Our Impact
We feel the best way to draw attention to our grantees is to celebrate their big wins and shed light on the community challenges they face. By cheering on low-income families and organizations, we’re not just acknowledging their hard work, but also spreading optimism and showing how their progress uplifts our entire community.
Check out our latest blog posts for uplifting stories about our community working together to make a piece of the world a brighter place.
Connecting Community for Good: A Recap of the Black Hills Nonprofit Leadership Summit
Nonprofit leaders, funders, elected officials, and community partners from across the Black Hills came together in Rapid City for a day of learning, dialogue, and connection. Hosted by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation, the Summit created space for honest conversations about shared challenges, emerging opportunities, and the power of cross-sector collaboration to strengthen our region.
Leadership in This Time: Insights from Nonprofit Summit
Executives from organizations across the Black Hills shared insights on overcoming adversity, boosting staff morale and workplace sustainability during an afternoon panel at the Nonprofit Leadership Summit hosted by JTVF in Rapid City, SD, in November 2025.
Practical Tips on Engaging with South Dakota Office Holders
Demystifying what it takes to build relationships with office holders through early and regular contact, the role metrics play with lawmakers, and the importance of follow up with them. During a recent nonprofit summit held by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation,...
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...
JTVF Announces 2026 Community Education Series
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation (JTVF) is pleased to announce its 2026 series of free public education events, including Poverty and Cliff Effect Escape Room experiences. The learning experiences are free and open to the public and intended for community members,...
Commentary: State-funded preschool could slow South Dakota’s prison growth
Take it from Bill Janklow: State-funded preschool could slow South Dakota’s prison growth Originally published in South Dakota SearchlightJanuary 9, 2026 “Do we spend the money when they’re so young so they have the chance to become good productive citizens, or do...
Spring into Summer Grantees
From May to early July 2025, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation awarded over $1.5 million in grants to four impactful organizations working to strengthen communities in the Black Hills.
JTVF Partners with Regional Foundations to Support Nonprofits Facing Federal Cuts
Black Hills foundations launch fund for nonprofits facing federal cuts In response to growing strain on regional nonprofits, the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) and the John T. Vucurevich Foundation (JTVF) have launched a joint fund, the Sustaining...
Spring Grants Bring Vital Support to Youth Across the Black Hills
Announcing our spring grants for 2025! Congratulations to the local organizations expanding access to dental care, music education, and literacy for children across the Black Hills. Over $43,000 in funding will support programs that nurture student well-being,...
Grantees Leading the Way January 2025
Announcing our first grants of 2025! Congratulations go to the local organizations making a difference in our community. Over $185,000 in funding will support vital programs addressing food insecurity, mental health, domestic violence, early childhood education,...
Join Our Team: Director of Communications
Join the JTVF team as Director of Communications!
A Letter from Our CEO
Dear Friends of JTVF, Thank you for your remarkable dedication to our shared mission of helping our low-income neighbors meet their needs—one family at a time. I have spent much of my life devoted to causes that inspire me and serve to unlock human potential...
JTVF Reflects on a Successful Year
As we close the books on our 17th year at JTVF, we are incredibly grateful for the community of grantees, partners, community leaders and advocates who made the past year a success.In 2024, we proudly awarded $9.01 million to 40 organizations, helping to fuel...
JTVF Announces $4.3 Million in Grants to Close 2024
In November and December 2024, the following organizations were selected to receive over $4.38 million for their efforts to make a difference in our community-- enhancing access to early learning opportunities, providing essential services for the aging, ensuring...
Our Neighbors Are Getting Ahead in a Just-getting-by World
Today we take time to celebrate the wins of our neighbors! St. Vincent de Paul of Rapid City recently concluded an impactful 22-session curriculum called Getting Ahead in a Just-getting-by World. This program began with 16 participants and saw six graduate. Despite...
