BHACF's Eric Zimmer announces BHACF's Beautiful Black Hills Initiative to community members at the Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
The Beautiful Black Hills Initiative, a community-driven initiative at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, is set to invest in outdoor spaces and bring people together around their love of the outdoors for generations to come.
At a public event on Sunday, June 28, at the Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City, the Community Foundation announced that The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has invested $500,000 over three years to start a permanent endowment for the program. Meanwhile, other partners and local donors have contributed significant matching funds to this effort. Since late 2025, more than $200,000 in grants were awarded to nature-focused nonprofits, with the next round of funding available next year.
“The Black Hills are a place of extraordinary beauty and significance. They inspire a deep connection to the land and to one another. By supporting efforts to protect natural spaces, expand opportunities for outdoor recreation, and promote mental, spiritual, and community wellbeing, the Fund is helping cultivate a culture of stewardship that is rooted in place and driven by local voices.”
Walter Panzirer, Trustee of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, in an excerpt of a written statement on behalf of the Trust.
Three priorities will continue to guide the Foundation’s investments:
Healthy Natural Spaces Grants promote healthy land, water, and wildlife. Grantees in 2026 include the Black Hills Watershed Collaborative, the Norbeck Society, Dakota Rural Action, Black Hills State University Science Education, Montana Conservation Crops, and the Spearfish Museum.
Outdoor Recreation Grants expand access to the outdoors. Grantees in 2026 include the Highpointers Foundation, the Nordic Ski Club, Spearfish Trails Coalition, the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and the South Dakota Wildlife Federation.
Community Building Grants inspire collaborations between nature-focused nonprofits and connect passionate locals. Grantees in 2026 include the Black Hills Environmental Coalition, the Journey Museum, the Rapid City Arts Council, the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, the Cheyenne River Youth Project, the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, and the Badlands National Parks Conservancy.
“Recent years have brought historic growth and change to the Black Hills region,” said Eric Zimmer, BHACF’s Vice President of Philanthropy and Special Projects. “The Beautiful Black Hills Initiative meets the moment by sustaining healthy outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy. We’re deeply grateful to The Helmsley Charitable Trust and many other donors for making this permanent support for our land, water, and wildlife possible.”
Anyone interested in supporting this work can learn more about the Beautiful Black Hills Initiative on the Community Foundation’s website at www.bhacf.org/beautiful-black-hills.