South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition Granted $73,000
September 10, 2024 // Beyond Idea Grants, Grants
South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition (SDNHC) recently received $73,000 from South Dakota Community Foundation’s (SDCF) Beyond Idea Grant (BIG) program to create opportunities for a construction internship program. Offered in partnership with the Bush Foundation, the BIG program supports community-based problem-solving efforts in South Dakota.
"The $73,000 grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation will significantly enhance our Construction Internship Program,” said Tawney Brunsch, SDNHC Board Member. “This funding allows us to expand to the Crow Creek Reservation, supporting an additional 15 interns and bringing our total to 73 across five Tribal communities. By providing construction skills and financial education, we address the worker shortage in the housing sector and foster economic sustainability. This grant helps build a stronger future for our reservations, increasing affordable housing and homeownership while empowering Native families."
The internship program will help Crow Creek community meet increased demand for a skilled residential construction workforce as the housing authority launches a multi-phase development of 50 new housing units.
SDNHC is a collaborative group of agencies dedicated to increasing homeownership opportunities for Native Americans in South Dakota. The group includes representatives of South Dakota’s tribes, federal and state agencies, tribally designated housing entities, nonprofits, housing developers, lenders and community development financial institutions.
SDCF has awarded nearly $3.6 million dollars from the Beyond Idea Grant program since 2022. Interested organizations can visit SDCommunityFoundation.org/BIG to review grant guidelines and application instructions. SDCF will offer the BIG program again in 2025, with more details to be announced later this year. To qualify, a nonprofit must be IRS Publication 78 verified or have a fiscal sponsor.
SDCF is a public non–profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,200 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1–800–888–1842.
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. Established in 1953 by 3M Executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the Foundation encourages individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about what is possible in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area.