Grant Opportunities for 2024

Financial Support for Organizations

Learn about funding available for 501(c)(3) charities, schools, religious organizations, and government entities across the Black Hills region.

Grants are listed in the order of their open date starting in the spring of 2024.

Grant options

Youth Philanthropy Grant

Guided by the Rapid City Youth Council, the grant funds programs that support youth. The application prioritizes programs that address mental wellness.

Funding Area: Youth and/or Families, Social/Human Services

Status: Closed

Open Date: Feb. 1

Close Date: March 15

Funding Range: up to $2,500

Winter Capacity Building Grant

The bi-annual grant helps strengthen an organization’s effectiveness, efficiency, or sustainability. This may include strategic planning, marketing, staff retention, technology support, and more.

Funding Area: Capacity Building

Status: Closed

Open Date: Feb. 1

Close Date: March 15

Funding Range: up to $5,000

Margaret Warren and Grace Lemley Animal Welfare Grant

In the spirit of Margaret Warren’s love for animals, the grant supports animal welfare organizations in the Black Hills.

Funding Area: Animal Welfare

Status: Closed

Open Date: March 1

Close Date: April 14

Funding Range: up to $5,000

Community Action Grant ($50,000) 

The Community Action Grant is offered to nonprofit endowment holders that employ creative ideas, leverage community partnerships and focus on sustainable practices.

Funding Area: All Funding Areas

Status: Closed

Open Date: April 1

Close Date: May 3

Funding Range: up to $50,000

Summer Capacity Building Grant

Capacity Building Grants are given out twice each year during the winter and summer. The grants address capacity building needs to strengthen an organization’s effectiveness, sustainability or efficiency.

Funding Area: Capacity Building

Status: Closed

Open Date: June 1

Close Date: July 14

Funding Range: up to $5,000

Community Action Grant ($20,000) 

The Community Action Grant is offered to nonprofit endowment holders that employ creative ideas, leverage community partnerships and focus on sustainable practices.

Funding Area: All Funding Areas

Status: Closed

Open Date: June 1

Close Date: July 14

Funding Range: up to $20,000

JIM HESS COMMUNITY FORWARD GRANT 

The Jim Hess Community Forward Grant will support nonprofits in the Northern Hills, including Butte, Lawrence and Meade Counties. The opportunity is offered to nonprofits that employ creative ideas, leverage community partnerships and focus on sustainable practices.

Funding Area: All Funding Areas

Status: Open

Open Date: Sept. 1

Close Date: Oct. 13

Funding Range: up to $15,000

Community Service Center Trust Fund Grant

The Community Service Center Trust Fund (CSCTF) Grant supports organizations that serve those with low incomes in the Rapid City area.

Funding Area: Low-Income Populations, Native American Populations

Status: Closed

Open Date: October 14

Close Date: November 25

Funding Range: up to $2,000

Grant news and stories

Black Hills Area Community Foundation Awards $125,000 in Outdoor Spaces Grants

Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) has awarded $125,000 to Black Hills nonprofits that care for outdoor spaces or promote recreation across the region. These grants respond to community input from BHACF’s first annual Thriving Communities Initiative....

Capacity Building is Vital for Nonprofit Growth

Investing in an organization’s backbone—known as capacity building—keeps the wheels of our nonprofits turning. It's a critical nonprofit need that's often overlooked. One afternoon, an executive director for a youth-serving nonprofit discovered that her staff’s...

Cultivating Community at Wambli Ska Okolakiciye

The creation of traditional regalia, supported by a Black Hills by Choice grant, cultivates community at nonprofit Wambli Ska
Okolakiciye.

Supporting Science for Kids at The Mammoth Site

A $16,000 Community Action Grant will fund a shade structure for a free kids summer camp at The Mammoth Site.

A stronger team at Rapid City Arts Council

The Rapid City Arts Council used a Capacity Building Grant to provide professional development, training resources and more to their staff.

Northern Hills residents gather to give $11,000 to five nonprofits

Northern Hills by Choice Giving Circle members gathered at Homestake Opera House in May of 2023. The group pooled funding to direct five grants by popular vote.

Five nonprofits share in $25,000 infusion from Giving Circle

In June of 2023, the Black Hills by Choice Giving Circle gathered at the Dahl Arts Center to direct grants to five regional nonprofits.

