An Alliance for Healthier Beginnings in Sisseton
September 28, 2026 // South Dakota Fund Grants
Proof Alliance was recently awarded a $12,000 grant from South Dakota Community Foundation to assist the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate community in its continued progress towards education related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. Proof Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and supporting all impacted by it.
FASD refers to several disorders, all caused by alcohol exposure during fetal development, that impact how individuals think, learn, behave and experience the world.
“Our Children Are Sacred is a program of Proof Alliance, created by and for Native communities,” said Brittenany Gillespie, Senior Program Manager. “The project with the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate builds on that existing programmatic approach, while focusing specifically on the priorities identified by SWO through its Health Plan and Young Child Wellness Initiative.”
Proof Alliance will provide training on FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure screenings, produce and distribute public awareness materials, and identify skilled partners for diagnosis and testing. Together, these activities will increase community understanding of prenatal alcohol exposure, while improving access to support for children and families affected by FASD.
"FASD prevention and support starts with understanding, and this grant helps bring that understanding directly into the community,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “Partnering with Proof Alliance allows us to invest in a healthier future for children and families in the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate community, starting at the most critical stage of life.”
The grant provided by SDCF comes from the South Dakota Fund, which makes grants to non-profit and charitable organizations in support of culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health and human services. In 2026, three new areas of focus—based on identified need across the state—have been added to this list: child well-being, housing and workforce development.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF administers over 1,300 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations across the state. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the foundation distributed over $40 million in grants in 2025. To learn more, visit SDCommunityFoundation.org/giving or call 800.888.1842.