City Announces New Community Partners Program
Published on August 27, 2025
The City of Sioux Falls announced the Community Partners Program, a new way for organizations to apply to receive City funding to address important priorities within the community. The Community Partners Program transitions community funding requests from traditional subsidy agreements approved through the City’s annual budgeting process to a structured Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
By moving to a competitive RFP framework, the City will establish a consistent and transparent process for evaluating funding requests and awarding contracts to organizations best positioned to serve community needs. The new process also standardizes how program proposals are reviewed and ensures that funding decisions align with City priorities.
Under the new system, organizations that have previously partnered with the City under subsidy agreements, as well as other interested organizations, are eligible to apply for funds. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to form partnerships that will strengthen program capacity and enhance delivery of services.
Resources will be directed toward three priority areas:
- Supporting At-Risk Populations
- Expanding Culture, Arts, and Community Programming
- Strengthening Economic Vitality and Growth
“While we recognize this represents a significant change for our partner organizations, we believe this is the most effective way to ensure taxpayer funds are used responsibly in a reduced revenue environment,” said Finance Director Shawn Pritchett. “This process will improve accountability and strengthen the alignment of City investments with our long-term goals.”
The City will host informational work sessions for potential applicants on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The sessions are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will be held in the Media Room located on the first floor of City Hall (224 West Ninth Street). Each priority area will have one hour: At-Risk Populations (2 to 3 p.m.); Culture, Arts, and Community Programming (3 to 4 p.m.); and Economic Vitality and Growth (4 to 5 p.m.). At these sessions, interested applicants will receive additional information regarding the scope of the projects, performance metrics, and reporting requirements.
The available funding for each priority area will be determined in the City’s 2026 Budget, which is set to be approved in mid-September by the Sioux Falls City Council. Once the 2026 Budget is approved, the City will issue RFPs for the three priority areas, with applications reviewed and approved by the end of the year. Funding for organizations will be available at the beginning of 2026. For more information about the program, visit siouxfalls.gov/communitypartners.