FY 25-26 Community Grants

Providing Help, Enhancing Quality of Life

The Community Fund, our most visionary endowment, is supported by donors who make unrestricted gifts to the Community Foundation. These donors place their trust in the Foundation to direct their gifts in ways that will create the greatest impact.

FY 2025-26 Community Fund Grants

Community Fund grants help launch transformational programs, provide meaningful support for neighborhood nonprofits, and help develop innovative solutions for our community's most complex challenges. Learn about the Community Grants awarded during the 2025-26 Fiscal Year: 

The Alzheimer’s Association provides free care, support and resources to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias in South Dakota.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Alzheimer’s Association Support Packets sent to South Dakota families upon diagnosis.

Augustana University’s Research Institute provides cross-sector measurement and analysis for communities.
The Community Foundation grants supported the 2026 Point-In-Time Count and the Sioux Falls Community Scorecard.

The Avera Research Institute serves nearly 1 million people across five states, offering compassionate, research-driven care with a strong focus on rural and tribal communities.
The Community Foundation grant supported an assessment of the food environment, policies and systems across South Dakota.

Black Hills Special Services Cooperative is a multi-service agency that supports schools, communities and organizations across South Dakota.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Poverty Escape Room training experience’s expansion into Sioux Falls.

The Center for Disabilities, housed within the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota in Sioux Falls, partners with organizations in South Dakota to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Blue Envelope Project, providing tools for individuals with cognitive, behavioral or sensory challenges to signal law enforcement during emergencies and routine interactions. 

The Center of Hope provides resources that promote the physical and spiritual health of community members in need.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Prison Transition Mentorship Program, which includes workforce training for participating inmates.

Downtown Sioux Falls works to drive foot traffic to Downtown through activation, advocacy, marketing and stewardship to fuel the city’s growth.
The Community Foundation grant supported the launch of the Downtown Vitality Benchmark Initiative, which will provide a standardized, nationally benchmarked measurement of Downtown performance.

East River Legal Services provides civil legal aid in the areas of Family Law, Housing Law, Public Benefits and Consumer Law to the most vulnerable residents within 33 counties of eastern South Dakota.
The Community Foundation grant supported the operations of East River Legal Services as they continue to serve vulnerable populations in eastern South Dakota.

Emily’s Hope works to eliminate the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, prevention and removing financial barriers to treatment and recovery.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Community Outreach Coordinator position, which serves as the on-the-ground presence of Emily’s Hope at local events.

Empire Mental Health Support serves the Sioux Empire by promoting mental wellness, challenging stigma and supporting individuals on their unique paths to recovery.
The Community Foundation grant funded pamphlets outlining several mental illness diagnoses.

Foster 605 works to empower communities to embrace a supportive environment for children in foster care and provide care and support to families in crisis.
The Community Foundation grant supported the launch of CarePortal in South Dakota, a real-time platform that connects child-serving professionals with community partners to meet the needs of children and families involved in the foster care system.

Friends of SDPB supports South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s mission to inspire, connect and entertain all South Dakotans through trusted journalism, quality education and storytelling.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Bison Campaign.

Game Plan 4 Hope supports families in the upper Midwest affected by life-changing injuries or diagnoses by providing practical help, spiritual care and a community rooted in strength and faith.
The Community Foundation grant supported the launch of a trauma-informed peer support and mentorship initiative called “Hope Built on Purpose.” 

Junior Achievement of South Dakota works to build thriving communities by building relevant financial and workplace skills in young people with the help of community volunteers.
The Community Foundation grant supported the JA Biztown program, a financial literacy curriculum and role-playing simulation for local 5th and 6th grade students.

Levitt at the Falls is a nonprofit outdoor music venue in Sioux Falls that is dedicated to building community through the power of free, live music.
The Community Foundation grants supported the All My Relatives Festival in fall 2026 and also helped sustain the livestreaming of 50+ free concerts annually.

