Show notes
Dan Goeller, founder and executive director of Harmony South Dakota, joins Dave Roetman to talk about the "march through the institutions": how DEI policies, equity statements and DEI training spread through the philanthropic nonprofits that fund local charities in Sioux Falls. He explains why Harmony walked away from Sioux Empire United Way funding that made up two-thirds of its annual revenue, why he started the YouTube channel Leninists on the Prairie to show these organizations' training and documents in their own words, and why he says donors and taxpayers deserve transparency about where their money goes.
Recorded in October 2023.
Update (Oct. 2026): The debate Goeller raised here hasn't gone away. In a November 2023 Dakota Scout report, Sioux Empire United Way leaders defended the organization's DEI policy and said gender identity data isn't a requirement for funding. In July 2025, Goeller asked the Minnehaha County Commission to stop running United Way payroll deductions for county employees, citing the charity's DEI criteria. County Auditor Leah Anderson and Commissioner Cole Heisey backed him, but in August 2025 a majority of commissioners said they'd keep the payroll option. Dave talked with Goeller about that fight in July 2025 (linked below). Goeller is still Harmony South Dakota's executive director and still runs Leninists on the Prairie. (Sources are linked below.)
Links
Leninists on the Prairie (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@Leninists_OTP
Leninists on the Prairie (Substack): https://leninistsontheprairie.substack.com/
Harmony South Dakota: https://www.harmonysouthdakota.org/
More with Dan Goeller on Making Waves
What is Woke? Who are they in South Dakota? (Nov. 9, 2023): https://daveroetman.substack.com/p/what-is-woke-who-are-they-in-south-b7a
Should Local Government Be Involved in Non-Profit Fundraising? (July 27, 2025): https://daveroetman.substack.com/p/should-local-government-be-involved
Update sources
Sioux Empire United Way leadership defends diversity, equity, inclusion policy; denies gender identity a requirement for funding (The Dakota Scout, Nov. 20, 2023): https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/sioux-empire-united-way-leadership
Minnehaha County shouldn't allow payroll deductions for United Way because of 'DEI' support, critics say (Sioux Falls Live, July 22, 2025): https://www.siouxfallslive.com/news/sioux-falls/minnehaha-county-shouldnt-allow-payroll-deductions-for-united-way-because-of-dei-support-critics-say
Minnehaha County dismisses request to end United Way payroll contributions (Sioux Falls Live, Aug. 7, 2025): https://www.siouxfallslive.com/news/sioux-falls/minnehaha-county-dismisses-request-to-end-united-way-payroll-contributions
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