For over 25 years, the Dakota Foundation has aimed to merge business discipline with charitable goals to tackle social issues. Focusing on investment-like grants and program-related investments (PRIs), the foundation seeks a high social return, promoting economically and environmentally sustainable endeavors. It supports self-improvement for better economic conditions and community wellbeing, grounded in values of self-reliance, personal responsibility, human dignity, equal opportunity, and environmental preservation.
The Dakota Foundation's grant program primarily supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals to take control of their economic futures, adhering to principles of sustainability and scalability. The foundation encourages collaboration among community groups for grassroots solutions to common problems, ensuring projects have clear, meaningful, and measurable outcomes. It stands against unlawful or unfair discrimination, ensuring resources are accessible to organizations serving diverse communities without bias towards race, color, creed, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin.