Seven Sioux Falls Nonprofits Benefit from Community Innovation Grant Awards

Seven Sioux Falls nonprofits with very different missions share something in common. Each were successful applicants in the South Dakota Community Foundation’s (SDCF) Round 1, 2021 Community Innovation Grant program. Community Innovation Grants are offered in partnership with the Bush Foundation and focus specifically on supporting community problem-solving projects. Sixty-three applications were submitted in Round 1 and fourteen resulted in securing funding. These seven Sioux Falls based applicants will share nearly $100,000 in grant awards.

“This wonderful gift from the South Dakota Community Foundation will allow us to continue to serve the people of our state with education, support and wellness activities that improve understanding of mental health conditions. During this time of long recovery from the stress of the pandemic, it has never been more important to take care of our mental health and that of our loved ones”, said Wendy Giebink, Executive Director NAMI South Dakota.

“Survivors Joining for Hope is honored and humbled by the generosity of the South Dakota Community Foundation and its donors”, said Brad Hearst, Founder & Chairman of the Board, Survivors Joining for Hope. “The funding will allow us to introduce a platform concentrated on the youth of our community and has the potential to be portable throughout South Dakota. It will provide a unique experience and platform for youth to process their grief after losing a loved one to suicide”.

The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) is proud to partner with the following organizations and provide support for their projects:

Alzheimer’s Association South Dakota Chapter: $10,000

In South Dakota, more than 18,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s. This project will work to ensure that rural South Dakotans are connected to the same resources for Alzheimer’s as their urban counterparts. The focus will begin with 50 or more rural counties and tribal areas in our state where dementia services and resources are most limited. The Alzheimer’s Association is working in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Human Services, the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs and AARP to bolster this initiative.

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota: $20,000

With this project, Lutheran Social Services is seeking to improve their agency and staff’s capacity to work toward racial equity by increasing their ability to acknowledge and address racial and cultural differences, acknowledge racism and discrimination in society and advocate for remedies to social injustices.

NAMI South Dakota: $20,000

Funds will support development of an online survey to determine topics, information and education needed when there is a request for a virtual mental health presentation. An online tracking tool will also be developed to measure presentation impact and determine trends. Data will be recorded allowing for strategic development and marketing of additional topics of interest to clients.

Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces: $20,000

Pathways has conducted more than 100 interviews in the Sioux Falls area with business and community leaders regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). Educators on their team will work with employers through a year-long DE&I Activator Series, Human Resources round tables, Sioux Falls Voices (panels comprised of diverse community members) and intensives on unconscious bias and cultural competence.

St. Francis House: $5,200

An initial survey of small non-profit directors shed light on common challenges being experienced by all of them. The costs of health insurance and retaining and recruiting employees was a common theme. They will explore the idea of a small group of nonprofits coming together to form an association. Focus groups will be held, findings shared and recommendations presented regarding next steps.

Southeast Technical Institute Foundation: $14,630

Southeast Technical College will build on a pilot program they offered to over 30 diverse students who were employed by local construction companies, earned dual enrollment credit and learned the construction trade. The curriculum was created by faculty and industry partners. To build on that pilot program, new industry sponsors have been recruited that include Associated General Contractors, the Homebuilder’s Association and landscape companies in the Sioux Falls area. Area high schools will help identify rising juniors and seniors interested in a paid apprenticeship.

Survivors Joining for Hope, Inc.: $10,000

Despite having a suicide rate amongst individuals ages 15-24 that is higher than the national average, limited resources exist for youth in South Dakota who have lost someone to suicide. A survey will be created for school administrators and student councils to complete. Based on scores from these surveys, each school will be put into a region to determine a baseline for student awareness and staff education. Community engagement will take place and groups will be led not just by adults but by youth themselves. Information gleamed from the surveys will help develop and launch a program focused on providing curriculum, resources and activities for youth.

“Although these seven Sioux Falls organizations vary greatly in their project’s focus, each will strengthen their community through this work”, said Ginger Niemann, Senior Program Officer, SDCF. “We are proud to play a small role in that”.

Round 2, 2021 of the Community Innovation Grants application process opened July 1 and closes July 30, 2021. To learn more about funding opportunities offered by the SDCF, please visit our website at https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/ .

About the SDCF

SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers over 1050 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $18 million in grants in 2020 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.

About the Bush Foundation

The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. Established in 1953 by 3M Executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the Foundation encourages individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about what is possible in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area.