Annual Report
Our 2024 Annual Report: Pathways to Impact
Our 2024 Annual Report reflects on the powerful spirit of philanthropy across our community. Meet leaders who are propelling us to a brighter tomorrow, see the connections that bring us together, and meet organizations that are shaping the future of Sioux Falls.
Read more from President Andy Patterson.
Cover Artwork: "Don't Forget Your Sense of Home" by Em Nguyen
Empowering Leaders
Reframing Addiction
"We are reframing the conversation to view addiction as a brain disease."
Ayele Chebude's kind eyes might be the first thing you notice about him. His striking intelligence, perseverance, and genuine desire to help others come into focus as you start to get to know him.
Realizing a Dream
"Barb Iverson realized that there was a group of kids who maybe weren't the most outgoing in the classroom or weren't the best in team sports, but they had this comradery in skateboarding.”
Skateboarding, with it's edgy aesthetic, punk-rock attitude, and tight-knit community, has long been an important component in the cultural tapestry of Sioux Falls. But, until this past summer, there haven't been many places to skate and the ones that existed were old and tired. A group of local skateboarders and skate lovers partnered with the Community Foundation to deliver a brand new, state-of-the-art skate park to Sioux Falls.
Friend of the Foundation: A Tradition of Generosity
"Since Sioux Falls has been so good to us, we feel a responsibility to give back."
Dick and Kathy Sweetman's philanthropy has had a profound impact on Sioux Falls, but you might not ever know that from talking to them. As humble as they are generous, Dick and Kathy are bright, jovial, and simply a pleasure to be around. It's no surprise, then, that their effect on our community is driven by their zest for Sioux Falls and their passion for improving the quality of life for all who call it home.
Building Connections
Breaking Barriers
"We're here to help — we're not here to judge and we're not here to push. We meet them where they are today."
On the streets of downtown Sioux Falls, volunteer doctors, nurses, peer support specialists, and more are bringing sorely needed medical care to the most vulnerable among us. The volunteers for Midwest Street Medicine (MSM) are making a difference in the lives of unhoused individuals by making sure they have access to care — access that they believe everyone in our community should have.
Finding Home
"To me, Sioux Falls has been a place where I’ve been supported, loved, and able to grow into the artist I am today. It has created a path that has profoundly impacted my life."
Through her vibrant paintings, Em Nguyen captures the essence of home. Her art explores themes of belonging, community, and identity, imagining a bright future for the place she calls home.
Saluting Heroes
"We wanted to do something to show them appreciation in a way that they can see and feel."
Born out of an idea between friends, South Dakota Salutes is building on our state's long history of support for first responders, veterans, and their loved ones.
The Giving Depot
“We’re here to inspire the spirit of philanthropy, and that’s the essence of The Giving Depot.”
Philanthropy should be easily accessible for anyone with a generous heart. That's why we created The Giving Depot — a place where nonprofits and donors connect to help build the future of our community.
Shaping the Future
Honoring a Legacy
"These kids have such pride when they own their own instrument. It opens up what they can do beyond their four years in high school."
Music can be a rich and fulfilling lifelong endeavor and, for students at the Sioux Falls School District, it can enrich their academic experience and teach them valuable skills for life beyond the school's walls. An endowment fund held at the Community Foundation is ensuring greater access to high school band for students across Sioux Falls.
Reaching for Potential
"Our boys deserve all the same opportunities that they would have been afforded at other schools."
Nestled in northwestern Sioux Falls is a patch of land where second chances are given. For nearly 70 years, McCrossan Boys Ranch has been taking in young men with nowhere else to go and providing a quality education, hands-on ranch experience, and a sense of community and family they might not have found before.
Expanding Opportunity
"Data shows that children in these programs have better grades, have better school attendance and are more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It can be a real game-changer in a child’s life."
Our community shines its brightest when new and innovative ideas transform into robust solutions to complex problems. At the Community Foundation, we are proud to help seed these ideas, bring partners together, and propel the community towards a stronger future.
