South Dakota Community Foundation

South Dakota Community Foundation
Name	South Dakota Community Foundation
Type	Nonprofit foundation
Founded	1976
Headquarters	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Area served	South Dakota
Focus	Philanthropy, community development, grants

South Dakota Community Foundation The South Dakota Community Foundation is a statewide philanthropic organization based in Sioux Falls that manages endowed funds and awards grants to support charitable activities across South Dakota. Founded in the 1970s, the foundation works with donors, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and local communities to steward assets and distribute grants for arts, health, education, and rural development. It operates within a network of community foundations and charitable institutions to leverage resources for long-term community benefit.

History

The organization was established in the aftermath of philanthropic trends exemplified by institutions such as the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Rockefeller Foundation, Gates Foundation, and regional models like the Oregon Community Foundation and Maine Community Foundation. Early governance drew on practices from the Council on Foundations and guidance similar to that used by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and The Boston Foundation. During the 1980s and 1990s the foundation expanded its endowment following statewide initiatives reminiscent of campaigns run by the United Way of America and local drives akin to the Minnesota Community Foundation. Its growth paralleled philanthropic shifts seen in entities such as the Kresge Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Lilly Endowment. Partnerships and grant programs over time referenced models from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Bush Foundation while responding to state issues involving the South Dakota State University system, tribal nations like the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and municipal partners such as the City of Sioux Falls.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission aligns with donor-advised funds, designated funds, scholarship programs, and unrestricted endowments similar to vehicles promoted by the Philanthropy Roundtable, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Programmatic areas include arts funding that complements work by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Washington Pavilion, educational scholarships tied to institutions such as the University of South Dakota, health initiatives that coordinate with entities like Sanford Health and the Avera Health system, and rural development strategies that echo projects undertaken by the USDA and regional development organizations like the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board. Specialized funds and initiatives have been modeled after award programs run by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and community resiliency efforts seen in collaborations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Governance and Leadership

Board governance follows standards promoted by organizations such as the Independent Sector, BoardSource, and the Council on Foundations. Leadership has included executive directors and board chairs recruited from professional networks that overlap with the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, and statewide entities like the South Dakota Governor's Office. The foundation’s staff works alongside legal and financial advisors similar to firms that serve nonprofit boards in the mold of Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young, and philanthropic counsel drawing on precedents from the Legal Services Corporation. Trustees and advisors have engaged with leaders from the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and academic partners from the Augustana University and Dakota Wesleyan University.

Financials and Fundraising

Financial stewardship adheres to accounting practices common to large foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and reporting norms promoted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The foundation’s endowment growth strategies borrow from models used by the Yale Investments Office and university endowments at the University of Chicago and Harvard University for long-term asset allocation, while fundraising campaigns echo best practices from the Rotary International and statewide drives similar to the South Dakota Community Foundation peer organizations in North Dakota and Nebraska. Revenue streams include contributions, planned giving, and investment returns, with grantmaking budgets informed by comparisons to regional funders like the North Dakota Community Foundation and national comparators such as the Annenberg Foundation.

Regional Impact and Grantmaking

Grant programs support cultural organizations like the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and regional museums such as the South Dakota Art Museum, educational scholarships for students attending South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota School of Law, and community development projects in municipalities including Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Brookings. The foundation has funded initiatives addressing rural health in coordination with clinics modeled on the Mayo Clinic Health System and tribal health programs similar to those run by the Indian Health Service. Regional impact evaluation methods reference standards used by the Urban Institute and RAND Corporation to measure outcomes in arts, economic development, and civic engagement.

Partnerships and Affiliations

The foundation partners with statewide and national institutions including the South Dakota Network for Excellence in Community Health, South Dakota Humanities Council, South Dakota Arts Council, and national networks like the Council on Foundations and the Grantmakers in the Arts. Collaborations extend to tribal governments such as the Sicangu Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), educational institutions including Sinte Gleska University, and philanthropic intermediaries like the National Philanthropic Trust and regional community foundations such as the Nebraska Community Foundation and Iowa Community Foundation.

Category:Charities based in South Dakota