Donor fatigue, rising expectations for charitable giving and economic pressures are all emerging threats for the region's nonprofit sector.
That's according to the 2025 State of Sioux Falls Philanthropy report, published by Maximizing Excellence, LLC.
Though 96% of people asked say philanthropy is strong in the city, more than 65% think it is weaker than it was five years ago.
"It can be almost overwhelming to watch the news or read about how many needs are out there and to know there are a lot of people that are suffering at the moment," said Andy Patterson, CEO of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.
The foundation has published a new "Holiday Guide" designed to connect donors to charitable causes. The guide lists nonprofit organizations and highlights ways donors can support specific projects.
"First off, I would give local," Patterson says. "You're going to be closer to those organizations. I think sometimes in the nonprofit space, we're going to have to acknowledge it's really hard to track outcomes. Sometimes we just need to be generous anyway and then take more time to get to know an organization.
Copies of the holiday guide are also available in Friday's print edition of the "Dakota Scout."
