The Jim Hess Community Forward Grant 

“Jim Hess was committed to charitable giving and believed in the power of collaboration and community engagement to make the Northern Hills a better place for everyone.”

Overview

The Jim Hess Community Forward Grant is offered to nonprofits conducting activities in the Northern Hills of South Dakota, including Butte, Lawrence and Meade Counties. 

BHACF will award the grant to nonprofits that employ creative ideas, leverage community partnerships and focus on sustainable practices. 

Eligibility Requirements

BHACF supports a wide variety of proposals in all funding areas, including requests for ongoing or new programs and projects. 

  • Requested support must be for organizations or activities that take place in the Northern Hills including Butte, Lawrence, and Meade Counties.
  • Applicants must be an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, school, government entity, or religious organization.  

Ineligible Projects

  • Grants will not be awarded to support religious activity, political activity, fundraisers or benefits, debt retirement, or organizations working to primarily influence legislation.
  • Supported activities may not discriminate against any individual or group based on race, gender, gender expression, age, disability, religion, ethnic or national origin, or otherwise legally protected groups.
  • BHACF will not serve as an applicant for sponsored programs.
  • Funding for multi-year projects or support.
  • Grant funds cannot be used for reimbursement of any expenses incurred prior to the grant notification date.
  • Requests to support capital campaigns.

Grantmaking Process and Timeline

After the application deadline, the BHACF Grants Committee will decide the grant recipient and communicate the decision.

Selected organizations will be asked to sign a grant agreement within a week of being notified of their grant award. They will be responsible for providing a final report at the completion of the grant by the assigned deadline.

How to apply 

If this is your organization’s first application, you will need to create an account in our grant application portal. When you apply, you’ll login to the portal with your email and password.    

Contact Carrie Robley at carrie@bhacf.org if you have any questions about your organization’s account.   

Status: Closed
Opening Date: 09/01/2024
Closing Date: 10/13/2024
Grant Range: $15000
Funding Area: All Funding Areas
About the The Jim Hess Community Forward Grant 

Born in Belle Fourche and a resident of Spearfish for over 40 years, Dr. James (Jim) Hess had a profound love for the Northern Hills community.

Jim’s journey was marked by resilience and a deep sense of purpose. His education, culminating in a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, laid the foundation for a successful career in academia and business. Jim enjoyed a successful teaching career at Black Hills State University, where he ultimately became Chair of the School of Behavioral Sciences. He also started a private counseling practice, became the CEO of Minitman Corporation and was the entrepreneur behind several successful businesses throughout the Northern Hills.

In Spearfish, he built a vibrant community life, thriving as a teacher, entrepreneur and mentor. He was committed to charitable giving and believed in the power of collaboration and community engagement to make the Northern Hills a better place for everyone. By fostering creative practices and leveraging partnerships, this grant aims to address specific community needs. It embodies Jim’s legacy of giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.