Dedicated to Enriching the Quality of Life of Our Area
Our office is downtown, but the essence of the Community Foundation lives at the intersection of our community’s needs and donors’ desires to make an impact. It’s there that our team works to advance our mission to provide trusted leadership that inspires philanthropy and enriches the quality of life in our area — for good, for ever.
Community Foundation Team
Meet our team who works to advance our mission to provide trusted leadership that inspires philanthropy and enriches the quality of life in our area – for good, for ever.
People in Sioux Falls believe in possibility. We are a community that keeps moving forward, always looking for the next opportunity or challenge to tackle. We keep dreaming – and we work together to help achieve those dreams.
What Foundation work are you most proud of?
Giving is such a wonderful expression of values and the things that have shaped someone’s life. I am proud that we walk alongside donors as they explore what their own giving will look like and then help carry out those plans. I'm also proud of our nonprofit community. They do such important work and meet so many needs - I am always inspired by their work.
I love seeing how generosity shows up in this community. Some donors help create parks, trails and art that make Sioux Falls vibrant. Others support work that quietly changes someone’s life - like helping a foster child who’s never had a stable home finally have a place that’s hers. Getting to see both sides of that impact is what makes this work so meaningful to me. I’m proud of the Foundation’s ability to respond to what the community needs today while building endowment that will support Sioux Falls for generations.
What excites you about where the Foundation is headed?
We continue to see not only the areas where the community is growing, but where donors want to invest. That unique vantage point allows us to help make a real difference in Sioux Falls. I’m excited for all the ways we show up for our community – from supporting nonprofits to helping donors find the perfect fit for their philanthropy. It’s incredibly fulfilling work.
In a prior role, I worked for a local public accounting firm where the Foundation was a client. As I got to know the staff, board members and donors, I gained a deeper understanding of the Foundation’s work and influence in Sioux Falls. The impact the Foundation has on the community, supporting local nonprofit organizations and helping donors make a meaningful difference, is remarkable and it inspired me to want to be part of that work.
What’s something you love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area?
I love the easy access to outdoor recreation. In the summer I enjoy biking the loop and riding downtown, and in the winter, you’ll often find me at Great Bear Ski Valley. Year-round, there’s also great hiking at Good Earth State Park and Beaver Creek Nature Area. We’re fortunate to have so many great outdoor opportunities right here in our community.
Sioux Falls has a great combination of community pride, steady growth and strong civic engagement. It's growing while still feeling connected. New businesses, housing, and opportunities continue to expand the city, but there’s still a strong sense of belonging and neighborliness that keeps it grounded.
What excites you most about where the Foundation is headed?
I can feel the momentum around bringing people together to invest in the community’s future. The Foundation has always been a trusted place for generosity, but it’s especially exciting to see how that generosity is increasingly being connected to meaningful community impact. As Sioux Falls grows, the Foundation is helping create opportunities for donors, nonprofits and community partners to work together. More than anything, it’s exciting to see the culture of generosity in Sioux Falls continue to grow — and to know the Foundation will keep playing a key role in helping that generosity make a lasting difference.
What’s something you love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area?
In Sioux Falls, you really are one conversation away from making a true connection. I love that in the same day I can talk to an elected official, a volunteer, a published poet and the mess of kids running through our neighborhood. Sometimes the Midwest gets overlooked, and it shouldn’t. We are a hardworking, community-minded and good-hearted corner of the world, and I’m proud to call South Dakota home.
What inspired you to work at the Foundation?
I’ve been telling Sioux Falls stories since I moved here in 2001. Coming to the Foundation allowed me to tell stories about people who love this city as much as I do and who care enough about its future to invest in it. I love hearing why someone feels called to do nonprofit work or where someone learned to be generous and philanthropic. It’s a constant reminder that we are surrounded by good people.
I have seen firsthand how powerful it can be when a community comes together around shared goals. I’m energized by how the Community Foundation is bringing people, organizations and resources together to tackle complex challenges with long-term, community-rooted solutions.
What excites you most about where the Foundation is headed?
The Community Foundation is creating space for innovation, supporting cross-sector partnerships and investing in ideas that make Sioux Falls more connected and welcoming. Working here allows me to keep doing what I care about most: building relationships, using data to guide meaningful change and helping design systems that benefit the people who live here.
What’s something you love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area?
Community is one of my core values and was a large part of my decision to establish roots in Sioux Falls. The most generous and caring people I have known have been here in our community, and I am reminded of that almost every day working at the Foundation. The people here want to take care of their neighbors and ensure we all have the resources we need to thrive. I feel grateful and inspired every day to live in Sioux Falls and work at the Foundation.
What excites you most about where the Foundation is headed?
