OPERATION BLACK HILLS CABIN

aka OPERATION BLACK HILLS CABIN   |   Custer, SD   |  www.operationblackhillscabin.org

Mission

Our mission is to provide a comfortable, peaceful and supportive respite to qualified, combat injured veterans and their families, from the Iraq/Afghanistan operations, in their rehabilitation from their traumatic and stressful experiences while serving the interests of our Nation at little or no cost to them.

Notes from the nonprofit

*In 2013, our co-founders, Pat and Jeff Baird, were selected "Citizens of the Year" for the community of Custer, SD.
*In 2013, co-founder, Pat Baird, was selected as the recipient of the "Spirit of Dakota Award" honoring her leadership qualities, courage, strength of character, and community commitment illustrating the best of South Dakota womanhood.
*In 2014, Operation Black Hills Cabin video, "Finding A New Normal" won 2nd place at local Lunafest.
*Operation Black Hills Cabin selected as the 2014-2015 Patriotic Project for South Dakota *Daughters of the American Revolution chapters.
*Operation Black Hills Cabin won 1st place in the Buffalo Wallow Chili Cookoff.
*South Dakota Community Foundation chooses Operation Black Hills Cabin as a representation of philanthropy at work and produces marketing video.
*KSLT/KLMP/The Point chooses Operation Black Hills Cabin as their ministry of the month for June of 2015.
*Due to its tremendous community support to Operation Black Hills Cabin, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, South Dakota Chapter, chooses the City of Custer as the Outstanding Philanthropic Community of the Year for 2015.
*Operation Black Hills Cabin invited and attended the Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes Summit in Washington, DC, in May of 2015.

Ruling year info

2011

Principal Officer

Patricia Baird

Main address

Po Box 855

Custer, SD 57730 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

27-5144524

NTEE code info

Nonmonetary Support N.E.C. (P19)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We aim to help our veterans and families reconnect away from home and away from all the distractions of doctors' appointments, physical therapy, children's activities, etc and begin the healing process due to injuries and/or absence.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Operation Black Hills Cabin

A one-week respite to reacquaint themselves with their families, enrich and enhance their lives and create lasting memories in a quiet, leisurely environment with little or no cost to them.

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Families

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of veterans with PTSD served

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

All of our families include a combat wounded veteran from the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. They have served their country and returned a very different person with PTSD, TBI's etc. Closed 2020 COVID

Number of veterans who report a decrease in depression

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Our one-week respite allows the veteran and family to begin to heal, reconnect, and realize they can adjust and operate in their "new normal". Quality family time is key. Closed 2020 due to COVID.

Number of families served

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Due to weather and seasonality, we operate 18 weeks per summer. Each veteran family stays one week to reconnect, reflect and heal due to injuries and absence. Closed in 2020 due to COVID 19.

Number of States represented by combat wounded veteran families.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

We recognize veterans from all 50 states. Since inception in 2011, we have hosted 114 combat wounded veterans and families from 34 different states. Closed in 2020 due to COVID 19.

Number of veteran families that have experienced healing during their one-week stay.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, survivor's guilt, paranoia, mood swings, sleeplessness, hearing loss, light sensitivity/nightmares are a few of the injuries that begin to heal. Closed 2020 (COVID).

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

We are 100% volunteer, who help with cleaning, maintenance, marketing, grant writing, fundraisers, family outings, Quilts of Valor, gift items, check-in/check out, promotions and presentations, etc.

Number of sponsoring businesses, attractions or recreational opportunities offered at no cost to each family.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Caregivers, Families, Veterans

Related Program

Operation Black Hills Cabin

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Mt.Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Reptile Gardens, Evans Plunge, 1880 Train, Bear Country, restaurants, museums, quilts of valor, massages, hikes, fishing, gifts, FREE. Closed 2020 (COVID)

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our goal is to provide a week-long respite at no cost to qualifying combat-injured veteran families from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. With one cabin, open from Memorial Day through September, we are able to host 17 families each summer. Our goal is to keep the cabin occupied each week and provide healing and the ability to reconnect, one family at a time.

Presentations to many service organizations including VFW, Auxiliaries, DAV, American Legion, Rotary, Elks, etc;
Contact with many VA hospitals and clinics throughout the US;
Links on various veteran websites, including Wounded Warriors, Spouse of Wounded Veteran, Yellow Ribbon, etc;
Social media;
Recommendations from previous hosted families;
News articles and releases on TV, Radio and newspapers;
Contact with all Veteran Service Officers throughout the Midwest;
US Senator Michael Rounds from SD sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter to all constituents;
Website updated on regular basis;
Booths at various trade shows and events;
Entries in parades throughout the region.

We are 100% volunteer but have a very committed Board of Directors and committees. We are also blessed with an abundance of community support and participation.

We have hosted 114 families from 34 states in our short existence. We have saturated the regional area and continue to work on a national basis to get the word out.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Combat wounded veterans and their spouse and family.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person),

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We conduct an exit interview with the family to determine anything that was missing, misleading or confusing and make all needed corrections.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    Feedback from our families has been instrumental in providing a meaningful and healing experience.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,

Financials

OPERATION BLACK HILLS CABIN
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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OPERATION BLACK HILLS CABIN

Board of directors
as of 5/4/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Patricia Baird

Ione Fejfar

Jeff Baird

Marty Mahrt

Larry Zimmerman

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 05/04/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 05/02/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.