Giving Back 365 members award over $41,000 to Local Nonprofits

The Watertown Area Community Foundation’s Giving Back 365 program has awarded $41,406 in grants to 15 local nonprofit organizations. This unique program empowers donors to vote on which organizations receive funding, ensuring that each grant reflects the community’s priorities.

 

The following nonprofits were selected for grants in 2024:

• 4 the Kids SD: $2,500 to purchase food for the 2025 Snack Attack Program and support overdue student lunch balances.
• Beacon Center: $3,650 for data migration required by federally funded grants.
• Boys and Girls Club of Watertown: $3,000 to purchase shelving, storage units, flexible seating, and general arts and crafts supplies for the Art Room.
• Brothers & Sisters Behind Bars: $3,650 to purchase two snow blowers and mattresses for women’s transitional housing.
• Community Transit of Watertown/Sisseton: $3,000 to support transportation costs for Codington County Community Services clients.
• Fallout Shelter Ministries, Inc.: $1,326 to assist with plumbing completion for emergency housing.
• Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership: $2,048 to purchase insulated food delivery bags, glassware for meal service, and hot/cold packs for 60’s Plus Dining.
• Joy Ranch of South Dakota: $3,450 for a specialized sound system to meet the needs of campers and guests.
• Lake Area Zoological Society: $2,000 to support the new Gray Wolf Habitat.
• Watertown Area PACH: $2,500 to purchase food, specifically fresh fruit.
• Watertown Area Snow Queen: $1,000 to support the 2025 Girl Power Event for 3rd and 4th grade girls.
• Watertown Cares: $3,650 to purchase refrigerators and microwaves for 612 Flats emergency housing.
• Watertown Fire Rescue–PAD Program: $3,650 to purchase four new AEDs for the community.
• Watertown Hockey Association: $2,500 to purchase sticks, practice jerseys, and helmets.
• Watertown Storm Fastpitch: $3,482 for start-up equipment, including catcher’s gear, batting tees, and pitching mats.

 

In 2024, donations to the Giving Back 365 program exceeded $64,000. Half of the funds were placed into the program’s endowment to ensure long-term sustainability, while the remaining funds, combined with over $9,250 in endowment earnings, were allocated for immediate granting.

“Grant requests this year totaled nearly $51,000,” said Cammie Mengwasser, Executive Director of the Watertown Area Community Foundation. “Our Giving Back 365 members demonstrated incredible thoughtfulness in their decisions, showing how a dollar a day can make a significant impact for those in need.”

Now in its 12th year, the Giving Back 365 program invites members to contribute $365 annually—a dollar a day—for the chance to directly support local nonprofits through the grant-making process.

“This year we had 161 Giving Back 365 members spanning all ages, from grade-school children to individuals over 100 years young,” Mengwasser shared. “Their insights and dedication exemplify how philanthropy, regardless of the amount or age, can create a thriving Watertown for everyone.”

The Watertown Area Community Foundation extends its gratitude to all Giving Back 365 donors for their commitment to strengthening the community and making these impactful grants possible.

 

>>> The Boys and Girls Club of Watertown, which serves over 360 members, received $3,000 to enhance its Art Room with new shelving, storage, flexible seating, and art supplies. The Art Room remains one of the most popular areas of the club, inspiring creativity and connection among its members.