PIERRE — The Stavig House Museum in Sisseton recently completed fundraising of more than $120,000 to establish a permanent endowment fund at the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) and received $20,000 in matching funds from the Accounts Grant Program. savings for SDCF nonprofits.
Endowments are invested over time and earnings create a long-term source of income to support the organization.
“The newly created Stavig House Museum Foundation is a great asset to the museum and our community,” said Stavig House Museum President John Rasmussen. “Each year, funds provided by the foundation will help the museum fulfill its mission of preserving local history and attracting visitors to our community.
“We want to thank the South Dakota Community Foundation for the $20,000 Challenge Grant. The grant served as a catalyst, energizing our fundraising efforts and substantially increasing the total funds in our foundation once we reached our goal.”
The historic Stavig House, built by Scandinavian craftsmen in 1916, combines Victorian-era elements with Arts and Crafts-style architecture. Listed on the National Historic Register, the museum tells the authentic story of a Norwegian immigrant family over three generations, from fishermen in Norway to homesteaders on the Dakota prairie to Main Street businessmen in the new town of Sisseton.
The house remained in the Stavig family for 80 years before becoming a museum.
“We are honored to collaborate with the Stavig House Museum in establishing a sustainable funding source that will ensure the continued operation of the museum.” SDCF Senior Program Officer Ginger Niemann said.
Donations to the Stavig House Museum’s existing nonprofit savings account are invested alongside other funds donated by SDCF. A percentage of the fund’s value is made available annually for your organization to distribute to support your nonprofit’s mission.
As the fund grows, so does the amount available to give back to the Stavig House Museum. If you would like to donate to this donation, please visit https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving/support-an-existente-fund.
To learn more about the financing opportunities offered by SCA, visit our website: https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/.
SDCF is a public nonprofit organization created in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, manages more than 1,200 funds that benefit hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023, which made a huge difference in communities across the state.
If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to donate for the general good of our state, please visit to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.
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This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Permanent Endowment Fund Established by the South Dakota Community Foundation
