Black Hills Works
Black Hills Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 in Rapid City, South Dakota, providing residential, day, employment, and support services to nearly 600 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supplemented by four social enterprises and federal contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersRapid City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Hills Works does
Black Hills Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 and headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, that provides an integrated array of disability services to nearly 600 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Black Hills region. The organization delivers four core service lines—Residential Services (group homes, community homes, supported living, Shared Living, and individual apartments), Day Services (employment skill-building, volunteer placement, community engagement), Employment Training (Individual Supported Employment, Career Exploration, and Group Supported Employment via AbilityOne and federal contracts), and Support Services (custom assistive technology with 3D printing, healthcare coordination, transportation, counseling, occupational therapy, and behavior support). It coordinates admissions through South Dakota's Division of Developmental Disabilities via the Dakota at Home intake process. Revenue is generated through four streams: government funding (primarily South Dakota Medicaid waivers for developmental disabilities), federal contracts with the U.S. Air Force, General Services Administration, and Defense Commissary Agency, private donations and grants through the Black Hills Works Foundation (established 1982), and social enterprise revenue from four operating subsidiaries—WoodWorks (AbilityOne-certified manufacturing, kitting, packaging, and assembly), Unique Auto Grooming (acquired 2020), Suzie Cappa Art Center (founded 2001, gallery for 30+ artists with disabilities), and Flutter Productions (founded 2008, all-ability theater). The organization is CQL-accredited (achieving the highest score ever issued in 2023), HIPAA-compliant, and HUD-approved for affirmative fair housing marketing, with 101-250 employees and a 100+ vehicle fleet covering nearly one million miles annually.
Black Hills Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Hills Works
- Legal name
- Black Hills Works
- Website
- https://blackhillsworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Black Hills Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 in Rapid City, South Dakota, providing residential, day, employment, and support services to nearly 600 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supplemented by four social enterprises and federal contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Hills Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Support Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Black Hills Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rapid City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Black Hills Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Government funding provides for basic needs of participants including residential support, employment services, and healthcare coordination through state disability services programs.
- Private Donations and Foundation Support: The Black Hills Works Foundation raises critical private support from the community to bridge the gap between simply living and truly thriving, including individual gifts, estate gifts, corporate sponsorships, and grants.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Social enterprises including WoodWorks manufacturing, Unique Auto Grooming auto detailing, Suzie Cappa Art Center art sales, and Flutter Productions ticket sales generate revenue while providing meaningful employment to participants.
- Federal Contracts: Contracts with federal agencies including Ellsworth Air Force Base for custodial, mail, and supply services at the Postal Service Center, Official Mail Center, Base Supply Store, Raider Cafe, and janitorial services.
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Black Hills Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Hills Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that delivers a comprehensive array of disability services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. Its core offerings span residential support (group homes, community homes, supported living, Shared Living, and individual apartments), day services, employment training and placement, assistive technology, and healthcare coordination. The organization also operates social enterprises (Suzie Cappa Art Center, Flutter Productions theater, Unique Auto Grooming, and WoodWorks manufacturing) that provide meaningful work opportunities for participants.
Product overview
Black Hills Works is a nonprofit organization providing an array of services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. The organization operates a portfolio of service programs including Residential Services (with group homes, community homes, supported living, and Shared Living), Day Services, Employment Training, and Support Services (Assistive Technology and Healthcare Coordination). Community engagement is facilitated through Employer Support and Participant Volunteer Services programs. The organization also operates social enterprises including Suzie Cappa Art Center and Gallery (art studio and gallery), Flutter Productions (all-ability theater and dance), Unique Auto Grooming (auto detailing), and WoodWorks (manufacturing and kitting services). Special Olympics programming is delivered through the Rapid City Storm team. Services are coordinated with South Dakota's Division of Developmental Disabilities through the Dakota at Home intake process.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Services Individualized residential support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including group homes, community homes, supported living, Shared Living arrangements, and individual apartments, staffed by trained direct support professionals with 24-hour and remote support options.
- Day Services
- Employment Training Comprehensive employment support including Individual Supported Employment, Career Exploration (Work Inspired program), Independent Community Employment, Small Group Community Employment, and Group Supported Employment at federal sites such as Ellsworth and Offutt Air Force Bases.
- Support Services Supplemental services for participants including assistive technology, healthcare coordination, transportation, counseling, occupational therapy, and behavior support.
- Assistive Technology Custom-built assistive and adaptive technology solutions for people with disabilities, including communication devices, adaptive dinnerware, and 3D-printed devices, designed by an in-house team of assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, and behavioral support staff.
- Healthcare Coordination Nursing services providing health education, health records maintenance, coordination of routine medical, vision, and dental examinations, transportation to appointments, and special diet implementation for participants.
- Admissions Services Admission coordination for disability services in South Dakota, working with Dakota at Home on the intake process and eligibility determination through the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
- Employer Support Employment support professionals who match qualified participants with employer job openings through job analysis, applicant screening, job site training, and ongoing support, including assistance with Work Opportunity Tax Credit qualification for employers.
- Participant Volunteer Services Matches participants with nonprofit organizations for volunteer opportunities including meal delivery, food sorting, painting, trash pickup, and food service, producing 4,343 volunteer hours donated to local businesses and nonprofits in 2025.
- Suzie Cappa Art Center and Gallery Studio and gallery providing professional artists with disabilities a platform to create, learn, exhibit, and sell artwork, employing 30+ artists and operating a public gallery in downtown Rapid City.
