Bringing Philanthropy to Life

By South Dakota Community Foundation

Since 1987, the South Dakota Community Foundation has been bringing philanthropy to life for a stronger South Dakota by connecting generous people and charitable nonprofits in our state. This podcast ... more

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FAQs about Bringing Philanthropy to Life:

How many episodes does Bringing Philanthropy to Life have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.

Bringing Philanthropy to Life episodes:

January 08, 2024A Life Interwoven With Philanthropy With Elmer Karl
A thriving community relies on members to work together to create a brighter tomorrow. Luckily for Gregory, SD, giving back to his hometown is woven into Elmer Karl’s DNA. His family name has become a household name in South Dakota through his business, Karl’s TV Audio, Appliance, and Furniture. Elmer has appeared in commercials promoting the business for more than 50 years, so many South Dakotans are familiar with his smiling face and classic slogan: “Your servicing dealer since 1956.” From a single store in Gregory, “Karl’s” has grown into the region’s largest independent electronics and appliance dealer, operating 19 stores in the Midwest.
Elmer recently sat down with Jeff Veltkamp, Director of Development for the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), to discuss his story and dedication to giving back to Gregory.
In this episode, you will hear:
Elmer Karl’s story

Why investing in your community is vital

How a donor advised fund offers flexibility in giving back
“It can be a battle for small towns to survive, but it looks like Gregory will, and the town has been good to us. We’ve enjoyed living here,” said Elmer Karl.
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
11min
December 13, 2023A Conversation With Our Bush Prize: South Dakota Winners
The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) is proud to partner with the Bush Foundation to offer the Bush Prize: South Dakota – an award that celebrates organizations highly valued within their communities that have a track record of successful community problem solving. SDCF was honored to award the 2023 Bush Prize: South Dakota to two amazing South Dakota nonprofits.
Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC) and the Lost&Found Association. BHSSC will receive the maximum award of $500,000 and Lost&Found will receive $185,000.
SDCF’s Senior Program Officer Ginger Niemann had the opportunity to sit down with BHSSC’s Executive Deputy Director Dr. Pam Lange, as well as Lost&Found’s Executive Director and CEO Erik Muckey.
During their conversation Ginger, Pam, and Erik discussed the work of their nonprofits and what the future looks like as Bush Prize: South Dakota Winners.
In this episode, you will hear:
The vital work of these South Dakota nonprofits

The way each organization will utilize their prize funds

Information about Bush Prize: South Dakota
“I hope folks know there are nonprofits you can believe in and trust, because of all the South Dakota Community Foundation does.”
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
29min
November 08, 2023Laying the Foundation for a Stronger Tomorrow with Leadership South Dakota
A flourishing community relies on a strong foundation. A strong foundation of growth, commitment, and collaboration. This cannot become a reality without strong leadership. The development of homegrown leaders is at the heart of the mission of Leadership South Dakota.
Jeff Veltkamp, Director of Development for the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), joined John Meyer, the new Executive Director of Leadership South Dakota, to discuss how they cultivate tomorrow’s leaders across the state.
In this episode, you will hear:
John’s involvement with Leadership SD
His vision for the sustained future of the nonprofit
How Leadership SD partners with SDCF to create sustainable funding
“Having an endowment ensures that anyone who deserves to be in Leadership South Dakota can be without any financial barrier,” said John. “So when we think about the future, we think about opening doors, and South Dakota Community Foundation is showing us how to do that.”
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
25min
October 11, 2023Offering Shelter From the Storm with Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor is a domestic violence shelter for seven counties near Aberdeen in northeastern South Dakota. It began in 1977 as a volunteer phone service providing information to women and people in crisis. They soon realized that they had to do more than just offer information; they wanted to offer hope.

Today, Safe Harbor serves adults and children by providing food and shelter, but they also empower people in abusive situations to change their lives. They offer resources for learning to make positive life choices, provide advocacy and supportive services, and educate and motivate the local community to be proactive in eliminating abuse.

South Dakota Community Foundation’s (SDCF) Community Development Coordinator Pat Gallagher sat down with Gina Karst, Executive Director of Safe Harbor, and Danielle Oliver, President of the Safe Harbor Foundation. They discussed the vital work of Safe Harbor and the organization’s partnership with SDCF. The Safe Harbor Foundation established an endowment fund through SDCF’s nonprofit savings account challenge.
In this episode, you will hear:
Safe Harbor’s story and mission

How partnering with SDCF has helped secure a long future for Safe Harbor

The vital support victims receive from Safe Harbor
“We will continue to provide victims services. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, we will be there to help until that person is ready to be done and to move on with their life.” - Gina Karst
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
20min
September 20, 2023Honoring Community with the Gene Abdallah Scholarship Fund
In his lifetime, Gene Abdallah (1936-2019) dedicated himself through and through to community service. For nearly 50 years, Gene served the public in multiple branches of government and nearly all branches of law enforcement, from the federal level to a state and local level. Today, Gene’s dedication to giving back and honoring his community continues on even after his passing.
In 2019, The Gene Abdallah Scholarship Fund was established through the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) to provide financial support to students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Jeff Veltkamp, SDCF Director of Development, sat down with Scott to talk about his passion for supporting law enforcement and his establishment of the Gene Abdallah Scholarship Fund in honor of his father.
In this episode you will hear:
Gene Abdallah’s story and impact

How the Gene Abdallah Scholarship Fund is creating a bright and safe future in SD

The Impact the Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner continues to have in its 42nd year
“This event is a reflection of how much our community loves law enforcement, and it makes me proud to live in this state,” shared Scott.
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
22min
August 09, 2023Building Resilience with Lost&Found
Lost&Found, based out of Sioux Falls, is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating proactive, data-driven, public health approaches to suicide prevention for young adults ages 15-34. What started as a student project in 2010 has grown into an extensive organization with a decade of outreach, advocacy, and mental health referral programs in South Dakota through college campus partnerships.

