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Black Hills Christian Academy

EIN 46-0433594 · Spearfish, SD

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE A QUALITY, BIBLE-BASED EDUCATION WITH THE MISSION OF "INSTILLING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES WITH C.A.R.E.: C - CHRIST CENTERED, A - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, R - RELATIONSHIP FOCUSED, E - EXCELLENCE DRIVEN."

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
48
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $982,925 spent. BHCA WAS FOUNDED AS BELLE FOURCHE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, (BFCS), IN THE FALL OF 1992 WITH TWO TEACHERS SERVING 12 STUDENTS. MEETING IN LOCAL CHURCHES FOR FOUR YEARS ENABLED US TO PURCHASE A FACILITY IN AUGUST 1996 JUST OUTSIDE OF BELLE FOURCHE. WE OPENED THE DOORS TO STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. BFCS CHANGED ITS NAME IN 2002 TO BLACK HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY. IN 2008 THE BHCA BOARD VOTED TO MOVE THE SCHOOL TO SPEARFISH. BHCA LEASED FROM CALVARY TEMPLE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, BUT AFTER 3 YEARS QUICKLY OUTGREW THE FACILITIES. IN 2011 BHCA MOVED INTO THEIR CURRENT FACILITY AT 630 S. 32ND STREET IN SPEARFISH WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN ENROLLMENT AND IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS. BHCA IS A MEMBER AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON ACCREDITATION WITH ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL (ACSI). BEGINNING IN 2018-2019, BHCA AND SPEARFISH CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER AS ONE BODY OF CHRIST TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND NORTHERN HILLS. WE WILL CONTINUE THE VISION OF CULTIVATING CHARACTER AND THE ACADEMIC POTENTIAL OF EVERY STUDENT TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. BHCA WAS FOUNDED AS BELLE FOURCHE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, (BFCS), IN THE FALL OF 1992 WITH TWO TEACHERS SERVING 12 STUDENTS. MEETING IN LOCAL CHURCHES FOR FOUR YEARS ENABLED US TO PURCHASE A FACILITY IN AUGUST 1996 JUST OUTSIDE OF BELLE FOURCHE. WE OPENED THE DOORS TO STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. BFCS CHANGED ITS NAME IN 2002 TO BLACK HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY. IN 2008 THE BHCA BOARD VOTED TO MOVE THE SCHOOL TO SPEARFISH. BHCA LEASED FROM CALVARY TEMPLE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH, BUT AFTER 3 YEARS QUICKLY OUTGREW THE FACILITIES. IN 2011 BHCA MOVED INTO THEIR CURRENT FACILITY AT 630 S. 32ND STREET IN SPEARFISH WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN ENROLLMENT AND IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS. BHCA IS A MEMBER AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON ACCREDITATION WITH ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL (ACSI). BEGINNING IN 2018-2019, BHCA AND SPEARFISH CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER AS ONE BODY OF CHRIST TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND NORTHERN HILLS. WE WILL CONTINUE THE VISION OF CULTIVATING CHARACTER AND THE ACADEMIC POTENTIAL OF EVERY STUDENT TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.