Black Hills area nonprofits receive $345,000 in grants

Seven nonprofit organizations based in the Black Hills have been awarded grants totaling $345,000 by South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF).  

“We are excited to support the work of these great organizations – each of which supports our mission of building a stronger South Dakota for tomorrow,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF’s Senior Program Officer. “The organizations will tackle a variety of community challenges with unique and strategic approaches.” 

Three nonprofits received a SDCF South Dakota Fund Grant. These grants are designed to provide support in the following areas: culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, health, and human services. In 2025, the South Dakota Fund also provided grants to organizations impacted by federal funding gaps. 

One nonprofit received a Nonprofit Savings Account (NSA) grant. The NSA challenges nonprofits in South Dakota to build endowed funds, creating a sustainable revenue source for their organizations for years to come. The Salvation Army – Western Division raised $80,000 and received a $20,000 match from SDCF for meeting its goal.

The remaining nonprofits received a Beyond Idea Grant (BIG), which is a partnership between SDCF and the Bush Foundation based in St. Paul, Minn. These grants allow recipients to develop, test and spread ideas that make the region better for all residents and to inspire, equip and connect leaders to more effectively lead equitable change.

South Dakota Fund Grant recipients were: 

• Black Hills Special Service Cooperative – Statewide – $25,000
  • Support for strategic planning to better adapt to funding challenges (federal funding initiative)
• Family Connections Center – Rapid City – $20,000
  • Support HAVEN, a tenant-based financial assistance program to prevent evictions and help youth and families avoid homelessness (federal funding initiative)
• YMCA of the Black Hills – Black Hills Region – $20,000
  • Support for the Robindale KidStop after-school program (federal funding initiative) 

BIG recipients were: 

• Catholic Social Services – Rapid City – $100,000
  • Test a home-sharing program between elderly homeowners and adult renters and volunteer support for seniors through creation of St. Anne’s Aging Services
• Rapid City Club for Boys – Rapid City – $60,000
  • Help boys overcome risk factors that affect their ability to succeed in education; partnership with Rapid City School District brings teachers and other professionals to the Club when school is not in session
• Western South Dakota Community Action Inc. – Black Hills Region - $100,000
  • Strengthen integration among service providers to improve case management for parolees and their families by delivering short-term, coached work experiences to reduce factors that lead to job failures