South Dakota State University Foundation

What South Dakota State University Foundation does

SDState Alumni & Foundation is the consolidated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances South Dakota State University through alumni engagement and charitable fundraising. Formed in 2024 through the merger of the previously separate SDSU Foundation and SDSU Alumni Association, the organization is headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, and employs approximately 62 staff. It serves three primary constituencies: SDSU alumni seeking continued community connection through chapters and events, donors and philanthropists supporting scholarships, endowments, athletics, and capital initiatives, and current and prospective SDSU students who benefit from funded financial aid and mentorship.

The foundation's product surface is centered on a public website that integrates donation processing, alumni directory tools, event registration, and story publishing. Programs include the SDSU Alumni Mentor Program, regional Alumni Chapters, and a calendar of signature events such as One Day for STATE, the 50-Year Club, Distinguished Alumni awards, Family of the Year, Jacks Give Back, and the Celebration of Philanthropy. Giving vehicles span scholarships, endowments, gift planning (including charitable remainder trusts and estate gifts), memorial gifts, designated college and department funds, Jackrabbit Athletics giving, and other campus initiatives. Content is distributed through STATE Magazine, the STATE Stories Podcast, the Stately Review newsletter, and active social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary, relying on standard web-based donor management and engagement platforms.

The business model is donation-driven rather than revenue-generating in the commercial sense: the organization solicits charitable contributions of varying sizes and intent, manages endowment principal, and disburses funds for scholarships, programs, and university initiatives. It earns no product or service revenue. Revenue, endowment assets, and fundraising totals are not publicly disclosed in the source materials. Recent strategic emphasis includes the SDSU Metro Center healthcare education initiative in Sioux Falls, supported by a $1 million challenge match from donors Mark and Susan Leddy, alongside expanded alumni engagement programming in Minnesota and Colorado.

Name

South Dakota State University Foundation

Legal name

SDState Alumni & Foundation

Website

https://sdstatefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SDState Alumni & Foundation is the consolidated 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing South Dakota State University through alumni engagement, charitable fundraising, scholarships, and events, serving alumni, donors, and students across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Foundation & Alumni Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD), Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE)

Keywords

• University fundraising
• Alumni engagement
• Charitable giving
• Scholarship administration
• Planned giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SDState Alumni & Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that solicits and manages charitable contributions for South Dakota State University and engages its alumni community. It administers scholarships, endowments, gift planning, athletics giving, memorial gifts, and designated college/department gifts, while operating alumni chapters, the SDSU Alumni Mentor Program, signature events (One Day for STATE, 50-Year Club, Distinguished Alumni, Family of the Year), and publications (STATE Magazine, STATE Stories Podcast, Stately Review).

Product overview

SDState Alumni & Foundation operates as a unified alumni engagement and philanthropy platform serving South Dakota State University. The platform combines a public-facing website with programs including Alumni Chapters, the Alumni Mentor Program, and regional events, alongside comprehensive giving options spanning Scholarships, Endowments, Gift Planning, and designated support for Colleges, Departments, and Jackrabbit Athletics. The organization also publishes content through STATE Magazine, the STATE Stories Podcast, and Stately Review. Following consolidation of the former SDSU Foundation and Alumni Association, the platform now provides integrated services for alumni networking, donor engagement, event management, and charitable giving management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alumni Chapters Local alumni chapter network enabling Jackrabbits to connect through regional communities, mentorship opportunities, and social gatherings.
• Alumni Engagement Programs Structured engagement initiatives including mentorship opportunities and travel groups for alumni community involvement.
• Alumni Events Calendar of alumni gatherings including signature events such as One Day for STATE, 50-Year Club, Distinguished Alumni awards, Family of the Year, Jacks Give Back, and Celebration of Philanthropy.
• SDSU Alumni Mentor Program Peer mentorship initiative connecting Jackrabbits for workforce guidance and professional development.
• Scholarships Student financial aid programs funded through donor contributions, supporting tuition and educational expenses.
• Endowments Long-term giving vehicles establishing permanent funds for specific purposes including scholarships, departments, and campus initiatives.
• Gift Planning Planned giving options including estate gifts, charitable remainder trusts, and deferred giving arrangements for legacy philanthropy.
• Memorial Gifts Tribute giving program allowing donors to honor loved ones through charitable contributions.
• Colleges & Departments Giving Designated giving options allowing donors to direct contributions to specific SDSU colleges and academic departments.
• Jackrabbit Athletics Giving Athletics-specific fundraising program supporting SDSU sports programs and student-athletes.
• STATE Magazine Official alumni publication featuring inspiring alumni stories, campus highlights, and community news, available digitally.
• STATE Stories Podcast Audio storytelling platform sharing narratives from the SDSU alumni community.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sdstateloyalty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sdsualumnifoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/sdsualumnifoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdstatefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsualumnifoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Dakota State University Foundation