FY 23-24 Community Grants

Founded in 2016, Chabad of South Dakota's mission is to strengthen the South Dakota Jewish Community through education and celebration, and by engaging with the broader community.

The Community Foundation grant supported a Holocaust Remembrance program featuring Holocaust survivor Joe Alexander. Alexander spent six years living in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, including Dachau and Auschwitz. During that time, he became separated from his family and never saw them again. Through sharing his story, Alexander brings awareness to the Holocaust and the important need for a kind and safe world for all.

EcoSun Prairie Farms, Inc. works to promote the ecological, aesthetic, historical and economic benefits of tall grass prairie through education, research, public outreach, and the development of healthy prairie. Most recently, EcoSun successfully completed the second year of a multi-phased project to restore tall grass prairie on 106 acres inside Good Earth State Park.

The Community Foundation grant will help support additional phases of the project including the addition of formal educational and outreach components and informal tours/hikes, and the development of a physical Prairie Center for research and expanded education and outreach opportunities.
Learn more about our support of this project.

Envisioning a state where one’s health, well-being, or potential is not hindered by the availability of nutritious food, Feeding South Dakota and its agency partners are providing food in each of the state’s 66 counties and are fighting hunger in rural communities, metro areas and Native American Reservations.

The Community Foundation grant will support the Terry Redlin Elementary Food Pantry, an effort that aims to provide those who are food insecure in the Terry Redlin neighborhood with nutritious, easy to prepare foods that are accessible to the students at the school.

With a mission to protect and restore the Big Sioux River and its watershed, Friends of the Big Sioux River focuses on four main areas: water quality monitoring, public policy and advocacy, river restoration, and education.

The Community Foundation grant will support the second phase of a project to map and photograph the Big Sioux River watershed.
Learn more about this project.

The Furniture Mission of South Dakota provides those in need with donated and gently used furniture and household items.

Believing that a comfortable home provides dignity, security and a better environment in which to raise a family, the Furniture Mission placed over 28,000 pieces of furniture to 5,078 individuals in 2022, results made possible thanks in part to the inmate labor program through the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the South Dakota State Penitentiary. For 18 years, inmates have worked in the Furniture Mission warehouse each day, assisting with lifting furniture and supporting the warehouse manager and volunteers.

The Community Foundation grant will support the Furniture Mission as it adjusts to a new DOC policy that requires inmates working for nonprofit organizations be classified as work release employees rather than participants in the community service program. This change increases compensation requirements from $1.25 per hour to at least the minimum wage of $10.80. The grant will support the Furniture Mission as it works to hire two staff members to create a permanent warehouse team.

With a mission to care for, support and strengthen individuals, families and communities, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) provides programs and services in 30 communities across South Dakota, with the widest breadth of services offered in the Sioux Falls area. LSS serves people of all ages, races, faiths, and income levels with the hope that all South Dakotans are healthy, safe, and accepted.

The Community Foundation grant will provide support for the LSS Hilltop After-School and Summer Program which provides a safe space, enrichment activities, and homework help for students primarily from Cleveland and Rosa Parks elementary schools.

Thriving on innovative thinking and a people-centered approach, Family Daycare provides services centered around well-being and also serves area families through a charitable family daycare.

The Community Foundation grant will provide support as the organization seeks to expand and enhance its daycare.

Rare by Design works towards creating awareness, inclusion and representation for individuals with rare diseases and disabilities.

The Community Foundation grant supported “Reframing Visible Disabilities,” an art show that allowed participants from the rare disease and disability community to use photography as a platform to share what they want peoples’ first impressions of them to be. Each participant helped direct their own portrait and wrote an accompanying statement to share their story. The goal of this show was to challenge the disconnect between what people first see when they encounter someone with a visual disability versus the complex human being.

Established in 2013, the Sioux Falls Design Center was created by design professionals to inform and engage the public on the impact of design in our daily lives and in the community of Sioux Falls. With the past help of community sponsors and partners, the Sioux Falls Design Center develops design-related programs to connect designers of all kinds, community leaders, and the greater public.

The Community Foundation grant will support an exhibit called “Say It Loud: South Dakota,” a collaboration of interdisciplinary professionals elevating the contributions of women and diverse architects, engineers, etc. within the block chain of design. The exhibit allows our community to honor great design work from the women and people of color who are contributing now, and to inspire the girls and people of color who are next.

With a mission to educate individuals for employment opportunities, professional growth, and lifelong learning, Southeast Technical College’s programs and services have been linked to workforce demands since its founding in 1968.