Three Organizations Get a Piece of the JTVF Grant Pie
Three organizations get their own pieces of the JTVF grant pie! Dig in and learn about our three October grantees that serve the basic needs of our communities: Working Against Violence, Inc: $200,000 in two-year Basic Needs support for general operations of the...
Black Hills Find Child Care Helps Families Breathe Easier
Are you a child care or out-of-school care provider looking for a free online marketing platform? Are you overwhelmed with messages and calls and need a place to point parents to? Are you a parent or caregiver looking for care for your child and want a simple way...
Help Us Welcome Our New President and CEO Jacqui Dietrich
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation is pleased to announce that Jacqui Dietrich will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 2024. Dietrich succeeds Alan Solano who brought the foundation through the COVID-19 pandemic and...
JTVF Retires Emerging Leaders Program
We’re passing on our potion recipe for Emerging Leaders! Through 5 cohorts, the Emerging Leaders Program fueled the growth of leaders in our community. Through workshops on poverty, trauma, and Lakota culture and collaborative projects, over 140 participants gained...
$587,000 in September JTVF Grants to Transform Our Community
Our crystal ball reveals exciting news: $587,000 in grants that will transform our community! We are pleased to reveal four September grants destined to make a piece of our world a brighter place: United Way of the Black Hills – Black Hills Reads Program: $362,000...
CEO Alan Solano Accepts New Position at Monument Health
Dear Friends, I hope this message finds you well. After much reflection and prayer, I wanted to personally share that I have accepted a new position as Vice President of Government Affairs at Monument Health and will be stepping down from my role as CEO at the John...
Main Street Square Awarded August Grant
It’s a grant award for family spaces downtown Charlie Brown! In August, we awarded $100,000 to Main Street Square to ensure that this space remains accessible for Rapid City families. “By supporting Main Street Square, a space where families of all backgrounds can...
Economic Mobility Scholarships Help Our Neighbors Break Barriers
At JTVF, we know that so many of our neighbors are continually breaking barriers and creating opportunities. We stand alongside them with our Economic Mobility Scholarships. These scholarships uplift students in the Rapid City and Black Hills area by easing the...
Systems of Care Collaborative: Transforming Youth Mental Health Services Since 2007
The Systems of Care Collaborative is a partnership of agencies in Rapid City committed to improving access to youth mental health and addiction services. In 2007 we at JTVF created the collaborative to help high-need families navigate multiple, often disconnected...
Help Us Celebrate $100 Million
🎂Do they make cakes big enough for 100 million candles? We’ve hit a milestone at the John T. Vucurevich Foundation this month—we’ve awarded $100 million in grants! This is more than just a number—it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, the ongoing needs in...
July Batch of JTVF Grants Tops $900,000
More wonderful than a batch of warm cookies, this month’s grantees nourish our community in more ways than one! In July, we awarded $905,000 to grantees that meet the basic needs of our community members from all walks of life. Here’s more on the grants that got us...
JTVF Strengthens Rapid City’s Mental Health Workforce
Today, we're excited to celebrate an unintentionally well-kept secret: the JTVF Mental Health Builder Scholarships. This program supports staff at mental health nonprofits participating in our Systems of Care Collaborative, ensuring that those who provide essential...
Nourishing Futures: JTVF Dishes Out Nearly $1 Million in June Grants
Just like a perfectly grilled burger with a side of potato salad, this month’s grantees satisfy essential needs in our community! In July, we awarded $994,500 to grantees that meet the basic and economic mobility needs of our community members from all walks of...
John T. Vucurevich Foundation Awards $70,000 to Local Problem Solving Courts
Our four June 2024 grantees are all problem-solving courts. These courts are recognized as the single most successful intervention for leading people with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability....
Rocking Out to the Tune of $784,000 in April Grantmaking
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation is pleased to announce $784,000 in grants that support economic mobility and affordable housing. The following organizations received grant awards: Workforce Connections: $504,000 two-year general operations grant for mentoring and...
