Economic Mobility
Our working families deserve stable, hiqh-quality jobs. Economic mobility is the road they take to get there. Some people have a smooth highway ahead of them, with easy access to good jobs and education. Others have to navigate off-road paths, filled with obstacles and challenges. Many of our families take the road less traveled.
Our grant funding helps individuals stay on the highway to success. We fund programs that help our neighbors build skills or get the education they need for the job they want. Because no two roads are the same, we invest in programs that provide mentorship and short-term assistance to address other barriers that arise like child care or housing. Many of our economic mobility grantees collaborate closely with other community partners to wrap around a family with the resources and referrals they need to get ahead.
Grantmaking Strategy
Invest in programs that provide supportive relationships and structures for working families seeking economic stability
These programs include intensive mentorship supports for low-income families.
Provide scholarship opportunities for low-income families to attain skills, certifications, or degrees required to attain workplace advancement
These insitutional scholarships are distributed by Black Hills State Univeristy, Oglala Lakota College, South Dakota State University, and Western Dakota Tech.
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...
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...
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...
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 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:...
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)...
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...
Current Grantees
Value of economic mobility grants as of March 2025
Black Hills Area Community Foundation
Funding to support the Rapid City Impact Fund
$500,000
Black Hills Special Services Cooperative
Two-year general operations grant for mentoring and crisis funding support for adult education leaners in the Workforce Connections Program
$504,000
Catholic Social Services
$174,182
Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
One-year support for the 7th GEN College and Post Secondary Resource Fair through the Indian University of North America
$10,000
Elevate Foundation
Support for Workforce Development pillar
$250,000
Native American Nursing Education Center
$352,000
OneHeart
Support for transitional housing and skill development towards a livable wage
$5,250,000
scholarships
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- Western Dakota Tech – $480,000 over two years
- Black Hills State University – $175,000 over two years
- South Dakota State University – $210,000 over two years, nursing-focused
- Oglala Lakota College – $90,000 over two years, nursing-focused
$955,000
Collaborations
Elevate Rapid City
In 2018, JTVF invested in Elevate Rapid City, an economic development entity for Rapid City and the Black Hills region. Its mission is to achieve the shared economic and community development goals that will elevate the quality of life and employment opportunities for all those who call Rapid City home. Our investment focuses on Elevate’s workforce development strategy and aligns with our economic mobility strategies.
Our role: Funder, Our CEO is member of the Board of Directors and executive committee.
Uplifting Parents Coalition
The Uplifting Parents Program (UP Program) empowers single parent families by providing resources to support their advancement in education. Those selected to participate in the Uplifting Parents Program have the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring, a monthly financial stipend, parenting education and support, and crisis-diversion case management. All within a community of peer and professional support. UP Coalition Members a serve in an advisory capacity to inform the program's vision, strategy, and processes.
Our role: Former Funder, our JTVF team serves on the Coalition.
Workforce Connections Collaborative
Workforce Connections convenes quarterly meetings to discuss various programs and how to align services to clients in the Rapid City area.
Our role: Participant
Learn more about the grant application process.