The Community Foundation grant will support the launch of a new behavioral and mental health technician program designed to prepare students to enter the high-demand career field of behavioral and mental health patient care.

Dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in the African community, the Culture Link helps trauma, violence, and war-impacted immigrants find victory over their migrant trauma through culturally competent support and resources.

The Community Foundation grant will provide support as this new nonprofit reaches out to its constituents through health seminars, educational one-on-one consultation sessions, and public media.

A nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities and empowering minority youth, Translators of Cultures offers opportunities for youth to practice civic duties, showcase their cultures, and learn leadership skills. Education, leadership, advocacy, mentoring and community outreach are pillars of the organization.

The Community Foundation grant will support “STARS-III (Student Training Achieving Roadmap to Success),” an effort designed to help develop unique pathways for minority youth to pursue their future careers, to find individual success, and to encourage community involvement.

A visual art organization based in Sioux Falls, the mission of Untitled.10 is to create art events in public spaces to give new and emerging local artists a platform to share their artwork and their voices.

The Community Foundation grant is supporting season three of Untitled.10’s pop-up art show series. This season features "Refocus," an exhibition of photography, a holiday show to be held at the Great Plains Zoo, and additional exhibits and workshops planned for spring 2024.

With a mission to deliver memorable experiences that entertain, educate, and enrich, the Washington Pavilion aims to inspire lifelong discovery and inclusive experiences that improve the quality of life for everyone.

The Community Foundation grant will support a project designed to celebrate the Pavilion’s 25th anniversary. This written and audio/visual record of the Pavilion’s history will be developed in collaboration with local journalists and media producers and will chronicle the history of Washington High School, its transition to becoming the Pavilion, and the Pavilion's positive impact on the region since its opening in 1999. The project will culminate in a print piece and a short film comprised of interviews with community leaders who were key players in the Pavilion's formation.

Founded in 2019 by local journalist Angela Kennecke, Emily’s Hope is dedicated to addressing substance use disorder through a variety of initiatives. Programs include K-5 prevention education, awareness efforts to remove the stigma associated with substance use disorder, treatment scholarships, and support groups for individuals and families affected by substance use disorder.

The Community Foundation grant will support a Narcan distribution program. Narcan is a life-saving medication that can be administered to reverse the effects of an opioid-related overdose. By offering accessible Narcan to people suffering from substance abuse disorder, their friends and families, and the general public, Emily’s Hope will empower the community to save lives in the event of an overdose and raise awareness about this critical issue.

Learn more about Emily’s Hope.

Light for the Next Generation is an organization that provides underprivileged youths with safe environments and access to opportunities to enrich their personal and professional lives through sports, arts, and educational programs.

The grant from the Community Foundation will support Rising Stars, a youth soccer program; Kairos Girls volleyball; and Shine Your Light, a program focused on empowering and developing first generation high school students by nurturing their personal & professional aspirations.

Journey of Hope is aimed at assisting and supporting individuals with hygiene insecurity in southeastern South Dakota. Provided hygiene kits typically include essential items like soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and sanitary products, which are crucial for maintaining personal hygiene and preventing the spread of disease. They also offer art as therapy programming to youth and adults who have been justice-impacted (currently detained, in treatment, or on probation).

The Community Foundation grant will support the “Finding Hope Through the Arts” program at Minnehaha Juvenile Detention Center and the Glory House. This program provides a creative and therapeutic outlet for justice-impacted individuals. The goal is to help them develop healthy coping mechanisms, improve their mental well-being, and cultivate positive self-expression; giving them a chance to heal, grow, and ultimately reintegrate into society in a healthier and more productive way.

Sioux Falls Soccer Academy runs a year-round, whole-person soccer program that strives to build character, teamwork, and a sense of belonging with primarily students from minority groups.

The Community Foundation grant will support the Academy’s program entitled, “Soccer: An Education Vehicle to Build a Community of Belonging.” This project is focused on building a quality of life for vulnerable communities, beginning with children. Through soccer, the students that the Academy serves learn discipline, accountability and responsibility while engaging in an atmosphere of exercise and play.

Founded in 2020, SoDak 350 wants to make South Dakota part of the climate solution. They spread the word about new programs that will make renewable and energy-efficient technologies more affordable for South Dakotans, paving the way for a clean energy future for all. SoDak 350 is also involved with working on the Sustainable Sioux Falls Plan, a roadmap to get the City of Sioux Falls on the path to a sustainable future.

The grant from the Community Foundation helped fund a Community Conversation on Climate and Sustainability event in early December, which hosted citizen-driven discussion on climate challenges and how Sioux Falls can move forward and build a sustainable future in a changing world.

