John T. Vucurevich Foundation

06/11/2026

Dione Krush, Kodi Mckenna, and Katie Hauser with Bethany Christian Services presented at the Coaches Network in June. They shared about the ReNew program and their new ReNewed HOPE program. The programs serve pregnant and parenting women affected by substance use through recovery-focused case management and peer support. Each participant is supported by a women’s advocate and a peer support specialist. Both programs are accepting referrals.

06/03/2026

The Native American Nursing Education Center, a program of South Dakota State University's College of Nursing has supported more than 60 Native American students earning BSN degrees and three graduates earning advanced practice nursing degrees. Many graduates are very likely to remain in the region after graduation. For NANEC students, earning a nursing degree is a professional milestone and opens the pathway to a living wage and long-term stability for both their families and community.

"NANEC has helped me grow not only as a nursing student but also as a person rooted in my culture, strength, and purpose. Because of this program, I move forward in my journey knowing that I carry the support of a community behind me and the responsibility to uplift the next generation who will walk this path after me." -- Mateja Sitting Crow, May 2026 NANEC Graduate

Learn more about NANEC: https://ow.ly/eWhv50Z5orK

06/01/2026

The Foundation is pleased to announce recent awards totaling $3,535,000 to 10 Rapid City area nonprofits. All awards fall within the following priority goals: strengthening critical economic pathways, investing in programs that meet basic needs, and strengthening affordable housing for low-income families in Rapid City.

“When our neighbors have access to safe, attainable housing, they gain the opportunity for stability that makes everything else possible. And when essentials are in place, people are better positioned to pursue opportunity and reach their full potential,” says Jacqui Dietrich, JTVF President & CEO. “Our local nonprofits are making it happen, and we invite the community to continue to learn more, find ways to be involved and share in building a stronger future together.”

Recent grant awards went to the following organizations:

$25,000 — Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention
$1,000,000 — Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity – East Creek Village
$680,000 — Black Hills Special Services Cooperative – Workforce Connections
$700,000 — Catholic Social Services – Uplifting Parents
$120,000 — Helpline Center
$40,000 — Journey On
$300,000 — Pennington County Human Services
$250,000 — Seventh Circuit CASA
$120,000 — Western Dakota Technical College
$300,000 — Youth & Family Services

Learn more about these grantees:

$3.5 Million Awarded to Rapid City Nonprofits by Crystal Ortbahn | May 14, 2026 | Affordable Housing, Basic Needs, Early Learning, Economic Mobility Following a recent Board of Directors meeting, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation (JTVF) is pleased to announce recent awards totaling $3,535,000 to 10....

05/14/2026

Curt Lauinger, Community Outreach Specialist with the FBI presented at the Coaches Network in May. He shared about the ways the FBI collaborates with area organizations and how to reach out when a referral needs to be made.

05/10/2026

Join us for a free, hands-on learning experience on June 3rd at The Journey Museum! The day features three professional workshops facilitated by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative and Palecek Therapy and Consulting where the outcome is a deeper understanding of poverty and the real barriers that impact workforce participation, retention, and advancement in our community.

Whether you’re a community member, employer, policymaker, or service provider, these workshops will inform how you see poverty and the path to economic mobility.

Attend a single session or join us for the full day. A break is scheduled from 12:00–1:00 PM (lunch not provided).

Space is limited -- register today👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/o/john-t-vucurevich-foundation-33813536409

05/07/2026

Early Childhood Connections (ECC) and their Starting Strong Program were the presenters for the April Coaches Network meeting. Kayla Herbener, Program Director and Ashleigh Young, Family Outreach Specialist, shared the program’s impact in increasing access to quality early learning experiences for preschool-aged children. In 2025, 215 children benefited from the Starting Strong program. To learn more about enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year, please contact ECC.

05/05/2026

This recent article from South Dakota News Watch, Inc. explores the affordable housing landscape in Rapid City and the community partnerships that have helped make some progress happen.

Increasing housing supply is important, and it’s also not enough on its own. Supportive services are also essential to helping people secure and sustain housing.

A shared funding model by philanthropy groups in the Black Hills has led to development of nearly 650 units where rents are the highest in the state.

04/23/2026

Right now, South Dakota is one of only five states without state-sponsored pre-K. Earlier reporting in the last year considered how preschool can be part of the solution to the state’s prison population challenges. We believe this is an opportunity worth paying attention to.

South Dakota is one of five states without state-funded preschool, according to a national report released by a national group.

04/08/2026

We're pleased to announce that Barry Tice is joining our team as the new Senior Director of Partnerships & Impact starting in April 2026.

Tice is a life-long Rapid Citian with more than two decades of public service and cross-sector leadership experience. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for building strong partnerships and helping organizations work together to address complex community challenges and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

“For more than 20 years, the Foundation’s work has been grounded in strong partnerships, and our future depends on deepening that impact for Rapid City families,” said Jacqui Dietrich, President & CEO of the Foundation. “As Senior Director of this work, Barry will play a key role in helping us lead and support initiatives that bring people together, strengthen our community, and address the challenges that affect us all.”

Learn more abour Barry: https://ow.ly/vxJI50YFPHY

02/27/2026

The materials from the The Black Hills Nonprofit Leadership Summit are now available to view and share.

The full recap on our website includes:
🔹key moments
🔹session summaries
🔹our conference photo album
🔹and downloadable materials for continued learning and team discussion

Explore and download the resources here:
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Nonprofit leaders, funders, elected officials, and community partners from across the Black Hills came together in Rapid City for a day of learning, dialogue, and connection. Hosted by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation, the Summit created space for honest conversations about shared challenges, emerg...