What St. Joseph's Indian School does

St. Joseph's Indian School is a 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit organization founded in 1927 and operated as an apostolate of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, headquartered in Chamberlain, South Dakota. The organization provides free residential education, housing, and wraparound support services to over 200 Lakota (Sioux) Native American children annually, drawn primarily from the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations. Its service portfolio spans residential living, accredited K-12 education, Lakota language and cultural preservation programs (including the Chalk Hills Singers drum group), religious education, family integration counseling, physical and mental health services (including a dedicated Equine Therapy Center), the Rising Eagle Day Camp, the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, and a college scholarship program disbursing approximately $140,000-$191,000 annually.

The organization is funded entirely through charitable donations, with no government grants, tuition, or service fees in its revenue model. Revenue streams include one-time donations, monthly recurring giving through the DreamMakers program, planned giving vehicles (bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts) under the Legacy Club, memorial and tribute gifts, appreciated securities, real estate donations, and gift store merchandise sales. Distribution and donor acquisition occur through a web-based donation platform (give.stjo.org), a planned giving portal (plannedgiving.stjo.org), mail and phone channels, and an in-person campus visit program in Chamberlain. The technology footprint is a standard nonprofit web stack: donation platform, email marketing, virtual campus tour, and content properties including a blog, podcast, and active presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

The organization employs 251-500 staff to operate its residential campus and programs. Notable internal team members include the President (Mike Tyrell), Director of Major Gifts (Denise Hyland), Director of Counseling Services, and program-specific leads for equine therapy and transition services. The board of directors provides governance, and the organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, Candid Platinum Transparency, AICSN membership, and CORE DC membership. All services to children and families are provided at no cost.

Name

St. Joseph's Indian School

Legal name

St. Joseph's Indian School

Website

https://stjo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

St. Joseph's Indian School is a 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit founded in 1927 that provides free residential education, housing, cultural preservation, and health services to over 200 Lakota (Sioux) children annually in Chamberlain, South Dakota, funded entirely by individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education and Residential Youth Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Native American education
• Residential youth services
• Cultural preservation programs
• Charitable donation programs
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chamberlain

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. One-time Donations: Direct monetary gifts from individual donors made as single contributions through the organization's website donation portal
2. Monthly Giving (DreamMakers): Recurring monthly contributions from donors, described as 'automatic monthly gifts' at rates starting from approximately 32 cents per day
3. Planned Giving: Estate planning vehicles including bequests in wills or living trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance
4. Memorial and Tribute Gifts: Donations made in honor of loved ones or to commemorate special occasions, often funded through appreciated securities, real estate, or cash
5. Appreciated Securities: Gifts of stocks or mutual funds that have increased in value, allowing donors to reduce capital gains taxes while receiving an income tax charitable deduction
6. Gift Store: Merchandise sales through the organization's gift store

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

St. Joseph's Indian School provides free residential living, accredited K-12 education, cultural and Lakota language programs, religious education, family integration services, and physical and mental health care to over 200 Lakota (Sioux) Native American children each year. It also operates outreach programs including Rising Eagle Day Camp, equine therapy, a High School Senior Home life-skills program, Native American college scholarships, and the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, all delivered on its Chamberlain, South Dakota campus at no cost to families. The organization is 100% donor-funded and supported through one-time, monthly, planned, and memorial gifts.