The Foundation lives up to its mission and grows and changes alongside the community. I am a true believer that growth does not happen without philanthropy. As Sioux Falls continues to grow, the Foundation is there to support everything that comes with that. Whether it be supporting a project that enhances our quality of life, like Jacobson Plaza or the Levitt, or ensuring our children and families are taken care of as our schools grow by supporting organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, or helping to develop downtown with the Smithfield project, philanthropy is ever present and crucial to the exciting changes happening in our community. It is a team effort, with our donors, nonprofits, community leaders and others making this growth possible.
It's the people. It’s the random strangers who crowd around and help push a stuck car out of a snowbank, or the small gestures of neighborliness like hand-delivering misplaced mail. Maybe it’s cracking jokes with somebody you just met or sharing a meal with a lifelong friend, the goodness of people makes Sioux Falls feel like home.
What inspired you to work at the Foundation?
I left college with grand designs about changing the world. Quickly, I realized that changing the world starts with improving the little part of it around you. Frustrated that some of the jobs in my early career didn’t feel like they were aligned with my ideals, I called up a friend who worked at the Foundation at the time. Before I knew it, I had a new job and a way to help make life better in my little corner of the planet. I found not only purpose, but everything else I didn’t know I was looking for.
The best thing about Sioux Falls is definitely the people here. We have an amazing community of business leaders, lifelong neighbors and new residents that make Sioux Falls special. We also have an outstanding nonprofit community, full of people helping others. It’s inspiring to witness that every day.
What Foundation work are you most proud of?
I love connecting donors to organizations and witnessing the art of giving and the joy of receiving. We have the opportunity to help philanthropists develop their giving plans and we have the opportunity to help nonprofit organizations accomplish their missions and goals. My role is right in the middle, helping connect our donors to causes in the community, and it brings me great joy to do that.
What surprised me the most when I began here is just how much the Foundation affects our community. The work that the Community Foundation does is not just reactive, but also proactive. We do more than just connect donors with local nonprofits to help solve issues in our city. we help create an environment where the city and its people can grow. This is what turns Sioux Falls from a city to live in, to a home to thrive in.
What inspired you to work at the Foundation?
I really wanted to be part of improving my community and helping people who live here. What impresses me about the Foundation is the humility and spirit of service of everyone here. This is the kind of attitude that can affect real change and make things better for everyone.
Sioux Falls has a strong sense of community and a lively arts and music scene. There are concerts, local bands, art shows and public art across the city. You can enjoy live music downtown, visit local galleries or attend fun community events throughout the year. Our parks and outdoor spaces add to the energy and beauty of the area. Most of all, it’s the people who make Sioux Falls special — people who care, give back, and take pride in where they live.
What’s something you love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area?
One thing I love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area is our beautiful parks system — especially as a dog lover. The trails, green spaces and dog parks make it easy to get outside and enjoy fresh air. Whether it’s a walk along the bike trail or time at the dog park, these spaces bring people together and add to the quality of life here. It’s one of the simple joys of living in Sioux Falls — great parks, happy dogs and a community that values both.
I'm most proud of my work with the Community Foundation's scholarship program. As a former teacher of almost a decade, I understand the transformative power of education. By helping support our future leaders, my work contributes to building a stronger community.
What’s something you love about living and working in the Sioux Falls area?
Sioux Falls is a big city with a small-town feel. Our community is always expanding in exciting ways and has many vibrant hubs. But still, our people support our people. As a member of the Community Investment team at the Community Foundation, I'm able to witness firsthand how incredible people are working to uplift one another. I'm proud to support the work of local nonprofits through our grant programs and The Giving Depot.
Being a native of Sioux Falls, I am amazed by how much the city has grown in my lifetime. The ever-changing landscape of downtown has been exciting to see. I love seeing people eating outdoors on patios, touring the Sculpture Walk, strolling car shows or just window shopping on a warm day. The additions of the Levitt at the Falls and Jacobson bring more family opportunities downtown, and I’m excited to see how downtown will continue to grow and thrive in years to come.
What’s a nonprofit or area of work the Foundation has supported that you feel especially connected to, and why?
Any organization that helps animals holds a special place in my family’s heart. We have adopted all of our dogs from shelters, but I can honestly say they have rescued us, not the other way around. Walking through the halls of the shelter definitely tugs at the heart strings. The unconditional love of a dog is unmatched, and, if my husband would let me, I’d adopt every dog available!
Community Foundation Board of Directors
The following community leaders serve as the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, offering their knowledge and expertise in community development, charitable giving, accounting, law and financial management.
Suzanne Veenis
Board Chair
Community Leader and Civic Volunteer
Aaron Severson
Vice Chair
Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
Jarrod Edelen
Senior Portfolio Manager, South Dakota Investment Council
Stacy Erdmann
CPA, Partner, Eide Bailly
Mandy Gaikowski
Attorney/Partner, Estate Planning Solutions Law Firm, Prof. LLC
Matt Gassen
Treasurer
Community Leader and Civic Volunteer
Lisa Gerner
Chief Financial Officer, PREMIER Bankcard
Maggie Groteluschen
VP & Fiduciary Services Manager, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
