Catherine Forsch of Sioux Falls has been named president of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation.
Forsch succeeds Michael Lewis of Rapid City, who announced his retirement from SDHSF after serving four years as president. He retired as president effective Dec. 31, 2017, at which time the foundation board of directors named Forsch as president.
Forsch had served as the director of development for the foundation since October 2016. In her role as president, she is the primary fundraiser and ambassador for the foundation, ensuring that the foundation continues to deliver on its mission of “Keeping South Dakota’s History Alive.”
“I was delighted to congratulate Catherine on her promotion to president. She has shown enthusiasm, professionalism and the ability to constructively organize our development program," Lewis said. “Catherine and her husband Tim have established deep roots in Sioux Falls where both of them are involved in a variety of leadership positions. Working for the foundation has been a joy, and I hope to continue serving the State Historical Society and Foundation as a volunteer.”
Forsch previously served as enterprise director of Donor Relations at Sanford Health Foundation. She has 20 years of experience in executive planning, administration, communications and marketing, and 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Forsch holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/mass communications from South Dakota State University.
Forsch visits with members and donors across the state and has an office in Sioux Falls and at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. She can be reached at catherine.forsch@state.sd.us.
The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1982 to receive and administer charitable gifts for the South Dakota State Historical Society for the benefit of educating and preserving South Dakota history. Both the foundation and the South Dakota State Historical Society are headquartered at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. For more information about the foundation, please call 605-773-6006.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call 605-773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.
About the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation
The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation is a private charitable nonprofit that seeks funding to assist the South Dakota State Historical Society in programming and projects to preserve South Dakota’s history and heritage for future generations.