Each year, Augustana University collaborates with local government to complete a Point-in-Time (PIT) count of the Sioux Falls unhoused population.

The Community Foundation grant supported the purchase of bus passes to give as incentives for individuals to complete the survey.

The South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high quality care and early learning for all children, from birth through age eight, by combining practice, policy, and research. The Community Foundation's grant will help them deploy a South Dakota Childcare Task Force to study the current landscape of childcare in the state and provide recommendations to the legislature on how to improve access, affordability, and quality.

By connecting individuals to resources and support, the Helpline Center offers hope to those affected by suicide and serves the broader community by mobilizing volunteers and developing technologies to streamline social services. Their latest initiative, funded in part by the Community Foundation's grant, is called Transition to Success. This program aims to provide standards of care, uniform protocols, and analytics to help treat the condition of poverty by providing health and human services professionals the tools they need to take a coordinated approach to each individual.

EmBe empowers women and families in our community to be the best version of themselves by leading and supporting success in work, home, and life. The Community Foundation grant will help them provide free swimming lessons to immigrants and refugees from Africa. Learning to swim not only has the potential to save a child's life, but also opens up social and recreational opportunities to help them build confidence and thrive.

Midwest Street Medicine works to improve the health of vulnerable populations, beginning with those experiencing homelessness. By bringing medical, mental health, and addiction care to individuals who face obstacles in getting the care they need, these medical professionals are making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community. The Community Foundation's grant will help this young organization expand its operation, hire more full-time employees, and build a sustainable service.

The Legacy Foundation's program, Owen's Outfitters, is a medical equipment lending library that provides equipment and medical supplies at no change to those who need them most. The Community Foundation's grant will help them reduce barriers to accessing their service by adding support for more languages to better serve immigrant populations and expanding their online presence to help them reach individuals and families that have difficulty travelling to their storefront.

Serving the Latino population in Sioux Falls, Caminando Juntos provides legal services, English language classes, workplace support, and youth support groups as part of their ministry. The Community Foundation's grant will support them as they transition from a ministry sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a fully-fledged 501c(3) organization. This restructure also provides an opportunity for long-term strategic planning to ensure their future sustainability.

Children's Home Society's mission is to prevent and heal trauma by working with parents and caregivers to serve children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs and who may be victims of abuse. The Community Foundation's grant will support their project, A New Norm, which works to creatively target children and youth ages 9-15 with feelings of anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges through engaging presentations and the titular book by Tom Roberts.

Bridging the Gap supports people and programs that develop leaders, provide training, build relationships, and improve access to community resources. Their flagship program, Leaders of Tomorrow, will be expanded to offer programming in Spanish, thanks to the grant from the Community Foundation. This initiative aims to create a pipeline of future leaders through its leadership development program specifically addressed to communities of color who don't have access to similar programs that speak to their unique experience.

Aiming to empower people through the therapeutic assistance of horses, HorsePower offers groundwork, hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and group clinics. As their reach expanded and their horses aged, it became clear that they would need to acquire more horses to continue offering services at their current rate. The Community Foundation's grant will help them obtain an additional specially-trained therapy horse to serve their clients and ensure the continued sustainability of their organization.

LifeScape serves children with the most complex physical, intellectual, and behavioral disabilities, and for those needing specialized medical rehabilitation after accident, illness, or surgery. They support children and families facing these challenges through healing, empowerment and hope.

The Community Foundation Grant will support their Journey of Hope campaign to build a new campus to address the evolving needs of children for generations to come. The new campus will be located on 10 acres of land in northwest Sioux Falls and allow LifeScape to reduce their wait list and serve a broader portion of the community.

Located on a two-acre property in northwest Sioux Falls, Veterans Community Project is a specialized community of 25 tiny homes with on-site, wraparound support services designed to equip unhoused veterans with the tools needed to return to a stable, prosperous, and independent life. Each tiny house provides everything a veteran needs to live with dignity and security: new furniture, appliances, housewares, bedding, personal items, and utilities — all free of charge.

The Community Foundation Grant will support the construction of the Village Center, which will house behavioral and physical wellness programs.

Christian Youth Activity League is dedicated to providing positive athletic and educational activities, both competitive and recreational, for youth ages 6-18. They aim to provide transformative programs with the potential to drive significant social impact through promoting teamwork, initiative, cooperation, and constructive competitiveness for boys and girls.

The Community Foundation Grant will support the expansion of their flag football league which, in addition to providing athletic opportunities, helps kids bridge social gaps and learn to work as a team with others who have differences in culture, language, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The additional funding will allow them to expand the program to include more participants and keep the financial barrier to entry affordable for families.

