John T. Vucurevich Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The John T. Vucurevich Foundation supports the arts, education, health, and human services in South Dakota.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts, education, health, human services
IP TAKE: This is a collaborative local funder that looks to get involved with public/private partnerships and that has well-defined areas of focus.
PROFILE: Established in 1989, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation is a private foundation based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Vucurevich immigrated to the U.S. from Yugoslavia at the age of eight and became successful in the banking and real estate industries. He passed away in 2005, at which time the foundation transitioned from a small, part-time philanthropy to a permanent foundation with its own office and full-time employees. The foundation aims to “make a piece of the world a brighter place.” It funds local efforts for the arts, education, science, and social welfare.
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation makes approximately $4 million to $5 million grants per year. Art grants focus on arts education in schools to underserved students. Education grants prioritize school readiness, out-of-school time programs, grade-level achievement, work and life skills, and access to higher education. Health-related and human services grants support access to affordable housing, food, and healthcare (physical, behavioral, and dental). These grants also support the safety of children and programs to reduce domestic violence, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $5,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the grants awarded page of the funder’s website. Grantmaking focuses on the entire state of South Dakota. However, the funder gives preference to the Black Hills and the West River area of the state. Past local grantees include Abbot House, Western SD Senior Services, Camp Thunderbird South Dakota, and the Chamber Music Festival.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits. Applicants should contact the foundation for instructions about how to use the online grants management system because the funder no longer accepts letters of inquiry by mail. Vucurevich accepts letters all throughout the year but can take several months to respond. From there, Vucurevich invites select inquirers to submit full grant proposals. Direct general questions to the staff at 605-343-3141 or via online form.
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