LifeScape works with children and adults who face medical, developmental and behavioral challenges and provides resources to help them lead fulfilling lives.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Volunteer Services Program, providing meaningful enrichment activities between volunteers and clients.

Midwest Street Medicine provides low-barrier, street-based medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness and other barriers to traditional healthcare access.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Health Home program, allowing this organization to coordinate consistent patient care.

Minnehaha County’s Human Services department works to provide education and opportunity to local human service professionals.
The Community Foundation grant supported local case workers through the Heart of Service 2.0 program.

The Premiere Playhouse builds community through collaborative theatre education and performance.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Creative Wellness: Theatre for Every Body program.

Rainbow Chorus serves as a welcoming and affirming space in the Sioux Empire for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and allies to connect through music.
The Community Foundation grant supported the concert series titled “Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced.”

The Rural Philanthropy Institute works to offer a greater understanding of how to build healthy rural areas and believes that the nonprofit sector plays a large role in sustaining South Dakota communities.
The Community Foundation grant supported the South Dakota Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, a four-session fundraising training program for nonprofit leadership in South Dakota.

Scouting America, Sioux Council manages a Teen Court program that is designed to provide youth with a positive alternative to the court system.
The Community Foundation grant supported the Teen Court program, providing a structured system for youth to build self-esteem, self-understanding and responsibility.

SculptureWalk is a year-round sculpture program in downtown Sioux Falls that works to bring art to the people.
The Community Foundation grant provided annual support for SculptureWalk.

The Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club is part of an international community service organization dedicated to delivering service to mankind.
The Community Foundation grant supported the construction of the Sertoma Legacy Playground at Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls.

SHIFT Garage helps individuals and families in Sioux Falls overcome transportation insecurity by providing free volunteer labor for essential car repairs.
The Community Foundation grant supported the full-time Office Administrator position.

The Sioux Falls Family YMCA strengthens youth, families and the community through programs like Camp Leif Ericson that promote development, health and inclusion.
The Community Foundation grants supported the "Give Kids the Woods" program, which offers an inclusive, nature-based camp for children with disabilities to families at no cost. The grants also supported The Siouxer, a youth skateboarding program, in its expansion into the Sioux Falls School District's CLC.

The Sioux Falls School District has partnered with the City of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department and local residents to enhance the space on 9th Street and Grange Avenue, named Lincoln Commons.
The Community Foundation grant supported the efforts to enhance the existing Lincoln Commons space for community use.

The Sioux Falls School District’s Community Learning Centers (CLC) are a collaborative out-of-school time program within school buildings serving thousands of students in the district.
The Community Foundation grant supported the creation of the Drone Soccer program at George McGovern, Whittier and Ben Reifel Middle Schools.

Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium connects people to wildlife through conservation, education and recreation.
The Community Foundation grant supported two vibrant murals that will enhance visitor engagement and deepen connections to conservation.

Solace offers crisis care, therapy and healing arts to support local survivors and promote recovery.
The Community Foundation grant supported Solace’s continued operations.

South Dakota Voices for Peace supports immigrant, refugee and Muslim communities through legal services and education. 
The Community Foundation grant supported the certification of this organization’s bilingual Community Health Worker.

Teen Lead Foundation works to empower young people through education, environmental stewardship, leadership development and community engagement.
The Community Foundation grant supported the coordination of this organization’s environmental sustainability education, youth mentorship and other programming.

Translators of Cultures serves refugee and immigrant youth and families in the Sioux Falls area, assisting them in adjusting to life in South Dakota.
The Community Foundation grant supported the 5th cohort of Student Training Achieving Roadmap to Success (STARS), a youth leadership training program.

Volunteers of America, Dakotas (VOA) uplifts individuals and families by providing behavioral health services, disability support, youth programs and assistance for those experiencing homelessness.
The Community Foundation grant supported the employment services provided through the Volunteers of America, Dakotas Veterans Services Center.