Grants Support Child Well-Being and Workforce Development

Three nonprofits have received a total of $77,510 in grants from the South Dakota Community Foundation. TeamMates of South Dakota, Western Dakota Technical Foundation and Community Organized Resources for Educating Youth were recognized at a check presentation yesterday in Rapid City.

“Early in 2026, we launched an initiative to address three critical issues shared by communities across South Dakota: child well-being, housing and workforce development,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF’s Senior Program Officer. “We are pleased to collaborate with these organizations that are doing important work in two of these areas.”  

The grants come via the South Dakota Fund, SDCF’s signature grant program designed to tackle pressing challenges and strengthen communities across the state.

TeamMates of South Dakota: $18,510

The grant to TeamMates of South Dakota will help to support the organization’s goal of growing “matches” statewide. Founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne of Nebraska Husker fame, the TeamMates Mentoring Program connects students in grades 3-12 with caring adult volunteers. The mentors meet with mentees weekly throughout the school year – seeking to inspire the students to reach their full potential.

“TeamMates currently serves eight communities across South Dakota, where over 100 students are waiting for mentors,” said Jess Karim, State Director, TeamMates of South Dakota. “These funds will be applied toward marketing efforts to increase awareness of the program and its impact.”

The positive impacts of mentoring are well established. According to data from the 2024-25 school year, 71 percent of TeamMates mentees had fewer absences than their peers, and 87 percent had fewer discipline referrals. If matched with a mentor their senior year, the mentees had a 96 percent graduation rate.

Western Dakota Technical Foundation: $39,000

Western Dakota Technical Foundation’s grant will allow the foundation to support a group of area leaders from education, industry and economic development called Catapult Stakeholders. The group is working to strengthen career pathways and economic mobility across western South Dakota.

Funding will help to strengthen the systems, partnerships and workforce pathways that create sustainable economic opportunity – with a goal of implementing strategies that connect individuals to education and employment.

“We recognize that long-term economic mobility depends on strong partnerships,” said Andrew Kapelewski, Director of Foundation Development. “The Catapult Stakeholders Group Initiative directly advances this vision by bringing together these sectors to develop collaborative solutions that strengthen career pathways and expand opportunities for students and communities across western South Dakota.”

C.O.R.E. Community Organized Resources for Educating Youth: $20,000

CORE is a statewide nonprofit that helps teens make positive choices during adolescence. The nonprofit has impacted more than 50,000 South Dakota youth since its inception in 2006. Many of these youth have participated in the Freshman Impact® program, a one-day experience where students learn – through hands-on activities – about the consequences of choices such as impaired or distracted driving and their lasting impacts.

CORE’s grant will help the organization to purchase a used truck for its learning simulations, which include a mock 911 call and crash scene. The funding also will be used to formally evaluate programming for continuous improvement and greatest impact.

“These funds will greatly assist us in delivering life-saving information to our state’s youth,” said Rick McPherson, CORE’s Founder and Executive Director.