When Disaster Strikes, Gather for Good

Ten years after the devastation of Winter Storm Atlas, BHACF looks forward to the future of disaster resilience and emergency preparedness.

Supporting connection at Homestake Opera House

The Homestake Opera House received a capacity building grant in 2023. When we support theater programs, we give young people the chance to connect with themselves and the community.

Supporting personal growth at Matthews Opera House

A 2023 capacity building grant supported technology upgrades at Matthews Opera House. Reliable technology allows performers to focus on their craft — and hone their personal and professional growth.

Capacity Building is Vital for Nonprofit Growth

Investing in an organization’s backbone—known as capacity building—keeps the wheels of our nonprofits turning. It's a critical nonprofit need that's often overlooked. One afternoon, an executive director for a youth-serving nonprofit discovered that her staff’s...

Cultivating Community at Wambli Ska Okolakiciye

The creation of traditional regalia, supported by a Black Hills by Choice grant, cultivates community at nonprofit Wambli Ska
Okolakiciye.

Supporting Science for Kids at The Mammoth Site

A $16,000 Community Action Grant will fund a shade structure for a free kids summer camp at The Mammoth Site.

A stronger team at Rapid City Arts Council

The Rapid City Arts Council used a Capacity Building Grant to provide professional development, training resources and more to their staff.

Northern Hills residents gather to give $11,000 to five nonprofits

Northern Hills by Choice Giving Circle members gathered at Homestake Opera House in May of 2023. The group pooled funding to direct five grants by popular vote.

Five nonprofits share in $25,000 infusion from Giving Circle

In June of 2023, the Black Hills by Choice Giving Circle gathered at the Dahl Arts Center to direct grants to five regional nonprofits.

When Disaster Strikes, Gather for Good

Ten years after the devastation of Winter Storm Atlas, BHACF looks forward to the future of disaster resilience and emergency preparedness.

Supporting connection at Homestake Opera House

The Homestake Opera House received a capacity building grant in 2023. When we support theater programs, we give young people the chance to connect with themselves and the community.

Supporting personal growth at Matthews Opera House

A 2023 capacity building grant supported technology upgrades at Matthews Opera House. Reliable technology allows performers to focus on their craft — and hone their personal and professional growth.

Connecting Services with Survivors at WAVI

A $50,000 Community Action Grant purchased a passenger van to expand Working Against Violence Inc.’s (WAVI) services on Pine Ridge Reservation.

Cultivating Community at Wambli Ska Okolakiciye

The creation of traditional regalia, supported by a Black Hills by Choice grant, cultivates community at nonprofit Wambli Ska
Okolakiciye.

Supporting Science for Kids at The Mammoth Site

A $16,000 Community Action Grant will fund a shade structure for a free kids summer camp at The Mammoth Site.

A stronger team at Rapid City Arts Council

The Rapid City Arts Council used a Capacity Building Grant to provide professional development, training resources and more to their staff.

Northern Hills residents gather to give $11,000 to five nonprofits

Northern Hills by Choice Giving Circle members gathered at Homestake Opera House in May of 2023. The group pooled funding to direct five grants by popular vote.

Five nonprofits share in $25,000 infusion from Giving Circle

In June of 2023, the Black Hills by Choice Giving Circle gathered at the Dahl Arts Center to direct grants to five regional nonprofits.

When Disaster Strikes, Gather for Good

Ten years after the devastation of Winter Storm Atlas, BHACF looks forward to the future of disaster resilience and emergency preparedness.

Supporting connection at Homestake Opera House

The Homestake Opera House received a capacity building grant in 2023. When we support theater programs, we give young people the chance to connect with themselves and the community.

Supporting personal growth at Matthews Opera House

A 2023 capacity building grant supported technology upgrades at Matthews Opera House. Reliable technology allows performers to focus on their craft — and hone their personal and professional growth.

Connecting Services with Survivors at WAVI

A $50,000 Community Action Grant purchased a passenger van to expand Working Against Violence Inc.’s (WAVI) services on Pine Ridge Reservation.

BHACF Awards $66,000 in Community Action Grants

In 2023, BHACF awarded Community Action Grants to Working Against Violence, Inc. ($50,000 grant) and The Mammoth Site ($16,000 grant).

Have questions? Connect with Carrie.

Carrie Robley, Director of Community Impact, manages our grant and scholarship processes. She’s happy to answer your questions about funding opportunities and applications.