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
$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...
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....
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....
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...
Current Grantees
Value of basic need grants as of October 2024
Food
Black Hills Area Community Foundation – $68,000Support of the Friends of Food Security work to include staff support, convenings and food security grants
|
Feeding South Dakota – $100,000General Operations |
Fork Real Community Cafe – $50,000General Operations |
One Spirit – $50,000Support for their food distribution program |
Western South Dakota Senior Services Inc (Meals on Wheels) – $300,000Delivery Truck and Operating Costs
|
Physical or Behavior Health
Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc – $70,000Immunization Program
|
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – $55,000One-year operating support for mental health education and supports in the Black Hills
|
Volunteers of America Mommy’s Closet – $120,000Two-year operating support to meet needs of low income families with young children. |
United Way of the Black Hills – $100,000Support a regional Mental Health Initiative
|
Bethany Christian Services of Western South Dakota – $25,000One-year funding for the ReNew (Recovering Mothers with Newborns) program
|
Passages Women’s Transitional Living – $35,000One-year support for reentry services to women making the transition from incarceration, homelessness, and treatment centers
|
Safety
American Red Cross – $50,000For 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 – $25,000For the Recovering Mothers with Newborns (ReNew) Program in Rapid City
|
Fourth Circuit DUI Court – $10,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Lawrence County Teen Court – $25,000Juvenile diversion programming
|
Northern Hills Drug Court – $10,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Pennington County Drug Court – $25,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program |
Pennington County DUI Court – $20,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Pennington County Mental Health Court – $10,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Seventh Circuit Court Appointed Special Advocates – $150,000Support for staffing, training, and volunteer support of the CASA program
|
Pennington County Human Services – $240,000Two-year discretionary flex funds to assist Pennington County residents with emergent economic support including: rental deposits, rental assistance, utility assistance, and transportation support
|
Victims of Violence Intervention/Artemis House – $65,000One-year grant to provide security upgrades to shelter building
|
Working Against Violence, Inc. – $300,000One-year general operations stabilization support after decrease in Victims of Crime Assistance funding |
Wellfully – $300,000One-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 – $100,000One-year operating funds to support low-income families
|
Social Belonging and Culture
Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud – $150,000Funding for three youth center sites and one teen center site
|
Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills – $22,000One-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 – $110,000Volunteer Connections Program |
Main Street Square – $300,000$200,000 General operations of Main Street Square
$100,000 Capital improvements
|
Oaye Luta Okolakiciye (OLO)- $75,000Rapid City Middle School Talking Circles |
Rapid City Club for Boys Inc – $283,000Afterschool and summer program for at-risk boys |
YFS Girls Inc. of Rapid City – $25,000Two-year operating support for out-of-school time programming for Rapid City girls
|
Literacy Council of the Black Hills – $12,500One-year general operations to support English language learning in the region
|
Black Hills Area Community Foundation – $300,000Two-year matching funding forregional nonprofits beginning or expanding an endowment at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation.
|
Rapid City Arts Council- $150,000Two-year support for equitable arts education for Rapid City youth for the next two years, supporting their educational journey and social well-being
|
United Way of the Black Hills- $150,000Two-year support for professional development opportunities for regional nonprofits and their boards through Nonprofit 360
|
Transportation
Journey On – $100,000Dedicated medical and recovery transportation team and vehicle to support access to services for those strugging with addiction
|
SHIFT Garage – $50,000One-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
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.