Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation
Grants & Awards
The Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation (WSDCF) provides grants through its unrestricted funds to Catholic ministries, schools, and parishes in the Diocese of Rapid City. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel, strengthen the community of faith, and care for the poor across Western South Dakota.
Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation Grant Application
The Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation’s FY 2026-27 Grant & Awards cycle opens on August 14, 2026 and closes on October 1st, 2026. Grant training will take place on September 3, 2026, from 1–3 PM in the Chancery’s Holy Family Room (#137). A Zoom option will be available, and the session will be recorded for those who cannot attend in person. Awardees will be notified by December 31, 2026.
Grant Cycles & Review Process
01
Application Deadlines
Organizations must submit an online application to the Foundation, summarizing their grant request by Oct 1st, 2025.
02
Review
The WSDCF Distribution Committee will meet to consider the applications and make recommendations to the board.
03
Funding
After the Distribution Committee meets, the board will vote and organizations will be notified if they are selected. Granted funds will be presented in July 2026.
Eligibility & Purpose
Who Can Apply: Catholic ministries, Catholic schools, Catholic parishes, and Catholic organizations within the Diocese of Rapid City.
Types of Funding:
Restricted Funds – Available to those with a named fund. You will receive a letter each year with your available amount.
Unrestricted Funds – Open to applicants without a named fund through our online application process.
Average Award Size: Grants typically range from $1,000 to $38,000; the average award is about $15,000.
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025 (online application required).
Grant Training: Held each September with in-person and Zoom options (recording available).
Award Notifications: Recipients will be announced December 31, 2025.
Funds Distributed: July 2026.
The following criteria must be met in order to be eligible for a grant from Western SD Catholic Foundation:
1.) The applicant must be tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2.) The grant applicant must either be listed in the Official Catholic Directory of the diocese of Rapid City (Directory”), or be actively engaged in a collaboration with a Catholic parish, school or organization listed in the Directory. The pastor, principal or executive director of the sponsoring school, parish or organization must endorse the grant proposal of the collaborating organization. A letter of recommendation from the sponsoring organization, stating the nature of the collaboration and the reasons for supporting the proposal, must be included with the proposal.
1.) Grants to individuals.
2.) Programs whose primary purpose is tuition support.
3.) Capital expenditures consisting of land, buildings or permanent fixtures, for which the total cost significantly exceeds the maximum grant amount.
4.) General support or operating expenses. Salary expense may be considered, provided it is directly related to the program and does not extend beyond the 12-month grant period.
Each year, the Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation distributes over $1 million in grants. Most of these funds are designated by donors for specific ministries and purposes. A smaller portion is available through our unrestricted grant cycle, which supports a variety of Catholic ministries, schools, and parishes across the Diocese of Rapid City.
Grants typically range from $1,000 to $38,000, with the average award being around $15,000.
Based on the donor designations, some funds are restricted for Native American ministries, the needs of the poor, and the needs of Catholic parishes.
How to Apply for a Grant
The WSDCF distributes both restricted and unrestricted funds each year:
Restricted Funds: If you have a fund set up in your name, you will receive a letter each year with the amount available to request. Follow the instructions in your letter to apply.
Unrestricted Funds: If you do not have a named fund, you may apply through our unrestricted grant process. This requires completing the online application and submitting all supporting documents by the deadline.
To learn more about the history of the Foundation and the grant application process, you can watch the recording of our recent Grant Training session.
Apply for a Grant
Through our grant programs, we offer the support needed to turn meaningful projects into reality and fulfill the three-fold ministry of Christ. Begin your application today.
WSDCF 25-26 Grant Recipients
All Saints Parish – Eagle Butte
Blessed Sacrament Church
Casa Maria Retirement Home
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catholic Social Services
Church Response
Christ the King Church & Presho Holy Angel Cemetery
Cornerstone Rescue Mission
Diocese of Rapid City
Faith Formation & Office of Vocations – Diocese of Rapid City
Gassen Fund – Gregory
Healing the Culture
PRAY – Priest Retirement/Aid
Rapid City Catholic School System
Real Presence Radio
Sioux Spiritual Center
Standing Rock Reservation Ministry
St. Anthony Parish – Buffalo
St. Carlo Acutis Center/SDSMT
St. Francis Fund – Diocese of Rapid City
St. Francis Mission – Sapa Un Jesuit Academy
St. Joseph’s School – Spearfish
St. Therese the Little Flower Parish
St. Vincent de Paul – OLPH & Spearfish/Belle Fourche Conferences
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
WSDCF 2025 Grant Recipients
All Saints Parish, Eagle Butte
Black Hills State Univ. Newman Ctr., Spearfish
Casa Maria Retirement Center, Piedmont
Catholic Social Services, Rapid City
Church Response, Rapid City
Cornerstone Rescue Mission, Rapid City
Diocesan Office of Faith Formation
Diocesan Office of Vocations
Diocese of Rapid City
National Pastoral Musicians, Rapid City
Presho Cemetery and Church Landscaping
Rapid City Catholic School System
Rapid City Newman Center
Real Presence Radio, Rapid City
Sioux Spiritual Center, Howes
St. Anthony Church, Buffalo
St. Anthony Parish, Fairfax
St. Francis Fund, Diocese of Rapid City
St. Francis Mission, St. Francis
St. Joseph Church, Spearfish
St. Michael’s Church, Hermosa
St. Vincent de Paul Society OLPH, Rapid City
Standing Rock Reservation Ministry, McLaughlin
Contact Us
Have questions about our foundation or want to learn more about our grant process? We want to hear from you!
Mailing Address
PO Box 984 Rapid City, SD 57701
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
2101 City Springs Rd Ste 200, Rapid City, SD 57702
Phone
605-721-6843
sbakker@wsdcf.org