John T. Vucurevich Foundation Grant (Basic Needs Priority Area)

John T. Vucurevich Foundation Grant (Basic Needs Priority Area) is sponsored by John T. Vucurevich Foundation.

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Rapid City area that address basic needs for low-income families and individuals. This includes food, physical and behavioral health, safety, social belonging and culture, and transportation.

Grant - John T. Vucurevich Foundation Real change happens when the needs of families and their children are met simultaneously. We make grants to organizations to do just that.

We hope to build family wellbeing by intentionally and simultaneously meeting the needs of children and the adults in their lives. Increase access to quality affordable low-income housing opportunities. Expand access and affordability of quality early learning/childcare programs.

Provide scholarship and mentor supports to those needing further education to reach economically stable employment. Support low-income access to food, physical and behavioral health, safety, social belonging and culture, and transportation. We currently accept applications from eligible organizations that support low-income families, individuals, and children in the Rapid City area.

Priority is given to proposals that address the following focus areas: affordable housing, economic mobility, early learning, or access to basic needs, including food, physical/behavioral health, safety, social belonging and culture, and transportation.

Proposals that align well with JTVF priorities typically: Benefit low-income individuals, families, or children in the Rapid City area Address a demonstrated community need within our funding priority areas: affordable housing, economic mobility, early learning, or access to basic needs (such as food, physical and behavioral health, safety, social belonging and culture, and transportation) Build trusted, collaborative relationships within the community Have other funding secured beyond JTVF dollars Your organization must be classified as tax-exempt under the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3).

We will also consider applications from government entities, including schools. Organizations are limited to one unsolicited grant request per 12-month period. Your grant idea must fall within our priority areas: affordable housing, economic mobility, early learning, or access to basic needs (such as food, physical and behavioral health, safety, social belonging and culture, and transportation).

Your grant idea should serve the Rapid City Area. We believe that our efforts to support low-income families are most effective when they operate in a limited number of geographic locations in full partnership with communities. We concentrate the majority of our funding in the Rapid City Area but do fund some work in neighboring communities where we have a longstanding history of grantmaking and strong partnerships.

We do NOT fund individuals, school affiliated trips, museums, animal-related projects, political campaign activities, direct religious activities, international requests, benefit events, event sponsorships, sports activities, publications, video, and film production, camp development and infrastructure, and form letter requests. We do NOT normally fund endowments or organizations less than five years old.

We want to help organizations determine fit early, before investing significant time in a grant application process. Our application process begins with a brief Initial Online Review Form. This initial step helps our team determine basic eligibility and alignment before inviting organizations into our formal grant process.

From there, selected organizations may be invited to submit additional information through our online grant portal, beginning with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and, if approved, a full application Step 1: Review Funding Priorities & Eligibility Before applying, please review our funding priorities and eligibility guidelines above to determine whether your organization and project may be a fit for funding.

Step 2: Complete the Initial Online Review Form We encourage organizations to begin by completing a brief online form embedded on our website. This short submission helps our team review: - Alignment with Foundation priorities Our goal is to provide early guidance before organizations invest more time in our grant process. This initial review form is typically required before submitting an LOI.

Step 3: Invitation to Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Organizations whose projects align with Foundation priorities may be invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through our online grant portal. Please do not submit unsolicited LOIs outside of this invitation process.

For planning purposes, applicants may preview the LOI questions in advance: Download LOI Question Preview (PDF) Step 4: Full Grant Application Organizations approved through the LOI stage will be invited to complete a full grant application within the online grants portal.

For planning purposes, applicants may preview the application questions before beginning: Download Full Application Question Preview (PDF) Our board makes decisions on grantmaking in the affordable housing, early learning, and economic mobility priority areas no matter the request amount. The Board also decide on basic needs applications over $350,000. Staff determine grantmaking for basic needs applications up to $350,000.

All capital requests are reviewed by the Board of Directors. Grant reporting requirements vary depending on the type, size, and duration of the grant award. Reporting expectations will be discussed with grantees as part of the award process.

Is my organization a good fit? Compelling grant applicants outline a program or project that: benefits low-income individuals or families addresses a demonstrated community need that falls within our basic needs priority area (food, physical/behavioral health, safety, social belonging/culture, or transportation) cultivates trusting and collaborative relationships within the community have other funding secured beyond John T.

Vucurevich Foundation dollars Is there a deadline for submitting our application? No. We accept grant applications year round and do not have a defined grant cycle with specific submission deadlines. If we find you to be eligible and a good fit, our staff will set an application timeline specific to your organization.

What is your average grant size? We rarely give out grants that total more than $100,000 per year. (Though sometimes we do give multi year grants at that amount.)

We do make larger program investments for grantees that fall within our affordable housing, early learning, and economic mobility focus areas. Who makes the grantmaking decisions? Our board makes decisions on grantmaking in the affordable housing, early learning, and economic mobility priority areas.

They also decide on basic needs applications over $100,000. Staff determine grantmaking for basic needs applications under $100,000. What is the timeline from application to decision?

This depends. Our staff will be as transparent as possible with you during the application process. For some grants the process takes a few months, for others, longer.

Can I apply again if I was denied in the past?