Lost&Found's mission is to deliver comprehensive, data-driven, and resilience-focused suicide prevention and postvention programs and services for youth and young adults and their support networks. They envision a world in which no young adult dies by suicide and where the tools and support for developing lifelong wellness are easily accessible.

The Community Foundation Grant will support the Survivors Joining for Hope program, which is an effort to provide resource navigation and financial assistance services to suicide loss survivors across South Dakota. The program's current goals are to implement Medicaid processes & technology, coordinate their efforts with local and statewide service providers, and provide grief training and support to community members.

The Watering Can supports local art by providing professional development, coaching and consulting for artists and creatives to support their success and encourage them to remain in Sioux Falls.

The Community Foundation Grant will support their new Work of Art Toolkit initiative, which aims to help artists advance their businesses by training them in time management, marketing, promotions, recordkeeping, and other areas vital to a successful business. The program, which is based on the example set by Springboard for the Arts, aims to support hundreds of local artists in meeting their business goals.

The South Dakota Black Chamber of Commerce aims to create a thriving and inclusive community by empowering minority-owned businesses in the area. They provide advocacy, financial literacy, capital access, and other programs and services to help businesses succeed.

The Community Foundation Grant supports efforts to expand business development, facilitate networking events, and promote mentorship opportunities for black entrepreneurs and business owners.

The South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is working to inspire and empower Hispanics in Sioux Falls through education and economic development.

The Community Foundation Grant will focus on building capacity in this young organization. By providing additional training and professional development for staff, board members, and volunteers, they will set the foundation on which to build new programs, classes, and services for the Hispanic community.

Levitt at the Falls uses music to bring community connection opportunities to thousands of people in the Sioux Falls area from diverse backgrounds and age groups.

The Community Foundation Grant will support their All My Relatives Festival, a vibrant two-day celebration of Native American art, culture, and music. By fostering understanding, respect, and inclusive collaboration, they aim empower and amplify the voices of the urban Oceti Sakowin community, thereby enriching Sioux Falls' cultural landscape and fostering community cohesion.

Secured My School uses advanced technology to create 3D models of schools that can provide law enforcement with valuable tactical information in the event of an active shooter scenario. Testing shows that this information can dramatically reduce response times in these tragic events.

The Community Foundation's grant will support their project to complete 3D scans of all Harrisburg K-12 schools and train first responders to effectively use them. The program gets students involved in the process of developing and implementing the school's safety plan, empowering them to have a voice in their safety and well-being.

McCrossan Boys Ranch provides a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk boys aged 9-20. Located in northwestern Sioux Falls, the ranch combines an accredited school and positive living situation with hands-on ranch experience to empower boys to develop the skills and confidence needed to overcome their challenges and lead successful, fulfilling lives.

The Community Foundation grant will help purchase new equipment and materials for the Ranch's art and English programs. Encouraging creativity and artistry in youth is shown to offer significant therapeutic benefits and contribute to their overall well-being and personal growth.

REACH Literacy empowers individuals in the Sioux Falls area to enhance their literacy by providing accessible and effective reading, writing, and English language programs.

The grant from the Community Foundation will support their Read to Succeed program, which serves sub-literate and illiterate adults in the area by teaching critical reading and spelling skills and increasing their command of the English language. By equipping adults with literacy skills, REACH is helping them break the cycle of poverty in their families, increase their independence and self-confidence, and become more involved in their communities.

Rare by Design works to create awareness, inclusion, and representation for individuals with rare diseases and disabilities. Founded in the belief that everyone should celebrate the rareness that makes them unique and extraordinary, they focus on living life positively and fostering community engagement.

The Community Foundation Grant will support their upcoming film festival run by and for people with disabilities. The event aims to give the Sioux Falls community the opportunity to explore films that showcase the unique talents of people with physical and developmental disabilities.

Face it TOGETHER provides dignity-affirming care to individuals who struggle with, or are affected by, addiction. Their innovative approach to addiction care expands the focus to the needs of the whole person and prioritizes ongoing improvements in wellness.

The Community Foundation grant addresses a funding gap, allowing the organization to provide uninterrupted services to its clients.

The Curious Music Collective is working to make music and art more accessible to all corners of the community by connecting professional musicians and artists to collaborate on projects that are educational, diverse, creative, and inclusive.

The grant from the Community Foundation will support increasing their marketing efforts on the heels of a recent rebranding. By growing their online presence and expanding their reach in the community, they hope to drive increased attendance to their unique events and collaborations with renowned musicians.