OR RETAINING 38 JOBS THROUGH THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL APPLICANTS.
- $110,423 spent. GROW SOUTH DAKOTA ASSISTED ONE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BY MAKING AVAILABLE 8 VEHICLES AND ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO FURTHER THAT ORGANIZATION'S WORK IN LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION AND HOUSING REHABILITATION. GROW SOUTH DAKOTA WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN SOME PROGRAMS THAT WILL FURTHER THEIR WORK IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- GROW SOUTH DAKOTA ASSISTED ONE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BY MAKING AVAILABLE 8 VEHICLES AND ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO FURTHER THAT ORGANIZATION'S WORK IN LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION AND HOUSING REHABILITATION. GROW SOUTH DAKOTA WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN SOME PROGRAMS THAT WILL FURTHER THEIR WORK IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.