basic needs

As one of the only large funders in the region, we help meet other urgent basic needs for our community members. Our grantmaking and collaborative efforts help meet needs in the following areas.

Food

Physical and Behavioral Health

Safety

Social Belonging and Culture

Transportation

Grantmaking Strategy

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Invest in programs that meet the basic needs of low-income families

Fund existing and new programs that support basic needs of low-income families

Our Stories

Current Grantees

Value of basic need grants as of August 2024

Food

Black Hills Area Community Foundation – $68,000

Support of the Friends of Food Security work to include staff support, convenings and food security grants

Feeding South Dakota – $100,000

General Operations

Fork Real Community Cafe – $50,000

General Operations

One Spirit – $50,000

Support for their food distribution program

Western South Dakota Senior Services Inc (Meals on Wheels) – $300,000

Delivery Truck and Operating Costs

Physical or Behavior Health

Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc – $70,000

Immunization Program

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – $55,000

One-year operating support for mental health education and supports in the Black Hills

Volunteers of America Mommy’s Closet – $120,000

Two-year operating support to meet needs of low income families with young children.

United Way of the Black Hills – $100,000

Support a regional Mental Health Initiative

Bethany Christian Services of Western South Dakota – $25,000

One-year funding for the ReNew (Recovering Mothers with Newborns) program

Passages Women’s Transitional Living – $35,000

One-year support for reentry services to women making the transition from incarceration, homelessness, and treatment centers

Safety

American Red Cross – $50,000

For families affected by disaster, and to increase capacity of volunteers and assist with disaster preparation for at-risk populations

Bethany Christian Services of Western SD – $25,000

For the Recovering Mothers with Newborns (ReNew) Program in Rapid City

Fourth Circuit DUI Court – $10,000

Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program

Lawrence County Teen Court – $25,000

Juvenile diversion programming

Northern Hills Drug Court – $10,000

Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program

Pennington County Drug Court – $25,000

Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program

Pennington County DUI Court – $20,000

Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program

Pennington County Mental Health Court – $10,000

Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program

Seventh Circuit Court Appointed Special Advocates – $150,000

Support for staffing, training, and volunteer support of the CASA program

Pennington County Human Services – $240,000

Two-year discretionary flex funds to assist Pennington County residents with emergent economic support including: rental deposits, rental assistance, utility assistance, and transportation support

Volunteers of America Northern Rockies – $250,000

Coordination of the Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition

Working Against Violence, Inc. – $300,000

One-year general operations stabilization support after decrease in Victims of Crime Assistance funding

Wellfully – $300,000

One-year operating funding for the Adolescent Crisis Care Center a free-will, walk-in resource for middle and high school age youth who are in crisis or may be considering suicide

Western South Dakota Community Action – $100,000

One-year operating funds to support low-income families

 

Social Belonging and Culture

Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud – $150,000

Funding for three youth center sites and one teen center site

Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills – $22,000

One-year support for educational music programming for underserved and low-income yout

Cheyenne River Youth Project – $195,000

$100,000 for Building the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Institute
$95,000 for Youth Leadership and Workforce Development

Helpline Center – $110,000

Volunteer Connections Program

Main Street Square – $300,000

$200,000 General operations of Main Street Square
$100,000 Capital improvements

Oaye Luta Okolakiciye (OLO)- $75,000

Rapid City Middle School Talking Circles

Rapid City Club for Boys Inc – $283,000

Afterschool and summer program for at-risk boys

YFS Girls Inc. of Rapid City – $25,000

Two-year operating support for out-of-school time programming for Rapid City girls

Literacy Council of the Black Hills – $12,500

One-year general operations to support English language learning in the region

Black Hills Area Community Foundation – $300,000

Two-year matching funding forregional nonprofits beginning or expanding an endowment at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation.

Rapid City Arts Council- $150,000

Two-year support for equitable arts education for Rapid City youth for the next two years, supporting their educational journey and social well-being

Transportation

Journey On – $100,000

Dedicated medical and recovery transportation team and vehicle to support access to services for those strugging with addiction

SHIFT Garage – $50,000

One-year general operations for the UPSHIFT car purchase program

Collaborations

Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition

The coalition is a collaboration of 40+ organizations that advance best practices in homeless services, engage in joint problem-solving, and create shared solutions to both individual and community issues affecting those experiencing homelessness.

Our role: Funder, Participant

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Community Services Connections

This coalition of non-profits gather monthly to keep each other informed on what’s happening in their organization. They describe new or changing programing, staff etc.

Our role: Participant

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Rapid City Comprehensive Planning Strategic Advisory Committee

Rapid City is in the process of updating its 2014 Comprehensive Plan. This document will guide the City’s development and decision-making at all levels while incorporating existing studies, sub-plans, and community input. 

Our role: Alan and Callie participate on this committee.

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Systems of Care Collaborative

JTVF facilitates a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is organized to meet the behavioral health challenges of children, youth and families to help function better at home, in school, in the community, and throughout life. The SOCC advocates for eliminating gaps in services specific to the needs of children.

Our role: JTVF facilitates this collaborative quarterly.

Western South Dakota Funders Group
Initiated and convened by JTVF to bring together local funders to discuss each other’s priorities, processes and grantmaking. Regular participants include Foundation representation from Bush Foundation; Black Hills Area Community Foundation, South Dakota Community Foundation, Stearns Foundation, Black Hills Energy, Monument Health Foundation, Black Hills Energy Foundation, United Way of the Black Hills, and NDN Collective.

Our role: Founding member

Oyate Prevention Coalition

The Oyate Prevention Coalition is a non-profit group whose members come from all walks of life and are committed to promoting a drug-free environment for youth and young adults in the Rapid City area.The mission of the Oyate Prevention Coalition is to prevent and reduce the prevalence of substance use and abuse by providing life skills and education that allow American Indian youth, young adults, and their families in the Rapid City area to lead healthy and productive lives.

Our role: Participant

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Learn more about the grant application process.