Community Innovation Grants Benefit Nonprofits

The South Dakota Community Foundation congratulates the fourteen nonprofits that received a Community Innovation Grant for Round 1, 2021. SDCF received sixty-three applications for Round 1 and distributed $204,830 among these successful applicants: Alzheimer’s Association South Dakota Chapter, Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains, Inc., Center for Rural Affairs, Dakota Wesleyan University, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition, Mniluzahan Okolakicipayi Ambassadors, NAMI South Dakota, Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces, St. Francis House, Southeast Technical Institute Foundation, Survivors Joining for Hope, Inc., United Way of Northeastern South Dakota and Victims of Violence Intervention Program. Each of these organizations has its own unique focus, but several of these projects will have a statewide effect. The Alzheimer’s Association South Dakota Chapter is working to ensure that South Dakotans living in rural areas have the same access to Alzheimer’s resources as their counterparts living in urban areas. Targeting underserved, rural communities, the Center for Rural Affairs wants to ensure broadband access for all our state’s citizens. Lutheran Social Services will improve their agency and staff’s capacity to work toward racial equity. NAMI South Dakota will gather data to strengthen their ability to deliver mental health information virtually. A program focused on providing curriculum, resources and activities for youth who have lost someone to suicide will be developed by Survivors Joining for Hope, Inc. “We are proud to partner with all these grant recipients and send our thanks to the Bush Foundation for the continued support they have provided for our state,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer.

United Way of Northeastern SD was awarded a $20,000 Community Innovation Grant in Round 1, 2021. Funds will support five Aberdeen organizations as they identify a shared vision through the process of self-evaluation and strategic planning.

NSA Challenges Accepted

The SDCF seeks to support sustainability for South Dakota nonprofits by partnering with organizations and their donors to build endowment funds. The Nonprofit Savings Accounts (NSA) program issues a challenge to successful applicants to raise $80,000 over two years. If the organizations meet the goal over the prescribed time period, the SDCF contributes a $20,000 challenge match to the nonprofit’s SDCF endowment. Funds are permanently invested, and earnings create a long-term revenue source to support the nonprofit. Main Street Square in Rapid City and Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota recently accepted NSA challenges.