Grantmaking Programs Respond to EverChanging Landscape

South Dakota Community Foundation’s (SDCF) grantmaking programs were reprioritized in 2020 to meet the challenges that South Dakota nonprofit organizations faced due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both the South Dakota Fund and the Community Innovation grant programs were refocused solely on the coronavirus and its impact on our state.

SDCF awarded fifteen South Dakota Fund grants focusing on the coronavirus totaling $183,771 from January through May 2021. Examples of successful projects include: installation of a security system by All About U Adoptions, Inc., located in Sioux Falls, that helped promote social distancing between clients and staff by providing virtual check-ins; REALTORS for Kids, Inc., in Spearfish, was able to provide much needed assistance for area youth; and the Hurley, SD Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Service, a nonprofit organization, received help to purchase necessary equipment during the pandemic when their normal fundraising activities had been hindered. The SDCF Board of Directors met in May 2021 and decided to return the South Dakota Fund to traditional grantmaking practices. This unrestricted fund makes grants to nonprofit and charitable organizations across the state and supports efforts that include initiatives on culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health, or human services. The South Dakota Fund application is available online at sdcommunityfoundation.org/grants and is ongoing throughout the year.

The SDCF has partnered with the Bush Foundation since 2014 to offer Community Innovation Grants in South Dakota. Community Innovation Grants support community problem-solving projects that lead to more effective, equitable and sustainable solutions. With the approval of the Bush Foundation, SDCF suspended that grantmaking process in 2020 and redirected funds to coronavirus response efforts. Traditional Community Innovation Grants were offered once again in 2021. The second and final round of applications for 2021 was open July 1 through July 30. Successful grant recipients will be announced November 15, 2021.

If you are interested in learning more about SDCF’s continued grantmaking efforts, please visit SDCommunityFoundation.org/Grants. PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION If you would like to offer your support for these or other worthwhile projects across our state, learn more at SDCommunityFoundation.org/Giving. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE CAPITAL AREA

A $15,000 grant enabled the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area to install a room divider in its large multipurpose room resulting in more “safe space” classrooms. This will allow an additional 20 to 25 youth to participate in Club offerings.

RAPID CITY YMCA

Grant dollars supported the Rapid City YMCA in hiring an e-learning coordinator to train staff and assist students while working through the Rapid City Area Schools’ e-learning requirements.

FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA

Feeding South Dakota received funding for a volunteer incentive program to bolster recruitment efforts for the mobile food program in central South Dakota.