The Foundation

The receipt of a bequest from Dorothy Day Davenport, a charter member, prompted the Mary Chilton Chapter to establish a separate grant-making organization to manage the funds.

In July 1985 the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation became a reality and began undertaking its goals with regard to asset management and philanthropic responsibility.

Taking as its guide the DAR philosophies of historic preservation, promotion of patriotism, and support of education, the Foundation is dedicated to funding programs that enhance the quality of life in South Dakota.

The programs funded by Foundation grants are a tribute to Dorothy Day Davenport's dedication to the Mary Chilton Chapter and to the greater Sioux Falls community. By establishing the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, the local Chapter strives to perpetuate her pioneering spirit by embarking upon new frontiers of discovery.