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Sicangu Community Development Corporation

EIN 83-3857527 · Mission, SD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS LAKOTA WE BELIEVE WE ARE ALL RELATED AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SICANGU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DOES THIS BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND BUILDING COMMUNITY IN THE KEY AREAS OF FOOD HEALTH HOUSING AND EDUCATION.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
12.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
39
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$86,583, top mgmt official - redco managing director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. Wakanyeja kin Tokeyahci Wounspi Ti: Waknyeza Ki Tokeya Wunspe Ti continued expanding its Lakota language immersion education program serving 46 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. During the year the school achieved accreditation through the Commission for Oceti Sakowin Association COSA expanded programming to include athletics such as cross country and boys basketball and strengthened Lakota language instruction through classrooms led by fluent speakers and graduates of the Teacher Apprentice program. The program also engaged 62 community members through Language Weekends and the Summer Institute and students earned multiple Lakota Language Bowl championships at the Lakota Nation Invitational.
  2. $83,025 spent. Sicangu Health Initiative:The Sicangu Health Initiative supports community wellness through culturally grounded health programming and family support services. During the year the program strengthened existing services including health coaching and home garden initiatives resulting in the installation of 100 home gardens throughout the Rosebud community. The initiative also launched a Youth Outdoor Mentorship pilot program in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud engaging 15 middle school youth in land-based learning and outdoor leadership activities. Additionally the program began planning efforts to develop culturally relevant maternal and birth services through community engagement and program design.
  3. $873,478 spent. Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative: The Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative strengthens community food systems through local food production distribution and agricultural capacity building. During the year the program launched the Relatives Feeding Relatives program providing food boxes containing locally produced foods including bison meat and fresh produce to more than 2,000 families and distributing 12,000 pounds of buffalo and 6,300 pounds of fresh produce during a federal government shutdown. The initiative also launched the Local Foods Capacity Program supporting seven community members in developing home-based food production projects such as greenhouses and poultry production. In addition the program distributed $558,765 worth of locally produced foods supported 40 local vendors through the Sicangu Harvest Market and began planning expansion of the Keya Wakpala community garden from one acre to 8.9 acres to increase local food production.
  4. $64,895 spent. Keya Wakpala housing initiative

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.