JTVF Welcomes Whitney Rencountre II and Claudia Vucurevich
Spring has sprung, and with it comes budding new board members! We're absolutely thrilled to announce the latest additions to our dynamic team - not one, but two stellar individuals who are joining us as esteemed board members. Whitney Rencountre II and Claudia...
Planting Seeds of Change with March Grantees
Much like planting seeds in fertile soil, our March grants are a catalyst for positive change. We are thrilled to to announce $137,000 in grant awards to a diverse set of organizations that meet needs in transportation, mental health, safety, and social belonging....
Thank You Eric Abrahamson
We can’t believe we have to say so-long to our 9-year board member Eric Abrahamson, President and Principal Historian at Vantage Point History. During his tenure, Eric guided us in strategic planning, hosted the fireside chat with Speaker Series guest former...
Celebrating 10 Years of the Coaches Network
It’s more than just luck that keeps our nonprofits collaborating. Since 2014, social services professionals from the Rapid City region have met once a month to share resources, make connections, and break bread at a meeting called the Coaches Network. But how does...
JTVF Awards Mommy’s Closet $120,000 in February
One grantee found gold at the end of the rainbow in February. This month we awarded $120,000 to Volunteers of America Mommy’s Closet to help low-income families meet the basic needs of their young children. This two-year operating support will help Mommy’s Closet...
JTVF Launches into 2024 with $450,000 in Basic Needs Grants
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation began 2024 by awarding $450,000 to organizations that uphold access to education, safety, and food in our community. The following organizations received grant awards: YFS Girls Inc. of Rapid City: $200,000 in two-year operating...
JTVF Awards $1.5 Million to Local Nonprofits and Scholarship Programs
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation closed out 2023 with $1.5 million dollars in grant awards to organizations that support families or individuals with educational, child care, or safety needs. The following organizations received grant awards: Local Scholarships:...
JTVF Emerging Leaders Celebrate Graduation
On a VERY cold January 12th, our 5th cohort of Emerging Leaders, along with 110 other community members, celebrated their graduation. The John T. Vucurevich Foundation Emerging Leaders program empowers participants to discover their role in addressing community...
Oaye Luta Okolakiciye Empowers Rapid City Middle Schoolers
We can’t keep it to ourselves any longer, Oaye Luta Okolakiciye is the recipient of a $75,000 one-year Basic Needs Grant. This grant will support talking circles in all Rapid City Middle Schools for the 2023-2024 school year.About Middle School Talking Circles Oaye...
Cheyenne River Youth Project Nurtures Young Leaders
We are buzzing with excitement to announce a $95,000 two-year Basic Needs grant to Cheyenne River Youth Project for youth leadership and workforce development programming.About Youth Leadership and Workforce Training Program This grant helps Cheyenne River Youth...
Fork Real Community Café: Food with a Side of Empathy
We are tickled to announce $50,000 in support for Fork Real Community Café. This one-year Basic Needs grant will help train and retain their workers (paid and volunteer) and address future sustainability.About the Work Fork Real's track record underscores its...
Volunteer Connections Boosts Nonprofit Participation
Drumroll, please! We are happy to announce a $110,000 two-year Basic Needs grant to the Helpline Center to continue the Volunteer Connections Program.About Volunteer Connections The Helpline Center's Volunteer Connections Program functions as the Volunteer Center...
Jump Starting Quality Child Care
We are ready to shout it from the rooftops: the YMCA of Rapid City is our latest Early Learning grantee! This $700,000 two-year grant will support the Jump Start Program in Rapid City.About Jump Start Jump Start provides quality early-learning and affordable child...
Uplifting Parents One Degree At a Time
We are delighted to share that we awarded a final year of grant funding for the Uplifting Parents Program at Catholic Social Services. This $174,182 will complete the Uplifting Parents Program Pilot.About Uplifting Parents The Uplifting Parents Program (Program UP)...
