A Gathering for Good
The Black Hills Nonprofit Leadership Summit, hosted by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation in Rapid City on November 18, 2025, brought together nonprofit leaders, lawmakers, funders, and community partners for a full day of learning, dialogue, and building connections across sectors. The primary goal of the conference was simple: connecting community for good.
See the Conference at a Glance
Throughout the day, participants explored current challenges and opportunities facing the region, examined successful partnership models, and identified practical next steps for cross-sector collaboration. World Café style community conversations, led by Arlosoul, encouraged honest reflection and dialogue around the room, while panel discussions and breakout sessions offered concrete tools for advocacy, storytelling, and working effectively with government leaders and institutions.
We are grateful to everyone who participated—especially elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and community partners—for contributing their time, insight, and commitment to building a stronger, more connected Black Hills nonprofit ecosystem.
This summary highlights key moments and materials for those who couldn’t attend or want to revisit the Summit.
Key Moments & Materials
Relive the Day: Conference Photo Album 📸
Visual Summaries by Arlosoul
Afternoon Breakout Session Slide Decks
Community for Good Wall
This living “Community for Good Wall” served as a directory of Summit attendees who shared more about their mission, what they offer to the community, and what they ask of the community.
Closing Keynote
Vu Le (Voo-lay), a rabble-rousing nonprofit leader and author from Seattle (www.nonprofitaf.com), joined the conference for a Q&A with JTVF President and CEO Jacqui Dietrich. Le recently published the book Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Unlocking the Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector, and he joined us in conversation to challenge assumptions in the nonprofit sector and bring light to the opportunities trapped in fear.
Can we be bolder?
At a moment when public investments are shrinking and community needs are growing, we believe thoughtful, courageous conversations matter more than ever. If you’d like a complementary hardcover copy of Vu Le’s Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy, we’d love to get one into your hands. Complimentary hard copies of Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy from the conference are available while supplies lasts. Request yours today!
More Summit Stories
Leadership in This Time: Insights from Nonprofit Summit
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Practical Tips on Engaging with South Dakota Office Holders
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Partnerships: Non-profits, government and the case for collaboration for better outcomes
South Dakota’s small population means that most residents, especially West River, are one or two degrees removed from each other. That closeness, said Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun, is what makes the state so special. Those relationships have “really been the key...
