Community Appeals
The purpose of the Community Appeals is to qualify and schedule capital fund drives directed to the business community. By vetting these initiatives, the Community Appeals Committee ensures that each project is a solid community investment worthy of donor support. The Chamber encourages all businesses to carefully consider such requests, while recognizing that many may have limited resources and will contribute to such campaigns at whatever level they feel appropriate. Our Community Appeals process is intended to provide our members with assurance that a Community Appeals campaign is worthy of investment.
Community Appeals Scheduled Fund Drives
The next scheduling period is November 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028.
Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium
11/1/2024 to 3/31/2025
$1.3 million
To expand zoo and unite the Butterfly House and Aquarium onto one unified campus, supporting the creation of a 350,000-gallon shark reef aquarium, an expanded education center, and a butterfly rainforest.
Forward Sioux Falls
11/1/2025 to 3/31/2026
TBD
To provide programs that improve the economy and quality of life in our region, continuing a long tradition of working collaboratively with private and public stakeholders to drive growth and innovation.
Abbott House
4/1/2026 to 7/31/2026
$1.8 million
To expand services to Sioux Falls by providing two therapeutic foster homes for at-risk youth.
St. Francis House
11/1/2026 to 3/31/2027
$1.5 million
To create safe and affordable housing through an addition to an existing facility, moving people from homelessness to hope.
Call to Freedom
4/1/2027 to 7/31/2027
$1.35 million
To consolidate service locations into a single office, eliminating space constraints to support staff and program expansion.
The Process
All requests for capital fund drives must be made by submitting an application and supporting documents to the Community Appeals Committee. The Community Appeals Committee will accept applications from May 1 through Aug.1 each year, with appeal presentations to the full committee conducted beginning in September. The committee will make scheduling decisions no later than calendar year-end. Approved requests are scheduled for a predetermined campaign timeslot, with campaigns typically taking place 23-28 months following approval.
Please submit application inquiries to Brittany Hanson at brittanyh@siouxfalls.com.
Brittany Hanson
PROGRAM DIRECTOR, FORWARD SIOUX FALLS