Black Hills Parks and Forests Association

Supporting Wonder and Exploration

aka BHPFA   |   Hot Springs, SD   |  www.blackhillsparks.org

Mission

We are the non-profit cooperating arm of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. Our mission is to support these public land agencies with their interpretive, educational and research programs that protect and preserve the cultural and natural resources of the Black Hills and surrounding areas. This is is accomplished by operating sales outlets in 16 public land locations throughout South Dakota, Wyoming, and the Nebraska Panhandle. Purchases from these sites support interpretive programming for our partner agencies. Thank you for supporting public lands with your purchase!

Notes from the nonprofit

Vision/Inclusion Statement - Creating lifelong learning opportunities for all

Ruling year info

1968

Executive Director

Patty M. Ressler

Main address

26611 US Hwy 385

Hot Springs, SD 57747 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

46-6017180

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (C12)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (B12)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (N12)

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

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association (BHPFA) exists to assist our seven public land partners in bridging funding gaps left behind by federal funding shortfalls and cumbersome procurement regulations. Designated funding (called Aid) is allocated to our partners for educational, interpretive and resource uses. BHPFA also manages a donation program for each of our partners that raises additional funds to be used at the partner's discretion.

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?

Adopt-a-Bison Program

Visitors adopt a bison from the Wind Cave National Park herd and receive either a baseball cap or a stuffed bison calf and a certificate. $20 goes to this genetically pure herd for conservation.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Aid to Partners is funds given to our partner agencies in support of their education and interpretive programs. This funding comes from proceeds of our 14 retail store sales. Aid to Partners provides critical funding support to fill gaps left by Federal funding shortfalls or cumbersome procurement regulations.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Visitors to our Jewel Cave Park Store or online store adopt a bat, receiving a baseball cap or plush bat toy and $20 goes to resource management for the local bat population

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Videos

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.

BHPFA manages retail stores at our partner locations and a portion of the retail sales proceeds is given to the partners as Aid funding. This funding is to be used for educational, interpretive and resource programs and projects. BHPFA sets sales goals for each partner location through the budgeting process. Aid distribution is based on whether that sales goal has been met and if there is revenue left after expenses in the budgeting process. BHPFA attempts to distribute at least the same dollar amount of Aid each year.

Every purchase made at our partner stores has a purpose. In order to provide a maximum amount of Aid to our partners, BHPFA strives to provide a curated selection of educational products that help people of all ages engage with, and interpret the natural world. Staff work tirelessly to ensure the sales areas are well organized with the buying public in mind. BHPFA recently went through a re-branding and has implemented new signage at each store that informs our customers about who we are and why their purchase is so important to our partner agencies.
BHPFA is also a member organization. Memberships are an additional revenue stream and a valuable resource for volunteer opportunities. In 2021, BHPFA is establishing education programs to help our public land partners further their interpretive missions. As their budgets shrink, we are able to provide volunteers and offer programs highlighting the diverse landscape around us.

BHPFA's mission is to provide this valuable service to our public land partners. BHPFA has a dedicated team working to ensure we can generate the greatest amount of revenue from our retail stores. We also are constantly looking for additional revenue sources that can supplement our expenses, thereby allowing a larger percentage of retail sales funds to go back to our partners in Aid.

BHPFA is working towards an "operations based budget" where our retail store income & expenses are separate from all other operations income and expenses. When this is accomplished, Aid would be based solely on net retail store income, potentially increasing the amount of aid dispersed.

The total fiscal year budget for BHPFA has increased by 56% in the last 5 years. As a result, Aid to Partners has increased 66% in that same time period. These increases are the result of strategic planning, continually assessing our products and their relevance, investing in staff and equipment to boost our web and social media presence, developing new revenue streams, enhancing existing revenue streams and forging new partnerships.

BHPFA staff and board of directors will continue to use this strategy as we look to the future. With a new brand and a very relevant message for the public, BHPFA is poised to continue seeing growth while providing needed educational and interpretive funding to our partners.

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 shared information about our current feedback practices.

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

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,

  • 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 identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We asked members for feedback on programs they would like to see and convened a committee to come up with ways to develop and implement the program suggestions.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

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

  • 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

Black Hills Parks and Forests Association
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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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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

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

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Black Hills Parks and Forests Association

Board of directors
as of 02/22/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Mary Laycock


Board co-chair

Lynn Kolund

Lynn Kolund

Dale Anderson

Rick Hudson

Mary Laycock

Julie Brazell

Joanne Sutton

Jaima Knutson-Colson

Realtor

Chris McCart

Black Hills State University

Bob Preuss

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? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 10/20/2020

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

No data

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/20/2020

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 review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • 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 help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • 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.