The Margaret Warren and Grace Lemley Animal Welfare Grant, administered by the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, was established in memory of Margaret “Maggie” Lemley Warren, whose lifelong dedication to animal welfare inspired the creation of this fund. Maggie Warren devoted her life to caring for both domestic and wild animals, and the grant reflects her legacy by supporting animal welfare organizations in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

This annual grant opportunity provides up to $5,000 per award to eligible organizations. Funding may be used to support both new and existing animal welfare programs or projects. Acceptable uses include operational expenses, capacity building, and small capital improvements. Organizations must have a no-kill policy to be eligible for funding. The Foundation explicitly excludes support for projects or organizations involved in religious or political activities, fundraisers, debt retirement, legislative influence, or capital campaigns. Additionally, organizations fiscally sponsored by the Black Hills Area Community Foundation itself are not eligible to apply.

To qualify, applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, government entities, or religious organizations. Furthermore, all funded activities must take place in one or more of the following counties: Butte, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade, Oglala Lakota, and Pennington. The Foundation maintains a strict nondiscrimination policy, and funded organizations may not discriminate based on race, gender, gender expression, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or other legally protected categories.

Applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Grantmaking Committee, which evaluates proposals based on their potential to improve animal welfare, address identified needs in the Black Hills region, and the organization’s ability to sustain its efforts beyond the grant period. Applicants new to the system must create an account in the Foundation’s online grant portal to apply. Returning applicants can log in using their existing credentials.

The grant cycle for 2025 opened on March 1 and will close on April 13. All applications must be submitted through the online portal by the deadline. For questions regarding the application process or account setup, applicants are encouraged to contact Carrie Robley at carrie@bhacf.org. Additional inquiries may be directed to info@bhacf.org or by calling 605-718-0112. The Foundation's office is located at 243 Founders Park Drive, Suite 102, Rapid City, SD 57701.