South Dakota Community Foundation’s (SDCF) Senior Program Officer, Ginger Niemann joined Erik Muckey, Executive Director of Lost&Found for a conversation on the organization as a whole and the ways they are utilizing grants from the SDCF to expand their reach. At 18 years old, Erik was one of the founders of the program when it was designed by students at the University of South Dakota.

In this episode, you will hear:
Erik’s involvement with Lost&Found from day one

Suicide statistics in South Dakota and what Lost&Found is doing to change them

How the organization is utilizing a $100,000 grant from SDCF to expand their reach
“As our services have grown over the years, we’ve been able to touch just about every corner of South Dakota, and it always comes back to why we do what we do and what we care about as an organization,” said Erik.

Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
35min
July 12, 2023Freedom's Haven with Hani Shafai
Hani Shafai has worked tirelessly to transform industries and provide sustainable employment and housing in the Black Hills for nearly 40 years. Hani first arrived in South Dakota at the age of 19, seeking a safe education out of harm’s way. He found himself far from his war-torn home in the Gaza Strip in Palestine when he arrived in Rapid City.
Hani recently joined South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) Director for Foundation Relations Beth Massa to discuss his philanthropic work with the Freedom's Haven for New Americans' Workforce and his time as a board member with the SDCF.
In this episode, you will hear:
Hani’s early life story and journey to South Dakota

His help in developing and supporting Freedom's Haven for New Americans' Workforce

How this project is aiming to fill 30,000 vacant jobs across the state
“We saw that this would provide one option to bring up our workforce in the state, but at the same time help good people who really need our help,” said Hani.
Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
29min
June 07, 2023Pillars of Support with the South Dakota Nurses Foundation
In 1999, the South Dakota Nurses Association established a charitable foundation branch, the South Dakota Nurses Foundation (SDNF), to offer financial support to RNs and the work of nurses throughout the state. The SDNF offered its first scholarship in 2005 and has offered over $50,000 dollars in scholarships since then. The foundation has partnered with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) for a number of funds ranging from scholarships to research funding, as well as donor-advised funds (DAFs).

Thomas E. Stenvig, PhD, MPH, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Associate Professor and PhD Program Coordinator at the South Dakota State University’s College of Nursing and current President of the SDNF joined Jeff Veltkamp – Director of Development of the SDCF, to discuss the organization’s founding pillars, education, and research, and partnership with the SDCF to achieve their funding goals to support registered nurses in South Dakota.

In this episode, you will hear:
How the SDNF was formed

The pillars of support that the SDNF provides to RNs in South Dakota

How partnering with the SDCF has provided them with the support they need to focus on creating a better tomorrow

“There are many people whose lives have been impacted by a nurse; and if that is something one can see and recognize, we invite them to help us further the nursing profession. You can make a difference,” shared Thomas.

Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
18min
May 03, 2023Facilitating a Bright Future with Haakon County Schools
The Haakon School District is dedicated to assisting in the development of each student's optimum potential with education programs focused on providing opportunities for students pursuing knowledge based in all fields of learning. They recognize the need for educational programs that are sensitive to the concepts of a changing world.
Britni Ross serves as the Business Manager for the Haakon School District, and Pamela DeJong serves as the district Guidance Coordinator for K–12. They joined Beth Massa, Director of Foundation Relations for the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), to discuss the partnership between Phillip High School and the SDCF which offers students scholarship opportunities.
In this episode you will hear:
The history of the Haakon School District’s partnership with the SDCF

The way community support is making a big difference in rural area students’ futures

How the school district partners donors with students for a successful scholarship match
“Our 2022 graduates were notified that, collectively, their class received $166,700 in scholarship funds,” shared Pamela. This was then distributed to a class of just 28 students.

Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
16min
April 05, 2023Generational Philanthropy with Jim and Vicki Lust
Jim and Vicki Lust of Aberdeen have partnered with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) to facilitate their charitable giving since 2012. They began down their path of philanthropy with the Jim and Vicki Lust First Foundation, a designated fund set up to support the St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Aberdeen. More recently, they established a second fund–this time going with a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) for more flexibility within their charitable goals.

Jim and Vicki joined Pat Gallagher, Community Development Coordinator of the SDCF, to discuss their journey of philanthropy over the last 11 years.

In this episode you will hear:
What Jim and Vicki appreciate about their DAF and the flexibility it offers them in their charitable giving

Why giving back, especially to Aberdeen, is important to the Lusts

What they love about working with the SDCF

“You know, someone did it for us. Someone helped build schools, libraries, and YMCAs, and we hope to leave that legacy for the next generation,” shared Vicki.

Follow us for more stories of philanthropy in South Dakota!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDCommunityFoundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southdakotacf
Website: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org
...more
9min

FAQs about Bringing Philanthropy to Life:

How many episodes does Bringing Philanthropy to Life have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.