2026 Bush Prize: South Dakota Honorees Create Lasting Impact

South Dakota Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Bush Foundation to introduce the 2026 Bush Prize: South Dakota honorees: the Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud and South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault. Each will receive an award of $250,000. 

Three finalists – Dakota Resources, Fork Real Community Café Inc. and Tallgrass Recovery & Sober Living Homes – will also receive $10,000 each. 

The Bush Prize celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of transformational impact through creative solutions. It is a partnership of the Bush Foundation, St. Paul, Minn., and South Dakota Community Foundation, based in Pierre, S.D.

"Strong communities are built by leaders who see a need and refuse to look away," said Stephanie Judson, SDCF President and CEO. "This year’s honorees and finalists have done exactly that, and their work is changing lives across South Dakota. We are proud to celebrate them alongside the Bush Foundation."

SDCF received 110 applications for the 2026 Bush Prize: South Dakota. Applicants were evaluated on criteria such as: ability to create meaningful change; history of implementing innovative solutions to real problems; and strong leadership. 

Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud was on the verge of collapse in 2014, but everything turned around under the conviction that Rosebud’s youth deserved a brighter future. Since then, BGCR has grown from one struggling site to three active clubhouses. What began as basic after-school care has expanded into comprehensive youth development, including a focus on academic enrichment, healthy lifestyles, Lakota culture and language preservation, workforce development, and mentorship and leadership. By simply showing up for the youth of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, BGCR has made a real difference. Instead of gang violence, substance abuse and instability, more young people who have attended BGCR are graduating high school, taking control of their futures and finding their place in the community. 

“The Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud is beyond grateful to be a Bush Prize Honoree. It’s taken more than a decade of hard work and dozens of incredible people who refused to quit when things got hard to make our organization what it is today,” says Rachel Kocak, Executive Director of BGCR. “This award honors those humble, unsung warriors who have given so much to the kids and community we serve. It’s a reminder to us, and future generations, that challenges are opportunities for innovation, and that anything is possible when you refuse to give up. Thank you for the opportunity to shed light on the bright future being built right here in Rosebud.  We will cherish this honor and hopefully stop pinching ourselves soon!”

Established in 1991, the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault is a statewide coalition that works to ensure a coordinated, effective response to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other forms of interpersonal violence. The Network serves as the central entity for victim services in South Dakota. Since its founding, The Network has grown from seven member agencies to 72 member agencies statewide, including health and social service, advocacy, Tribal partners, and other community stakeholders. Last year, 15,054 victims received services through The Network, including 7,142 individuals experiencing domestic and family violence, 1,899 child sexual abuse victims and 505 adult sexual assault victims. Through these efforts, The Network works every day to change the narrative in South Dakota, removing the title of victim and replacing it with survivor.

“South Dakota's victim service programs rely on sustained support and investment to continue providing critical services that help keep individuals and families safe. The Network remains committed to strengthening and supporting our member agencies as they assist victims and survivors, while also promoting accountability and treatment opportunities for offenders,” said Krista Heeren-Graber, Executive Director of The Network. “This generous award will help us advance that mission and expand our capacity to serve communities across South Dakota.”

“Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud and the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault are highly valued in their communities, and it’s easy to see why,” says Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “In Rosebud, young people are finding a brighter future through academics, Lakota culture and leadership. Across the state, The Network is helping people move from victim to survivor. Both organizations have a track record of transformational impact, built on creative solutions and a commitment to showing up every day. South Dakota Community Foundation is honored to recognize them as honorees of the Bush Prize: South Dakota.”

And for the three finalists:

• Fork Real Community Café Inc. addresses hunger and food insecurity in Rapid City with a Pay-What-You-Can model.
• Dakota Resources aims to connect capital and capacity to empower rural communities and help them thrive.
• Tallgrass Recovery and Sober Living Homes provides the opportunity for individuals and families living with addiction to discover a new way of life through a spiritually based solution.

“There is so much to celebrate about the work happening across South Dakota. Every day, organizations are showing up for their communities, finding creative ways to meet challenges, and making a real difference,” says Bush Foundation Grantmaking Director Eileen Briggs. “The Bush Prize gives us an opportunity to shine a light on that extraordinary work. I'm excited to celebrate this year's winners, and I hope their stories inspire other organizations across South Dakota to recognize the value of what they're doing, think boldly about what's possible, and keep moving their communities forward.”

Bush Prize: South Dakota will be made available to nonprofits again in 2027. Click here to learn more about Bush Prize: South Dakota.