Organization
Tanka Fund
Not yet reviewed by this nation. What follows comes from public records and research. It does not speak for the nation.
Tanka Fund, a Native American-led South Dakota nonprofit, funds Native-owned buffalo ranches; its rancher partners say they hold over 100,000 acres.
- Kind
- 501(c)(3) Native-led nonprofit (buffalo restoration, regranting)
- Native-led
- yes-self-described
- Works with
- Pan-tribal; Native buffalo ranchers incl. Lakota communities on Pine Ridge and Standing Rock
- Region
- Plains; SD
- Focus
- Returning buffalo to Native American lands, lives and economies via animals, grants and technical assistance to Native-owned or Native-managed ranches
- Registry
- EIN 82-5315136 (own site tax ID; ProPublica Kyle SD)
What happened
Tanka Fund's mission, as stated on its Who We Are page, is to return buffalo to Native American lands, lives and economies. The page says it is a 501(c)(3) that is Native American-led and staffed, and that since 2014 it has provided animals, grants and technical assistance to Native-owned or managed family- and community-based buffalo ranches. It says it works with Native ranchers of all tribal affiliations across the United States. Its team page lists Dawn Sherman, a member of the Lakota, Shawnee and Delaware tribes, as Executive Director.
The page reports that its rancher partners now represent more than 2,500 head of buffalo over 100,000 acres of land, and that it aims to reach 500,000 acres and 5,000 buffalo or more within five years. The first is a current figure and the second is a goal. Both are the organization's own.
Tanka Fund does not buy land for tribes. It supports the people who graze buffalo on land they already own or manage. Its home page tells of a Rosebud Reservation ranch bringing buffalo back after more than 125 years, with 40 buffalo now and room for 65. Its Young Native Leaders Network provides training and partnerships for young ranchers.
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer lists Tanka Fund of Kyle, South Dakota, as a 501(c)(3) with exemption issued in September 2019. The board page lists Ron Brownotter, a Standing Rock buffalo rancher, as vice president.
Good to know. The herd and acreage figures belong to its rancher partners, not to Tanka Fund; a gift supports the organization and does not buy land.
Summarized with AI assistance from 5 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error
What the sources say, and how this was checked
Well supported by the sources below.
Tanka Fund is a 501(c)(3) that is Native American-led and staffed.
Who We Are - Tanka FundTanka Fund’s rancher partners now represent more than 2,500 head of Buffalo over 100,000 acres of land.
Who We Are - Tanka FundDawn Sherman, Executive Director, is a member of the Lakota, Shawnee and Delaware tribes.
Our Team - Tanka FundRon Brownotter is vice president of the Tanka Fund board of directors.
Board of Directors - Tanka FundKyle, SD Tax exemption issued: Sept. 2019 EIN: 82-5315136
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Tanka Fund
Research notes. Herd and acreage figures are the organization's own and belong to its rancher partners, not to Tanka Fund. A gift supports the organization; it does not buy acreage. ProPublica shows exemption issued in September 2019 although the site says work began in 2014.
Visit the organization’s website or give directly on its own page. This site takes no money.
Connections
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Works in 1
Works with 1
Sources
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The record’s fields
- Vetting notes
- 2026-10-17: ProPublica search hit Tanka Fund, Kyle SD, EIN 825315136; own donate page states tax ID 82-5315136 and payee "Tanka Fund" (mail P.O. Box 1847, Rapid City SD). Own Who We Are page says Native American-led and staffed; named board read in part (Ron Brownotter, buffalo rancher on Standing Rock). Charity Navigator/990 year not checked. Gift supports organization; does not buy acreage. Source: https://www.tankafund.org/who-we-are ("Tanka Fund is a 501(c)(3) that is Native American-led and staffed.")
- Kind
- Organization
- Confidence
- High
- Nation review
- Not yet reviewed by this nation