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
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
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,...
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...
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...
$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...
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...
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...
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...
Current Grantees
Value of basic need grants as of March 2025
ABC Recover Community
Help build tiny homes providing transitional living for graduates of their drug and alcohol treatment program
$120,000
Bethany Christian Services of Western South Dakota
$35,000
Black Hills Area Community Foundation
$300,000
Black Hills Area Community Foundation
Support of the Friends of Food Security work to include staff support, convenings and food security grants
$68,000
Black Hills Center for Aging
Renovations to expand programming at a second service location to serve our aging community by providing daytime services, education, and resources to enrich quality of life
$50,000
Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud
Funding for three youth center sites and one teen center site
$75,000
chamber music festival of the black hills
One-year general operating support for educational music programming for underserved and low-income youth
$15,000
Cheyenne River Youth Project
$195,000
Crisis Intervention Shelter Services, Inc.
$20,000
Feeding South Dakota
General Operations
$100,000
Fork real cafe
One-year support for pay-what-you-can cafe providing healthy and affordable meals to those in need
$60,000
Fourth Circuit DUI Court
Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
$10,000
Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc
Immunization Program
$70,000
Helpline Center
$110,000
Journey On
$40,000
Lawrence County Teen Court
Juvenile diversion programming
$25,000
Literacy Council of the Black Hills
$12,500
main street square
$100,00
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
One-year operating support for mental health education and supports in the Black Hills
$55,000
Northern Hills Drug Court
Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
$10,000
Oaye Luta Okolakiciye (OLO)
$75,000
One Spirit
$25,000
Passages Women’s Transitional Living
One-year support for reentry services to women making the transition from incarceration, homelessness, and treatment centers
$35,000
Pennington County Drug Court
Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
$25,000
Pennington County DUI Court
Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
$20,000
Pennington County Human Services
Two-year discretionary flex funds to assist Pennington County residents with emergent economic support including: rental deposits, rental assistance, utility assistance, and transportation support
$240,000
Pennington County Mental Health Court
Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
$10,000
Rapid City Area schools
$18,000
Rapid City Arts Council
$150,000
Rapid City Club for Boys Inc
$300,000
Seventh Circuit Court Appointed Special Advocates
Support for staffing, training, and volunteer support of the CASA program
$150,000
SHIFT Garage
$50,000
United Way of the Black Hills
Support a regional Mental Health Initiative
$100,000
United Way of the Black Hills
$150,000
Victims of Violence Intervention/Artemis House
One-year grant to provide security upgrades to shelter building
$65,000
Volunteers of America
Coordination of the Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition
$300,000
Volunteers of America Mommy’s Closet
Two-year operating support to meet needs of low income families with young children
$120,000
Wellfully
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
$305,000
West river mental health
One-year support for a partial day treatment program or clients with serious mental illness
$25,000
Western South Dakota Community Action
One-year operating funds to support low-income families
$100,000
Western South Dakota Senior Services Inc (Meals on Wheels)
Delivery Truck and Operating Costs
$300,000
working Against Violence, Inc.
$300,000 – Stabilization support after decrease in Victims of Crime Assistance funding
$200,000 – Two-year general operating support of Domestic Violence Shelter in Rapid City
$500,000
YFS Girls Inc. of Rapid City
$200,000
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
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
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.
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
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
Learn more about the grant application process.