South Dakota Community Foundation Awards $20,000 Grant to Beacon Center
December 4, 2025 // Grants, South Dakota Fund Grants
South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) has awarded a $20,000 South Dakota Fund grant to Beacon Center due to cuts in federal funding. Funding will help ensure Beacon Center is able to maintain adequate staffing for their 24/7 crisis line, as well as purchase supplies for their 32-bed shelter.
“The reduction in federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) over the last four years has had a profound impact on the operational budget at Beacon Center,” said Donna Marchand, Beacon Center’s Executive Director. “The cuts have impacted staffing, training, and our ability to directly support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The grant from SDCF will help with services for victims and for directly supporting victims as they transition to independent living. We are beyond grateful for SDCF for stepping in to fill this void!”
Established in 1977, the mission of Beacon Center is to provide hope, safety, and resources to illuminate the path for survivors, inspire community engagement, and amplify the voices of all individuals in the Watertown area. Beacon Center has established goals of ensuring the immediate safety of victims by providing access to shelter, food, and basic necessities; supporting victims by helping them identify and overcome barriers to long-term stability; and offering ongoing community case management services to assist individuals as they transition from the shelter care to independent living. This funding will allow Beacon Center to continue to reach their goals by providing in-shelter and community case management services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
"Beacon Center provides hope and healing to those who often feel there is none," says Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “We are proud to provide support for them to continue their important work during these uncertain times.”
To learn more about funding opportunities through SDCF, visit SDCommunityFoundation.org.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,300 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $40 million in grants in 2024 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