The Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) has launched its second year of Thriving Communities, an annual $100,000 initiative that asks Black Hills residents to select an issue area that needs more support.
Each year, Black Hills residents vote in an online survey to determine an issue area. At the end of the year, BHACF awards at least $100,000 total to nonprofits addressing the selected issue. The Initiative shifts its focus each year based on the community’s vote, allowing BHACF to remain responsive to emerging local needs. In 2024, more than 600 residents shared their input, resulting in $125,000 granted to 10 nonprofits that promote recreation and care for outdoor spaces.
“We’ve identified four important causes for this year’s Thriving Communities Initiative,” said Chris Huber, President & CEO of BHACF. “We’re excited to see which one resonates the most with our community this year. We read every response, and the input informs and deepens our understanding of regional needs year-round.”
Black Hills residents are invited to vote in the anonymous online survey by May 31. They can also submit ideas for future surveys and share insights about the needs they see in their area.
For 2025, community members will choose between four causes:
- Youth Mental Wellness: Strengthen the mental wellbeing of our younger generations.
- Quality Care for Elders: Help our senior generation thrive in this phase of life.
- Arts for All: Cultivate community and build bridges by expanding access to the arts.
- Childcare for Healthy Families: Expand families’ access to quality childcare services.
When the survey closes, BHACF staff members will determine grant recipients by researching nonprofits actively working in the chosen area across the Northern, Central, and Southern Black Hills. In the fall of 2025, the staff will grant at least $100,000 total to nonprofits making a difference.
BHACF is seeking matching dollars to deepen the impact of this year’s grants. BHACF is directly able to fund $100,000 of the Initiative, which is divided among the nonprofit grantees. Any additional donations will directly increase the grantmaking pool for this year’s nonprofits. To vote, learn more, or donate to the Thriving Communities Fund, please visit www.bhacf.org/thriving-communities.
