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Request a charitable sponsorship or donation

Check presentation in Kearney, Nebraska

Strong, vibrant communities are our lifeblood, and we invest our time and resources so they can grow and aim even higher.

 

Our Charitable Giving Program at Black Hills Energy awards contributions or sponsorships to eligible applicants that are 501(c)(3) organizations (recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS) and schools or school districts.

Organizations within our service territory or serving residents in our service territory need to apply six months prior to your event. Please allow up to 120 days to receive a decision.

We support requests that align with our three key giving priorities:

  • Thriving communities: We're building a stronger community together. By providing essential support for critical needs, food security, affordable housing, childcare and energy assistance we can help make the communities we serve safer, healthier and happier. We support the efforts of our neighbors, safety and emergency services, veterans and first responders.
  • Conservation: We’re protecting our planet for future generations. We’re committed to sustainability and good stewardship of our planet. Through tree planting, energy efficiency programs, weatherization and supporting our natural environment, we’re helping our customers use less energy. With community gardens, neighborhood clean-ups, wildlife protection, pollinator and biodiversity programs, we’re making tomorrow better than today.
  • Future leaders: We're empowering our youth for a brighter tomorrow. We ‘re setting them up for success by supporting childhood education, STEAM and mentoring programs and organizations leading inclusion and belonging in our communities. By creating clear paths to careers in energy, we're helping to develop the leaders the industry need.

Types of requests we generally do not fund include:

  • Requests benefitting individuals, a single family, or team/group
  • Athletic, labor, fraternal requests*
  • Runs/walks/teams/golf/sporting tournaments (unless they tie to a key focus area of Black Hills Energy like economic development, energy assistance or United Way)
  • Requests to fund endowments
  • Regional/national organizations without a local chapter
  • Requests to cover travel costs
  • Requests related to a specific illness or disease
  • Groups representing a conflict of interest for Black Hills Energy
  • Political causes, candidates or campaigns or organizations with a primary purpose of influencing legislation

Note: considerations may be made depending on Black Hills Energy employee board or coach involvement. *

 

Select your state below to begin application

 

Applicant step-by-step instructions

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Arkansas is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS.  Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Arkansas application, please reach out to Robin Mizell.

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Colorado is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS.  Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Colorado application, please reach out to John Vigil with Colorado Electric, or Jason Auslander or Tom Henley with Colorado Gas.

 

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Iowa is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS.  Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Iowa application, please reach out to Lynn Kendall.

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Kansas is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS. Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Kansas application, please reach out to James Williams.

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Nebraska is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS.  Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Nebraska application, please reach out to Stephanie King or Jennifer Peters.

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in South Dakota is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS. Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your South Dakota application, please reach out to Lynn Kendall.

The first step for those requesting corporate sponsorship in Wyoming is to set up a profile for your organization in a database called NPOconnect. NPOconnect is a nonprofit database that verifies validity of the nonprofit's status with the IRS.  Registering is easy and free. This process captures your contact information and allows you to set up the best way to receive payments. Please note that grants paid via a paper check are subject to a 10% fee (up a maximum of $100) which will be deducted from your awarded corporate sponsorship. For most of our nonprofit partners, you may already have a profile, so no additional actions are needed, or you may need to update your profile. You may need to upload a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter (stating that your organization is recognized as a 501c3) and documentation proving your affiliation with the organization.

You only have to register your organization once, after which it will remember you the next time you submit a request. Click the link below that correlates to your nonprofit type to be walked through the process.

After you’ve created or updated your profile with NPOconnect, begin your application below.

Start application

Our Public Affairs team manages our charitable donation process. If you have questions about your Wyoming application, please reach out to Laurie Farkas.

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