The Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) launched Thriving Communities this year, an annual $100,000 initiative designed to harness the collective wisdom of the community.
Each year, Black Hills residents will select a meaningful cause by voting in an online survey. At the end of the year, the Community Foundation will award at least $100,000 total to nonprofits creating positive change in the community’s chosen issue area. The agile initiative will shift its focus each year based on the popular vote of the community, allowing BHACF to remain responsive to emerging issues across the Black Hills.
“The Thriving Communities Initiative represents an exciting opportunity for the Black Hills Area Community Foundation to strengthen our connection with the community, allowing residents to actively participate in shaping our philanthropic efforts,” said Chris Huber, CEO of BHACF. “By putting the power of choice in the hands of our community members, we aim to create a stronger Black Hills where all our communities thrive and flourish.”
The initiative will strengthen the existing work of nonprofits at the heart of the annual cause. BHACF will also raise awareness about the cause by sharing data and community voices on social media and other channels.
Black Hills residents are invited to vote for a cause via an anonymous online survey. Residents can submit ideas to inform future surveys and share why a cause is important to them.
For 2024, community members will choose between four causes:
- Healthy Families: Help children, caregivers or grandparents meet the challenges of their stage of life.
- Youth Mental Wellness: Strengthen the healthy development and mental well-being of our younger generations.
- Arts for All: Expand access to the arts to give more residents the benefits of community and self-expression.
- Beautiful Black Hills: Invest in the outdoor spaces that contribute to our residents’ quality of life.
The survey will close at the end of June. To vote in the 2024 survey, learn more or donate to the Thriving Communities Fund, visit www.bhacf.org/thriving-communities.
