RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Black Hills Area Community Foundation has announced a permanent endowment for its Beautiful Black Hills Initiative, securing a major financial commitment to protect local outdoor spaces for future generations.

During a public event Sunday, June 28, at the Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City, foundation officials revealed that The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has invested $500,000 over three years to establish the permanent fund. Other local donors and partners have also contributed significant matching funds to the effort.

Since late 2025, the community-driven program has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to nature-focused nonprofits. The next round of funding is scheduled to open next year.

“The Black Hills are a place of extraordinary beauty and significance. They inspire a deep connection to the land and to one another. By supporting efforts to protect natural spaces, expand opportunities for outdoor recreation, and promote mental, spiritual, and community wellbeing, [Beautiful Black Hills] is helping cultivate a culture of stewardship that is rooted in place and driven by local voices,” Walter Panzirer, trustee of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, said in a written statement.

The foundation will continue to guide its investments through three core priorities: Healthy Natural Spaces, Outdoor Recreation, and Community Building.

Grantees for 2026 under the Healthy Natural Spaces category include the Black Hills Watershed Collaborative, the Norbeck Society, Dakota Rural Action, Black Hills State University Science Education, Montana Conservation Crops, and the Spearfish Museum.

Outdoor Recreation grants, which expand public access to the outdoors, were awarded to the Highpointers Foundation, the Nordic Ski Club, Spearfish Trails Coalition, the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and the South Dakota Wildlife Federation.

Community Building grants aimed at inspiring collaborations among nature-focused groups went to the Black Hills Environmental Coalition, the Journey Museum, the Rapid City Arts Council, the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, the Cheyenne River Youth Project, the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, and the Badlands National Parks Conservancy.

“Recent years have brought historic growth and change to the Black Hills region,” Eric Zimmer, vice president of philanthropy and special projects for the foundation, said. “The Beautiful Black Hills Initiative meets the moment by sustaining healthy outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy. We’re deeply grateful to The Helmsley Charitable Trust and many other donors for making this permanent support for our land, water, and wildlife possible.”

Those interested in supporting the project can learn more about the Beautiful Black Hills Initiative on the foundation’s website at www.bhacf.org/beautiful-black-hills.