Elevating the economy for all by promoting business and personal advancement through chamber services, economic development, and innovation in the Rapid City and Black Hills region.
Elevate Rapid City uses grantmaking to support business formation, workforce development, and downtown revitalization in the Rapid City and Black Hills region. Its recent grants show a mix of direct project support and operating-style assistance, including $356,768 to Elevate Foundation as a transfer of pledge receivables to a related entity and $201,004 to the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority for community development. The foundation also backs early-stage economic activity through programs for tech startups, small businesses, and workplace accessibility. Grants have reached childcare providers, vocational and workforce organizations, downtown partners, and local businesses, reflecting a local funding model tied to economic participation rather than a single issue area. The giving pattern is practical and locally focused. Grant sizes in the recent portfolio cluster around a median of $9,063, with the middle half ranging from $6,668 to $20,500. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, Phase Technologies, Main Street Square, and Western Dakota Vocational Technical Foundation Inc., which points to repeated support for ongoing local initiatives. Programs are also set up for unsolicited requests in several categories, including startup support, microloans, accessibility, and downtown improvements.
Workforce and business growth are central to the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2024, it gave $110,600 to Phase Technologies for an Opportunity Capture Fund workforce grant, and in 2023 it awarded $24,000 to B9 Creations LLC for a workforce development grant. Childcare-related funding is another visible theme. Recent grants include $50,000 to Rural America Initiatives for furniture and supplies for Early Head Start classrooms, $49,874 to Lil Punkins Daycare for safety improvements to a childcare facility, and $49,686 to YMCA of Rapid City for the same purpose. Downtown and community revitalization also appears consistently. The foundation gave $17,000 to Main Street Square for Partners in Progress and downtown ambassador sponsorship, $10,000 to Main Street Square for Partners in Progress, and $5,248 to Terrasite Design for Hope Center landscaping. Its business-support programs extend to technology adoption as well, including an AI microgrant and a seed fund for pre-revenue and early-revenue startups in western South Dakota.
$828K
$35.1M
$7.2M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $7K and $21K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$21K
TOM JOHNSON
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Recent grants show a compact middle range, with p25 at $6,668, a median of $9,063, and p75 at $20,500. That distribution sits alongside a few larger awards for community development and program support. The pattern includes repeat recipients across multiple years, which suggests ongoing support rather than one-off awards for some local partners. The organization also makes program-related investments and funds individuals is false, indicating a foundation-style grantmaker rather than a donor-advised vehicle. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including startup, microloan, accessibility, and façade or revitalization programs.
The foundation’s giving is entirely in the United States, and all recent grants in the file go to South Dakota recipients. Rapid City is the main recipient city, with awards also reaching Spearfish, Harrisburg, and Pierre. The repeated concentration in Rapid City aligns with the local scope of giving and the foundation’s support for metro and downtown initiatives in the region.
Recent grants go to local businesses, childcare providers, workforce and education partners, downtown organizations, and economic development entities. Examples in the file include a workforce grant to Phase Technologies, childcare facility safety grants to Lil Punkins Daycare and YMCA of Rapid City, and community development support for the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority.
The recent portfolio has a p25 of $6,668, a median of $9,063, and a p75 of $20,500. That places most awards in a relatively small-to-mid range, with a few larger community-development and transfer items above that band.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, including the Business Support Services Program, Seed Fund, Downtown Façade Loan Program, Small Business Microloan Program, Workplace Accessibility Grant, and AI MicroGrant.
Business formation, workforce development, childcare facility improvements, downtown revitalization, and technology adoption show up repeatedly. Named grants include an Opportunity Capture Fund workforce grant, Early Head Start classroom support, downtown ambassador sponsorship, and an AI microgrant program for startups and small businesses.
