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
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...
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...
Current Grantees
Value of basic need grants as of August 2023
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 – $100,000Hunger relief efforts to include the BackPack Program and mobile food distribution throughout the Black Hills
|
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 Sheperd Clinic, Inc – $70,000Immunization Program
|
Lost&Found – $25,000To develop, administer, and analyze a comprehensive mental health survey to be completed at Western Dakota Tech
|
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – $110,000Programming for mental health education and supports in the Black Hills
|
Rapid City Area Schools – $20,000Delta Dental Bus sponsorship to provide students with free dental care
|
United Way of the Black Hills – $100,000Support a regional Mental Health Initiative
|
Volunteers of America Northern Rockies – $100,000Mommy’s Closet, providing emergency support services and case management for families of children ages 0-13, and coordination of the Western SD Diaper Bank
|
Safety
Abbott House, Inc. – $25,000Support for a foster home in Rapid City
|
American Red Cross – $50,000For families affected by disaster, and to increase capacity of volunteers and assist with disaster preparation for at-risk populations
|
Forth Circuit DUI Court – $10,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Lawrence County Teen Court – $10,000Juvenile diversion programming
|
Northern Hills Drug Court – $10,000Assist participants and their families with miscellaneous expenses while in the program
|
Pennington County Drug Treatment Court Association – $20,000Assist 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
|
Simply Smiles – $50,000Support for Simply Smiles Foster Care Children’s Village
|
Volunteers of America Northern Rockies – $250,000Coordination of the Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition
|
Wellfully – $305,000Adolescent Crisis Care Center to support youth in crisis in a trauma-informed manner
|
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 – $25,000Free educational music programming for youth in the Black Hills
|
Cheyenne River Youth Project – $100,000Building the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Institute
|
Helpline Center – $120,000Volunteer Connections Program to link volunteers and nonprofit agencies together in the Black Hills |
Main Street Square – $200,000General operations of Main Street Square |
Main Street Square – $100,000Capital improvements |
Rapid City Club for Boys Inc – $283,000Afterschool and summer program for at-risk boys |
Rapid City Arts Council – $65,000Arts education and outreach programming to continue to provide youth and young adults equitable access to the arts |
South Dakota Education Equity Coalition – $25,000Support for coalition efforts in their work to close the gap in education outcomes between Indigenous students and other students in South Dakota
|
Youth & Family Services, Inc. – $200,000Afterschool and summer program for at-risk girls |
Transportation
Journey On – $100,000Dedicated medical and recovery transportation team and vehicle to support access to services for those strugging with addiction
|
SHIFT Garage – $25,000Support to provide those in poverty access to reliable transportation and vehicle maintenance
|
Collaborations
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 monthly.
West River Behavioral Health Alliance
Our role: Alan serves on this alliance.
Western South Dakota Funders Group
Our role: Founding member
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
Learn more about the grant application process.