Dr. Trenton Ellis, a sociologist and associate professor of human services at Black Hills State University, was named 2026 research fellow for the Rural Philanthropy Institute (RPI). RPI seeks to broaden the knowledge of philanthropy in rural America to create a stronger and more sustainable nonprofit community by funding and supporting research fellows like Ellis.
The role of research fellows is to study the aspects of rural nonprofits and philanthropy through diverse lenses and develop a robust research project that contributes valuable information that further nurtures RPI’s understanding of rural, nonprofit communities.
Starting spring 2026, Ellis will lead a capacity-building effort and case study of the Spearfish Trails Coalition (STC) with his fellowship project: “Pedal-Powered Philanthropy: Data-Driven Capacity Building for Rural Trails Nonprofits.”
“Nonprofit decision‑making is part art and part science, partly because reliable, localized data can be difficult to access—especially for rural organizations. Newer rural nonprofits like the Spearfish Trails Coalition often lack the capacity, tools, or staff time to collect and analyze social data, even though they know that information may strengthen their planning, fundraising, and community engagement,” said Ellis. “This RPI Research Fellowship project will jumpstart STC’s social‑data infrastructure and expand the resources they have for understanding the community they serve. Any gains STC makes in this area ultimately translate into greater benefits for Spearfish as a whole.”
The STC is a trails nonprofit driven by its mission to create enriching trail experiences in the rural area of Spearfish through sustainable and thoughtful design.
Combining his love for cycling and community-focused social research, Ellis’ project will include collecting information from a stakeholder survey, engaging BHSU students in research, and capacity-building in rural nonprofits in an effort to provide valuable insight to RPI that can be utilized by others who are working in rural nonprofits today.
“There are also important advantages for BHSU,” Ellis added. “The fellowship brings external support for faculty research and creates new opportunities for students to engage in client‑facing survey design, data analysis, and community engagement—skills they can carry straight into their careers. And looking long‑term, stronger trails mean stronger connections between BHSU, our Spearfish neighbors, and the surrounding land of our namesake—the Black Hills (Ȟe SápA in Lakota). I’m grateful that RPI saw the value in this project, and I'm excited to contribute to the work of STC and to the field of rural philanthropy.”
With the contributions of research projects like Ellis’, RPI can work towards achieving its mission of bringing together practitioners, academics, and interested people to develop data, share stories and experiences, and gain insights that offer a greater understanding of what’s required to have a healthy nonprofit community in rural areas.
For more information, contact Dr. Trenton Ellis at Trenton.Ellis@BHSU.edu.