ReNewed Support for Recovering Mothers
We can finally spill the beans on our October 2023 Basic Needs grant: Bethany Christian Services of Western South Dakota! This $25,000 one-year grant will support the Recovering Mothers with Newborns (ReNew) Program in Rapid City.About ReNew The Recovering Mothers...
JTVF Releases Local Child Care Report
Need real data on the child care industry in Rapid City? Download our latest report Too Expensive and Not Expensive Enough: Investing In Child Care to Strengthen South Dakota’s Economy today!Download the Report In this report, our friends at the Low Income...
Join Us For A Thrilling Child Care Webinar
Join us for an eye-opening free online event where we delve into the world of child care in Rapid City! Discover the truth about why child care is both too expensive and not expensive enough. During this webinar we will share findings on a study authored by our...
New Era of Transparency for JTVF
We are absolutely thrilled to unveil the rebranded John T. Vucurevich Foundation! We feel that this fresh and dynamic rebrand underscores our commitment to transparency, purpose, and making a piece of the world a brighter place. Transparency is new for us at JTVF....
Just Announced: August Basic Need Grantee
We are thrilled to award $100,000 to Pennington County Human Services, a longstanding JTVF community partner. They serve our veteran, formerly incarcerated, and low-income neighbors.Pennington County Human Services $100,000 – funds to assist individuals with rental...
Announcing July Basic Needs Grantees
Three cheers for our July 2023 grantees Wellfully and Journey On! These organizations serve some of our most vulnerable community members. Learn more about these incredible programs and what they plan to do with our investment.Wellfully $305,000 for one year to...
Why You Should Attend Our Poverty Escape Room
Can you escape a day in crisis? Based on real experiences in the Rapid City community, our Poverty Escape Room offers you a vivid opportunity to become a more compassionate neighbor. We won’t spoil the experience for you, but we can share how this unique learning...
Different Lens Coaches Network Empowers Social Service Professionals
Are you a social service professional? Join us for our monthly Different Lens Coaches Network meeting. Here you will find support from other boots-on-the-ground folks navigate alongside low-income families in our community. Come for the free lunch but stay for the...
Sneak Peak at JTVF Early Learning Investments
We are so excited about two of our upcoming early learning investments that we couldn’t stop ourselves from giving you a sneak peek! In 2024, we will launch two pilot programs to address the child care crisis faced by local families. Bridgecare: the Zillow of Child...
What Is a Livable Wage Anyway?
What is a livable wage? A simple question with a surprisingly complex answer. A livable wage is the household income needed to meet minimum standards of living in our community. The Living Wage Model, developed by MIT, is only a ‘step up’ from poverty as it only...
Why the “Poverty” Definition Doesn’t Cut It
The US poverty threshold: a shockingly powerful definition that many of us have never stopped to think about. Here are a few facts that make the case for why we at the John T. Vucurevich Foundation have moved away from using the "poverty threshold" to define who we...
5 Things to Know about JTVF Joining the NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab
The NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab has selected Rapid City as one of five city teams nationwide to participate in the 2023 Peer Cities Network – a national program for small and mid-size city leaders to develop innovative and equitable local housing...
What Is the Rapid City Strategic Housing Trust Fund Anyway?
One of our largest Foundation investments in recent years is a $5 million grant to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation for the Strategic Housing Trust Fund. But what does that actually mean for Rapid City affordable housing? Let us explain. The Rapid City...
Fast Facts on Rapid City Housing
Access to stable, safe, and affordable housing is a foundational need for families and individuals working towards economic stability. Since the pandemic, costs for both rental and owner-occupied housing have risen substantially, putting additional pressure on our...
Preschool Scholarship Program Empowers Low Income Families to ‘Start Strong’
The Starting Strong program is vital to our community. But don't take our word for it. Listen to the testimonials from people in our community who benefit the most. Starting Strong is a preschool scholarship program for three and four-year-old children as well as a...
