Black Hills Reads Grants

Black Hills Reads Innovation Grants

The 2026 Innovation Grant Period will open on March 16th and will close on April 24th, 2026.

Learn more about the 2025 grant recipients here.

About the Grant

Black Hills Reads accepts “Innovation Grant” applications from nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies for innovative projects that promote equitable access to books and early literacy resources across the Black Hills. We are looking for organizations to share their innovative approaches that include access to books and other literary resources.

What can the funds be used for?

These funds may be used for any literacy project that impacts children from birth through age 9. We strongly encourage program collaboration to enable entities to support one another in their efforts to help children prosper. This grant is open to all Black Hills communities.

How to Apply

Visit https://agency.e-cimpact.com/login.aspx?org=44150U to apply (application form will be available on March 16th, 2026)

When you go to the site, it should say United Way of the Black Hills at the top of the page. It should NOT ask for an organization code. If it does, try using the link with a different browser.

If you have any questions, contact Lisa Stanley at lisa@unitedwayblackhills.org or call 605-343-5872.

About Black Hills Reads

Black Hills Reads (BHR) is the United Way of the Black Hills’s education initiative, which helps ensure children are proficient readers by the end of third grade. BHR promotes early learning and literacy opportunities for more than 20,000 early learners under nine and their families throughout the Black Hills and Western SD. Visit the Black Hills Reads page to learn more about the BHR initiative.