Anita Patel, Vice President of Grantmaking at the Bush Foundation, Chris Huber, CEO of Black Hills Area Community Foundation, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, and Kathleen Enright, CEO of Council on Foundations in Washington D.C. in February 2025.
On the week of Feb. 24, 2025, Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) CEO Chris Huber traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in Foundations on the Hill, a national event that brings together philanthropic leaders to engage with policymakers.
Organized by the United Philanthropy Forum, in partnership with the Council on Foundations and the Independent Sector, Foundations on the Hill provides an opportunity for foundation representatives to educate lawmakers about the critical role philanthropy plays in building thriving communities.
Chris took these meetings in partnership with the Bush Foundation and Council on Foundations staff. He met with U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, staff from U.S. Sen. John Thune’s office, Jeff Trandahl, CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and other leaders to discuss how philanthropy drives impact across South Dakota. A key focus of these discussions was BHACF’s affordable housing work and the partnerships that have made it possible.
He provided an update on the progress of the $30 million Congressional Directed Spending request secured by U.S. Sen. Rounds and U.S. Sen. Thune in partnership with the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. These funds will help drive affordable housing solutions across the Black Hills by supporting projects that create and preserve much-needed housing for Black Hills families.
Currently, BHACF staff is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to finalize the process for receiving these federal dollars. Once in place, these funds will help expand the Housing Trust Fund model, which has already brought dozens of affordable units online in Rapid City and is now scaling across the region.
Learn More About BHACF’s Strategic Housing Initiative
BHACF’s Strategic Housing Initiative is expected to bring over 640 affordable housing units, approximately 1,065 bedrooms, to Rapid City, South Dakota in the coming years. With the 2024 announcement of a $30 million federal award, BHACF has begun expanding the initiative across the Black Hills region. Developers and purchasers may apply through BHACF for flexible, low-interest loans to create or retain affordable housing units.