Here’s a formula worth remembering: Take $100,000, add a strategic partnership, and multiply the impact by 3.5. That’s exactly what Black Hills Federal Credit Union (BHFCU) pulled off through a matching grant program that just injected $350,000 into four South Dakota nonprofits doing serious good.
The magic came courtesy of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and their Member Impact Fund—a $3-to-$1 matching program designed to supercharge community investments. BHFCU put up $25,000 for each of four organizations, and FHLB matched it with $62,500 apiece. Math has never looked so generous.
Four Organizations, One Mission: Building Stronger Communities
The credit union didn’t just throw darts at a board to pick grant recipients. Each organization aligns with the program’s focus on affordable housing and community development—and each one tackles a different piece of the puzzle.
Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity: Building More Than Walls
“As a Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity Board Member, I have the privilege of witnessing the passion this organization brings to addressing the affordable housing need in our community,” says Holli Edwards, VP of Marketing at BHFCU. “Their impact goes beyond providing just a home. Partner families invest time into their homes and are given the opportunity to build equity and a solid future for their families.”
Right now, Habitat is developing East Creek Village—a 40-home subdivision that’s about to become a game-changer for Rapid City. The mixed-income development will offer affordable townhomes specifically for the people who keep communities running: teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and other public service professionals. You know, the folks who deserve stable housing as much as anyone but often get priced out of their own neighborhoods.
Black Hills Soccer Federation: Where Athletes of All Ages Find Their Field
Ever tried booking field time for a youth sports team? It’s like hunting for concert tickets to a sold-out show. That’s why the Black Hills Soccer Federation’s year-round training facility matters so much. In partnership with the City of Rapid City, they maintain a complex that serves more than 2,000 Black Hills Rapids soccer players, plus lacrosse, football, and ultimate frisbee athletes.
“I’ve seen firsthand how the Black Hills Soccer Federation strengthens the community through inclusive programs, empowering youth, and encouraging physical wellness,” explains Jarrod Reisner, BHFCU’s CFO. The grant funds will help complete lighting across the entire complex and install new turf—upgrades that extend playing hours and open doors for bigger tournaments. More tournaments means more visitors, which means a nice boost to the local economy. Sports and commerce, teaming up like they should.
Abbott House: 85 Years of Showing Up for Kids
Since 1939, Abbott House has been in the business of helping young people navigate some genuinely tough stuff. What started as a single home in Mitchell, South Dakota, now serves hundreds of children and families statewide through programs like Bridges Intensive Foster Care, Residential Treatment, Independent Living, Adolescent Crisis Care, and Adolescent Addiction Recovery.
“As an Abbott House Foundation Board Member, I’ve had a front row seat to witness the impact of their youth programs,” shares Jerry Schmidt, BHFCU’s CEO. “The more than 1,500 Abbott House alums over the last decade are a testament to their necessary work. With the acquisition of WellFully, we look forward to seeing their reach expand even further.”
Those aren’t just numbers—they’re kids who got a fighting chance when they needed it most.
Veterans Community Project: Tiny Homes, Massive Impact
Four combat veterans in Kansas City had an idea: What if we could end veteran homelessness one tiny home at a time? That idea has now grown into six Villages across the country, including one in Sioux Falls that broke ground in June 2022.
The Sioux Falls Village sits on two acres in the northwest part of the city and features 25 fully furnished tiny homes. But here’s the thing—housing alone doesn’t solve homelessness. That’s why the project pairs those homes with wraparound services including physical and mental health care, educational opportunities, career navigation, and the Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
“The Veterans Community Project plays a vital role in strengthening the Sioux Falls community by addressing the long-term needs of veterans through housing stability and comprehensive support services,” says Joey Rotert, VP of Eastern Market at BHFCU. “Their work delivers meaningful, measurable impact for those who have served and for the community as a whole.”
The ribbon cutting for the BHFCU-sponsored tiny home is scheduled for early summer—a small ceremony for a home that could change everything for one veteran.
Community Impact That Multiplies
The beauty of this partnership is how it amplifies what one organization can do alone. BHFCU contributes to their community through corporate donations, employee fundraisers, and the Black Hills FCU Charitable Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit). But by tapping into the FHLB matching program, they essentially quadrupled their reach.
It’s proof that strategic collaboration beats going it alone—and that when financial institutions decide to actually show up for their communities, the impact ripples outward in ways that matter long after the check gets deposited.