FY 24-25 Community Grants

Active Generations is dedicated to promoting positive aging for adults through a comprehensive array of programs, services, and educational opportunities designed to support older adults in living active, engaged, and fulfilling lives.

The Community Foundation grant supported the Meals on Wheels program that delivers meals to older adults who have trouble obtaining groceries on their own. By upgrading their technological capabilities and moving to an automated tracking system, the program is now able to improve efficiency, reduce overall costs and provide better service to clients.

Boy Scouts Sioux Council serves youth across parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, providing programs that promote leadership, outdoor skills and community service.

The Community Foundation grant supportedthe Teen Court program which offers first-time, non-violent high school offenders a restorative alternative to traditional court through peer review, community service and structured activities aimed at reducing recidivism. These funds also helped sustain the Resilience for Youth and Why Try programs, which provide vital emotional support and truancy intervention for at-risk Sioux Falls middle school students.

The Curious Music Collective is working to make music and art more accessible to all corners of the community by connecting professional musicians and artists to collaborate on projects that are educational, diverse, creative, and inclusive.

The Community Foundation grant supported increasing this organization’s marketing efforts on the heels of a recent rebranding. By growing their online presence and expanding their reach in the community, they hope to drive increased attendance to their unique events and collaborations with renowned musicians.

Emily’s Hope is dedicated to removing the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education and prevention; and removing financial barriers for treatment and recovery.

The Community Foundation grant supported the implementation of substance use curriculum for students in grades 6-12.

Face it TOGETHER provides dignity-affirming care to individuals who struggle with, or are affected by, addiction. Their innovative approach to addiction care expands the focus to the needs of the whole person and prioritizes ongoing improvements in wellness.

The Community Foundation grant addressed a funding gap, allowing the organization to provide uninterrupted services to its clients.

Family Service Inc. is dedicated to strengthening individuals and families by providing counseling, educational services and community-based support to address emotional, financial and social challenges.

The Community Foundation grant supported the merger between Family Service, Inc. and The Compass Center so that mental health services remained available to patients in need in the Sioux Falls area.

The Foster Network supports foster parents and families by providing assistance, support and essential supplies to foster families in need.

The Community Foundation grant helped expand The Closet, a program that provides free clothing to hundreds of foster children in the area each year. The need for this service has doubled in recent years, necessitating a significant scope of increase.

The Gathering Well is committed to providing comprehensive support, research-based education and relevant resources to adoptive and foster families.

The Community Foundation grant allowed this organization to implement the HALO program, which supports both families and foster children through intensive therapy, group support, life-skills, community education and accountability.

Groove, Inc. is a Sioux Falls based percussion academy that offers group and private lessons for students aged 4 to 64 years old, with a mission to teach and spread the passion for percussion.

The Community Foundation grant allowed the expansion of the Groove, Inc. programming into elementary schools and the Community Learning Centers (CLC).

Junior Achievement of South Dakota works to help young people discover what's possible in their lives by connecting what they learn in school with life outside the classroom.

The Community Foundation grant helped expand this organization’s JA Finance Park program, which aims to equip students with financial literacy and practical skills to help them practice sound financial decision-making. By simulating realistic scenarios, JA Finance Park gives students hands-on experience in building and implementing a budget and sets them up for a successful future.

McCrossan Boys Ranch provides a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk boys aged 9-20. Located in northwestern Sioux Falls, the ranch combines an accredited school and positive living situation with hands-on ranch experience to empower boys to develop the skills and confidence needed to overcome their challenges and lead successful, fulfilling lives.

The Community Foundation grant helped purchase new equipment and materials for the Ranch's art and English programs. Encouraging creativity and artistry in youth is shown to offer significant therapeutic benefits and contribute to their overall well-being and personal growth.

The Premiere Playhouse offers community-centered, professional-quality performances and educational opportunities year-round for the Sioux Empire, showcasing local talent by providing a stage for local playwrights, hosting free and low-cost community-based classes and events, and collaborating with local artists.

The Community Foundation grant provided elementary students with enriching and educational performing arts experiences.

Rainbow Chorus provides a musical platform that celebrates and uplifts LGBTQIA2S+ voices and allies by building an inclusive community and promoting activism, education and personal growth through music.

The Community Foundation grant supported a summer concert series that served as a platform for visibility, celebration and connection.

Rare by Design works to create awareness, inclusion and representation for individuals with rare diseases and disabilities. Founded in the belief that everyone should celebrate the rareness that makes them unique and extraordinary, they focus on living life positively and fostering community engagement.

The Community Foundation grant supported a film festival run by and for people with disabilities. The event aimed to give the Sioux Falls community the opportunity to explore films that showcase the unique talents of people with physical and developmental disabilities.

REACH Literacy empowers individuals in the Sioux Falls area to enhance their literacy by providing accessible and effective reading, writing and English language programs.

The grant from the Community Foundation supported the Read to Succeed program, which serves sub-literate and illiterate adults in the area by teaching critical reading and spelling skills and increasing their command of the English language. By equipping adults with literacy skills, REACH helps them break the cycle of poverty, increase independence and self-confidence, and become more involved in the community.

Secured My School uses advanced technology to create 3D models of schools that can provide law enforcement with valuable tactical information in the event of an active shooter scenario. Testing shows that this information can dramatically reduce response times in these tragic events.

The Community Foundation grant supported the completion of 3D scans of all Harrisburg K-12 schools and trained first responders to effectively use them. This program also engaged students in the process of developing and implementing the school's safety plan, empowering them to have a voice in their safety and well-being.

SHIFT Garage provides affordable car repairs and reliable transportation to individuals facing hardships, offering services such as discounted repairs, donated vehicles and educational programs on budgeting and car maintenance.

The Community Foundation grant allowed SHIFT Garage to hire a shop manager that oversees repairs completed by volunteers. The new position allows the organization to repair more vehicles.

The Sioux Falls Family YMCA has been promoting healthy lifestyles, nurturing the potential of every child and fostering a sense of social responsibility in our community for more than 100 years.

The Community Foundation grant supported the after-school transportation program for middle school students in Title 1 schools. Getting children home or to an after-school program every evening is a significant challenge, especially for lower-income families.

The Sioux Falls School District serves over 25,000 students across 43 schools and is dedicated to educating and preparing each student to succeed in a changing world through a diverse, inclusive and academically rigorous environment.

The Community Foundation grant allowed for the expansion of Family Listening Sessions, a vital platform for the Sioux Falls School District and Community Learning Center (CLC) to connect directly with parents, guardians and students. The District expanded the scope of these sessions by engaging families in twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools.

The South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC) is a quality improvement organization founded in 1973 with the mission to collaborate with partners and improve health outcomes.

The Community Foundation grant allowed for the expansion of the peer support specialist program for drug court, which was piloted by a Community Fund grant, into other specialty courts.

South Dakota Voices for Peace works to build power and enable healing in immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities by amplifying voices and working in solidarity with all who dismantle bigotry and racism in South Dakota.

The Community Foundation grant supported the family and community preparedness efforts of this organization.

The St. Francis House works to move people from homelessness to hope by providing a variety of services intended to assist individuals with long-term self-sufficiency.

The Community Foundation grant allowed for the expansion of this organization’s education program to include medical coding for women coming out of incarceration.