Product overview

St. Joseph's Indian School operates as a unified portfolio of educational and support programs serving Lakota (Sioux) Native American children and families. The organization provides residential housing, quality education, cultural awareness, Lakota language instruction, religious education, family integration services, physical and mental health care, and outreach programs—all offered at no cost to families. Key programs include the Rising Eagle Day Camp summer program, Equine Therapy Center with various animals, the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, High School Senior Home Program for life skills, and a college scholarship program. The school also maintains a planned giving program (Legacy Club) for donors wishing to support through estate planning vehicles. The entire campus operates under the mission to educate Native American children for life—mind, body, heart and spirit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Living Program On-campus housing program providing 24/7 supervised care for Lakota (Sioux) children, including the HAPI Homes program that places dogs in select homes to support emotional well-being and social development.
• Quality Education Program Nationally approved and accredited educational curriculum serving over 200 Lakota children annually, providing individualized instruction based on student needs.
• Native American Cultural Awareness Program Cultural education program including powwow events, the WoLakota Project, cultural trips, and instruction about Lakota traditions and history.
• Lakota Language Classes Language instruction teaching students the Lakota (Sioux) language to preserve cultural heritage and identity.
• Religious Education Program Spiritual development program integrated with the school's mission to educate for life—mind, body, heart and spirit.
• Family Integration Services Program supporting Native American families with parental counseling, behavioral plans, and services to help heal family relationships.
• Physical Health Services Health care services including the St. Joseph's Health & Family Services Center, with the Rec Center Project for student wellness.
• Mental Health Services Comprehensive mental health support including individual counseling, cognitive testing, and the Equine Therapy program featuring horses, goats, a donkey, rabbits, and chicks.
• Rising Eagle Day Camp Summer day camp program serving Lakota children from Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations, providing structured activities, cultural learning, and outdoor recreation at no cost to families.
• Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center Museum and cultural center on campus showcasing Native American artifacts, history, and culture, with tours available to visitors.
• High School Senior Home Program Life skills program launched in 2015 teaching seniors kitchen skills, meal planning, budgeting, and independent living through the Senior Suitcase Program.
• Native American College Scholarships Scholarship program awarding approximately $140,000 to $191,000 annually to Native American students pursuing higher education, with transition support and care packages.
• Chalk Hills Singers Drum Group Cultural drum group for Lakota boys in 4th grade and up, performing at powwows, memorial services, and school events to preserve traditional song.
• CATCH Health Program Coordinated Approach to Child Health program launched in 2018 to combat childhood obesity and teach healthy lifestyles through nutrition education and physical activity.
• Legacy Club Planned Giving Program Estate planning and planned giving program offering bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and other legacy giving options for donors.
• St. Joseph's Gift Store Online gift store selling merchandise to support the organization's mission, with proceeds benefiting Lakota children's programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 Lakota children educated and housed annually at no cost to families
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Coalition of AIMAGE (COA)minorOthersMember organization providing resources and networking for American Indian organizations. Displayed as partner logo on website footer.
• GuideStar (Candid)minorOthersNonprofit information aggregator providing transparency ratings and nonprofit data. St. Joseph's holds Platinum Transparency status.
• CORE DC (Catholic Organizations Resource Exchange)minorOthersResource exchange for Catholic organizations providing operational support and best practices sharing.
• American Indian Catholic Schools Network (AICSN)minorOthersNetwork connecting American Indian Catholic schools for shared resources and advocacy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: KIPP is the largest U.S. charter K-12 nonprofit network serving low-income and minority students with wraparound supports; comparable as a large-scale nonprofit K-12 operator relying on philanthropy and public funding, though it focuses on charter public schools rather than residential Indigenous education.
• American Indian College Fund: American Indian College Fund is the largest Native American higher-education nonprofit, funding scholarships and tribal colleges; directly comparable as it competes for Native American education donor dollars and overlaps with St. Joseph's scholarship programming.

Others

• First Nations Development Institute: First Nations is a Native-led nonprofit grantmaker focused on Native American self-determination including youth and education programming; comparable as a fellow Native-focused nonprofit competing for similar philanthropic dollars and serving overlapping tribal communities.
• National Indian Education Association: NIEA is the leading membership organization advocating for Native American education policy and serving as a network hub; comparable as an ecosystem participant connecting Indigenous schools and serving overlapping donor and institutional networks.

Direct peers

• Saint Labre Indian Catholic School: Saint Labre is a Catholic mission school in Ashland, Montana serving Northern Cheyenne and Crow students with residential education, cultural programming and spiritual formation — the closest peer in mission, religious affiliation, and Native American youth residential model.
• Boys Town: Boys Town is a 501(c)(3) operating residential education, behavioral health, and family services for at-risk youth on a residential campus; directly comparable as a faith-affiliated nonprofit delivering free residential wraparound services to vulnerable children at similar scale.

Regional players

• Lower Brule Tribal Education: Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Education Department operates K-12 and community education programs for the second primary source community that St. Joseph's serves, functioning as a parallel tribal education provider in the same service area.
• Crow Creek Tribal Education: Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Education Department serves one of the same two primary reservation source communities (Lower Brule and Crow Creek) that St. Joseph's draws students from, operating K-12 schools and support programs in overlapping geographic territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stjo1927
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/stjoorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/saintjosephs
• Instagraminstagram.com/stjo1927
• TikToktiktok.com/@stjosephsindianschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Joseph's Indian School