SURF Foundation earns GuideStar’s highest level of recognition

LEAD, SD— Just two years after its creation, the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) Foundation has earned the 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar. The Foundation achieved this designation by publicly sharing metrics about funds and the progress the Foundation is making toward its mission.

“This designation means that we are a professional, donor-centric organization,” said Staci Miller, director of the Foundation. “It means our donors can trust that the Foundation has been transparent across the board.”

SURF is on a mission to inspire and educate through science, technology and engineering. The Foundation, a non-profit established in 2019, advances that mission by building upon strong relationships within the community and opening doors for public contributions.

The Foundation is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation relies on a diversity of funding sources and is proud to regularly acknowledge donors and sponsors, which contributed to this recognition. Low administrative and fundraising expenses mean the Foundation is able to direct nearly 99 percent of all donations toward key impact areas.

GuideStar provides the information for those who want to make educated charitable decisions to trusted organizations. The Platinum Seal of Transparency is the top honor given by GuideStar, indicating the Foundation has provided key information to its nonprofit profile, which is available to the public and displays the organization’s measurable impact. 

To reach the Platinum level, the Foundation added extensive information to its GuideStar nonprofit profile: in-depth financial information; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and capabilities; and quantitative information about results and progress toward its mission. By publishing this information, the Foundation demonstrates its commitment to being transparent and to giving donors meaningful data to evaluate its performance. 

The SURF Foundation’s mission encompasses four key areas of impact: to develop, build and implement a fully realized STEM institute located at SURF; to inspire and empower youth to pursue careers in STEM; to impact its community through public science outreach; and to design a facility to house the SURF Institute.

“When our donors give a donation, we have the process in place to ensure that their donation goes toward the area of impact that means the most to that particular donor,” Miller said.

As part of its efforts to promote cultural awareness and to reflect on the region’s rich history, SURF is assembling Cangleska Wakan, or the Sacred Circle Garden, in a hilltop meadow on the property. The Foundation is supporting this initiative by raising funds for the Sacred Circle Garden. 

More about the Foundation’s mission, areas of impact, funding policy and annual reports, visit the Foundation webpage.  

SURF  is operated by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) with funding from the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Our mission is to advance world class science and inspire learning across generations. Visit SURF at www.SanfordLab.org.