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Brad Grossenburg has been part of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for nearly as long as the Foundation has existed.

It started when he was a soccer referee, and a fellow referee’s wife was the executive director of the Foundation. That was Rosemary Draeger, and she had some advice for Grossenburg.

“She said, ‘You need to get on board with this organization,’” he says now, laughing.

So, he did, serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1989 to 2000, and on the legal committee from 2001 to 2024.

“When I started, there was $1 million in the endowment, so it was pretty small at the time,” Grossenburg said from his office at Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith in downtown Sioux Falls. “It’s a pretty amazing organization now. It’s grown so much.”

Volunteers make the difference

Early in its history, the Foundation was an all-hands-on-deck organization.

“The people who helped us get started so strongly believed in the need for a community foundation,” said Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer, noting that the legal committee provided volunteer counsel to the fledgling Foundation. “We so heavily relied on our volunteers. And then some incredible board members like Brad stayed with us as a volunteer for 35 years.”

Early board members passed on an opportunity to merge with the South Dakota Community Foundation, instead believing that hyperlocal focus was the right direction.

“That sense of place is a selling point for people,” Grossenburg said. “It matters to them.”

As a trust and estate lawyer, Grossenburg said it’s important to build a relationship and introduce philanthropy, in a broad sense and how it ties into a family’s vision and values.

Andy Patterson, CEO of the Foundation, said the community benefits when people like Grossenburg help their clients connect generosity to purpose.

“Brad has partnered with the Foundation and referred clients here for more than 35 years,” Patterson said. “It’s because of people like him, who put their faith in the Foundation, that we have been able to grow. And not just as an organization – but as a community. Sioux Falls is what it is because of people like Brad, his clients and others who are so passionate about the city.”

One advantage of the Foundation is making giving easier for donors, Grossenburg said. “We have a lot of Donor Advised Funds. That’s to help donors – they want to write one check and then, based on their wishes, the Foundation helps distribute to the causes and organizations they care about.”

Another is the expertise the Foundation provides, and the flexibility it allows.

“It’s a great way for people to make charitable gifts, whether during their lifetime or at death,” he said.

Patterson said Grossenburg was instrumental in shaping the Foundation.

“He served on our legal committee from the beginning, and he really helped set a lot of our policies, design our funds and helped us navigate the changing tax laws,” Patterson said. “It’s allowed us to have relevant, nimble offerings for donors.”

Plus, his consistency and expertise helped embed the Foundation’s approach – which is to truly honor and prioritize donor intent.

“That helped create trust and helps alleviate worries – people know we will follow through on their charitable intentions,” Patterson said, crediting the deep trust Grossenburg built with his clients and how he introduced them to the Foundation.

“It wouldn’t have happened without his introduction and faith that we would take care of them,” Patterson said.

'Charitably inclined' community

Grossenburg said people in Sioux Falls want to give back. “I don’t know many communities this size who are as charitably inclined as this community,” he said. “I hope the mentality of this community doesn’t change – that we continue to be willing to help.”

He pauses for a minute.

“When I came to town, Sioux Falls and Sioux City were the same size,” he said. “Everyone thought Sioux City would be the one that would continue to grow. But it hasn’t changed. Sioux Falls grew.”

Both cities are on the river, on the interstate, with similar demographics.

Grossenburg attributes the strength of Sioux Falls to the vision of community leaders, business owners and families.

“Leaders in this community want to move ahead,” he said. “We wouldn’t have had so many things in this community if people weren’t willing to work together. It’s amazing. It’s a great place to give your money.”