- Flutter Productions All-ability theater and contemporary dance program producing original world-premiere stage productions that create opportunities for performers of all abilities to participate in theater and dance.
- Unique Auto Grooming Professional auto detailing service operated by Black Hills Works participants, located at 111 Poplar Ave, Rapid City, offering services to the general public.
- WoodWorks Social enterprise providing professional manufacturing services including kitting, packaging, assembly, and light manufacturing, operating as an AbilityOne certified contractor.
- Rapid City Storm (Special Olympics) Special Olympics delegation providing year-round sports training and athletic competitions in bowling, basketball, cheerleading, track and field, swimming, softball, bocce ball, and equestrian.
Quantifiable outcome
- 372 people supported lived in 5 varieties of homes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Hills Works
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Black Hills Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Black Hills Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered trailblazing partner, visionary partner, core and minor.
- Super Tunnel Car Washtrailblazing partnerProvides significant discount on car wash services for Black Hills Works fleet of 100+ vehicles, helping maintain the fleet that travels nearly one million miles annually serving participants.
- BankWestvisionary partnerFinancial institution partner supporting the organization as a Visionary Partner in the Pathways to Possibility partnership program.
- RBC Wealth Management / Hillard Williams Groupvisionary partnerWealth management firm partner supporting as a Visionary Partner in the Pathways to Possibility partnership program.
- SDN Communicationsvisionary partnerTechnology and communications partner as Visionary Partner supporting disability services mission.
- Gray Media (KOTA/KEVN)coreMedia partner helping amplify mission by sharing stories about people supported, promoting events, highlighting volunteer opportunities, and celebrating accomplishments of individuals with disabilities.
- HomeSlice Media GroupcoreMedia partner helping share stories and promote events for the disability services organization.
- Riverfront BroadcastingcoreWeekly studio visits for team members to discuss work happening at Black Hills Works, keeping community informed about mission and events through paid partnership.
- Haugo BroadcastingcoreBroadcasting partner helping share stories and promote events for the disability services organization.
- Performing Arts Center of Rapid CityminorVenue host for Flutter Productions all-ability theater productions including The Little Prince performances.
- United States Air Force - Ellsworth Air Force BasecoreFederal contracts providing employment for adults with disabilities at Postal Service Center, Official Mail Center, Base Supply Store, Raider Cafe, and for base-wide janitorial services.
- General Services Administration (GSA)coreFederal contracts at Federal Building and Vehicle Marshalling facility providing employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.
- Pia Wilkins FamilyminorDonated space enabling the Suzie Cappa Art Center to be located at 722 Saint Joseph Street in downtown Rapid City since 2013.
- AbilityOnecoreWoodWorks is an AbilityOne certified contractor, enabling participation in federal employment programs for people with disabilities.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Hills Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and community-based services including residential, employment, and assistive technology supports, making it the most prominent multi-service disability services peer at national scale.
- BrightSpring Health Services: Large publicly traded provider of home and community-based services including disability residential and employment supports, comparable service lines at much greater geographic and revenue scale.
- Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National provider of home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential, day, and employment supports — directly comparable HCBS service model.
- AbilityOne (SourceAmerica): Federal AbilityOne program that certifies nonprofit agencies like WoodWorks to provide employment for people with disabilities through federal contracts; Black Hills Works' WoodWorks is a participating AbilityOne contractor.
- The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit federation supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, employment, advocacy, and family support services, comparable in mission and service breadth.
Direct peers
- Dungarvin: National nonprofit provider of residential, day, and employment services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a similar multi-state HCBS service model and federal contracting exposure.
- REM Minnesota (Sevita): Minnesota-based HCBS provider of residential and day services for adults with developmental disabilities, part of Sevita Health; closely comparable in service model and population served.
- Opportunity Partners: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing residential, employment, and day services for people with disabilities, with social enterprises similar in structure to WoodWorks and Unique Auto Grooming.
- Penn-Mar Human Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, comparable in integrated HCBS service delivery model.
Others
- Special Olympics South Dakota: State-level Special Olympics affiliate; Black Hills Works operates the Rapid City Storm delegation, so the affiliate is an ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, but is adjacent in the South Dakota IDD service ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Hills Works social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Hills Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Black Hills Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Hills Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Black Hills Works subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Black Hills Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Hills Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Hills Works
What does Black Hills Works do?
Black Hills Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that delivers a comprehensive array of disability services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. Its core offerings span residential support (group homes, community homes, supported living, Shared Living, and individual apartments), day services, employment training and placement, assistive technology, and healthcare coordination. The organization also operates social enterprises (Suzie Cappa Art Center, Flutter Productions theater, Unique Auto Grooming, and WoodWorks manufacturing) that provide meaningful work opportunities for participants.
Is Black Hills Works a public or private company?
Black Hills Works is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Hills Works founded?
Black Hills Works was founded in 1958. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Black Hills Works based?
Black Hills Works is headquartered in Rapid City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Hills Works make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are private Donations and Foundation Support, social Enterprise Revenue and federal Contracts.
Who are Black Hills Works's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Easterseals, BrightSpring Health Services, Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network), AbilityOne (SourceAmerica) and The Arc of the United States. Direct peers are Dungarvin, REM Minnesota (Sevita), Opportunity Partners and Penn-Mar Human Services. Special Olympics South Dakota is listed as an others.
Does Black Hills Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Hills Works.
What industry is Black Hills Works in?
Black Hills Works's product category is Disability Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8300.