It is local in scope. The grant list shows 100% of recent grants to U.S. recipients in South Dakota, with most awards going to Rapid City and smaller numbers to Spearfish, Harrisburg, and Pierre.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELEVATE FOUNDATION | RAPID CITY, SD | $356,768In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2025 | TRANSFER OF PLEDGE RECEIVABLES TO RELATED ENTITY |
| SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | RAPID CITY, SD | $201,004 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| PHASE TECHNOLOGIES | RAPID CITY, SD | $51,800 | 2025 | OPPORTUNITY CAPTURE FUND WORKFORCE GRANT |
| RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES | RAPID CITY, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | FURNITURE AND SUPPLIES FOR EARLY HEAD START CLASSROOMS |
| LIL PUNKINS DAYCARE | RAPID CITY, SD | $49,874 | 2025 | SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILDCARE FACILITY |
| YMCA OF RAPID CITY | RAPID CITY, SD | $49,686 | 2025 | SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILDCARE FACILITY |
| BLACK HILLS BEHAVIOR LLC | RAPID CITY, SD | $30,126 | 2025 | CHILDCARE FACILITY LEASE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE |
| WESTERN DAKOTA VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL FOUNDATION INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $18,775 | 2025 | BUILD DAKOTA REVITALIZE GRANT |
| BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY | SPEARFISH, SD | $10,121 | 2025 | CHILDCARE BUSINESS BOOTCAMP |
| MAIN STREET SQUARE | RAPID CITY, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | PARTNERS IN PROGRESS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | RAPID CITY, SD | $200,004 | 2024 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| PHASE TECHNOLOGIES | RAPID CITY, SD | $110,600 | 2024 | OPPORTUNITY CAPTURE FUND WORKFORCE GRANT |
| WESTERN DAKOTA REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM | RAPID CITY, SD | $25,000 | 2024 | FEASIBILITY STUDY |
| MAIN STREET SQUARE | RAPID CITY, SD | $17,000 | 2024 | PARTNERS IN PROGRESS AND DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUTH DAKOTA TRADE ASSOCIATION | HARRISBURG, SD | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | PIERRE, SD | $10,000 | 2024 | 2023 FREEDOM WORKS HERE SPONSORSHIP |
| WESTERN DAKOTA VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL FOUNDATION INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $9,063 | 2024 | BUILD DAKOTA REVITALIZE GRANT |
| PROPERTY MELD | RAPID CITY, SD | $6,000 | 2024 | RELOCATION GRANT |
| MIDWESTERN MECHANICAL INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $5,500 | 2024 | REVITALIZE GRANT |
| TERRASITE DESIGN | RAPID CITY, SD | $5,248 | 2024 | HOPE CENTER LANDSCAPING |
| COLE-TAC LLC | RAPID CITY, SD | $5,002 | 2024 | RELOCATION GRANT |
| SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | RAPID CITY, SD | $200,004 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| B9 CREATIONS LLC | RAPID CITY, SD | $24,000 | 2023 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| MAIN STREET SQUARE | RAPID CITY, SD | $10,000 | 2023 | PARTNER IN PROGRESS CONTRIBUTION |
| WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | RAPID CITY, SD | $8,000 | 2023 | RELOCATE GRANT |
| NUGGET ENTERPRISES LLP | RAPID CITY, SD | $8,000 | 2023 | RELOCATE GRANT |
| SD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | PIERRE, SD | $7,500 | 2023 | 2022 GOVERNOR'S HUNT SPONSORSHIP |
| MIDLAND SCIENTIFIC INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $7,336 | 2023 | RELOCATE GRANT |
| DARCEO INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $5,025 | 2023 | RELOCATE GRANT |
ELEVATE FOUNDATION
$356,768In-kind (goods, not cash)TRANSFER OF PLEDGE RECEIVABLES TO RELATED ENTITY
SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$201,004COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PHASE TECHNOLOGIES
$51,800OPPORTUNITY CAPTURE FUND WORKFORCE GRANT
FURNITURE AND SUPPLIES FOR EARLY HEAD START CLASSROOMS
LIL PUNKINS DAYCARE
$49,874SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILDCARE FACILITY
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILDCARE FACILITY
BLACK HILLS BEHAVIOR LLC
$30,126CHILDCARE FACILITY LEASE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
WESTERN DAKOTA VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL FOUNDATION INC
$18,775BUILD DAKOTA REVITALIZE GRANT
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,121CHILDCARE BUSINESS BOOTCAMP
MAIN STREET SQUARE
$10,000PARTNERS IN PROGRESS
SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$200,004COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PHASE TECHNOLOGIES
$110,600OPPORTUNITY CAPTURE FUND WORKFORCE GRANT
WESTERN DAKOTA REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM
$25,000FEASIBILITY STUDY
MAIN STREET SQUARE
$17,000PARTNERS IN PROGRESS AND DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR SPONSORSHIP
SOUTH DAKOTA TRADE ASSOCIATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
$10,0002023 FREEDOM WORKS HERE SPONSORSHIP
WESTERN DAKOTA VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL FOUNDATION INC
$9,063BUILD DAKOTA REVITALIZE GRANT
PROPERTY MELD
$6,000RELOCATION GRANT
MIDWESTERN MECHANICAL INC
$5,500REVITALIZE GRANT
TERRASITE DESIGN
$5,248HOPE CENTER LANDSCAPING
COLE-TAC LLC
$5,002RELOCATION GRANT
SOUTH DAKOTA ELLSWORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$200,004COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
B9 CREATIONS LLC
$24,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT
MAIN STREET SQUARE
$10,000PARTNER IN PROGRESS CONTRIBUTION
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$8,000RELOCATE GRANT
NUGGET ENTERPRISES LLP
$8,000RELOCATE GRANT
SD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
$7,5002022 GOVERNOR'S HUNT SPONSORSHIP
MIDLAND SCIENTIFIC INC
$7,336RELOCATE GRANT
DARCEO INC
$5,025RELOCATE GRANT
