Best Corporate Grants for Nonprofits in Montana

501(c)(3) and similar tax-exempt organizations working in education, human services, conservation, health, or cultural programs can apply for McGraw Foundation support, including general operating or project funding. Although grants are generally limited to the greater Chicago area, Montana nonprofits with related programming may be eligible for US $2,000 - US $10,000 awards.

Montana agricultural producers, non-industrial private forest owners, Tribes, and water management entities can access funding for conservation practices that improve soil, water, air, habitat, and agricultural operations. Montana land stewards and conservation-focused nonprofits may be eligible to partner on projects through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Montana agricultural and forestry producers seeking support to enhance conservation on working lands can access funding through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Montana. The Conservation Stewardship Program provides technical and financial assistance for practices that improve soil, water, wildlife habitat, fire management, and overall environmental stewardship across entire operations through five-year contracts.

Graduate students conducting research in drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health can receive scholarship support through the American Water Works Association’s Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship. Focused on actionable outcomes for current water industry challenges, this US $3,000 award may benefit students connected with Montana-based academic or nonprofit initiatives.

Nonprofits, government entities, schools, and other tax-exempt organizations in Seeley Lake, Montana can receive up to US $3,000 for community projects, programs, or capital needs. Seeley Lake Community Foundation supports initiatives in education, arts and culture, community development, natural resources and conservation, and basic human needs that broadly benefit the local community and often involve partnerships.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Montana working on economic and workforce advancement, affordable housing, or community arts and culture may be eligible for this funding. Grants from US Bancorp Foundation help support programs that address work, home, and play, especially those advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and serving designated U.S. Bank communities.

Nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities serving Weyerhaeuser communities in Montana can seek funding for community programs and services. Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund supports initiatives in areas like affordable housing, education and youth development, environmental stewardship, human services, civic and cultural growth, workforce development, and diversity, equity and inclusion, with awards of more than US $1,000.

Nonprofit organizations working on self-sufficiency programs for women and children in Montana can access funding through The Father's Table Foundation, with awards up to US $750,000. Grants support areas like homelessness, employment assistance, education, child welfare, health care, food security, anti-trafficking, and disaster relief, including faith-based initiatives.

Cities, counties, tribal governments, and state divisions in Montana can apply for Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation’s Renewable Resource Project Grants, awarding US $125,000 for renewable resource conservation, water, wastewater, solid waste, irrigation, and similar projects. Grants and loans may cover studies, design, planning, construction, rehabilitation, education, and other implementation efforts, which may benefit nonprofit-serving community infrastructure.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Montana and the broader Pacific Northwest can apply for Foster Foundation grants to support social services, education, medical research and care, and community engagement programs. Eligible groups must serve communities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, or Alaska and align with the foundation’s stated priority areas.

Undergraduate-focused higher education institutions in Montana conducting small-scale biomedical research can apply for NIH Academic Research Enhancement Awards to support student research experiences and strengthen their research environment. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health funds projects in areas such as biology, public health, neuroscience, cancer, mental health, HIV/AIDS, and related fields, with awards up to US $375,000.

Montana conservation districts can use these state-funded mini-grants in Montana for small-scale conservation and natural resource education projects. Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation provides $1,000 - $5,000 for workshops, school field trips, youth or adult programs, outreach, and related project expenses that align with district goals and are approved by the local conservation district.

Montana students conducting vertebrate research can access funding through the Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology to support project expenses such as travel, equipment, and supplies. Undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students enrolled in accredited institutions and SNVB members may receive up to US $1,500 for work within the society’s Northwestern North America region.

Early-career research scientists at academic or research institutions in eligible low- and middle-income countries can apply for National Institutes of Health Emerging Global Leader Award funding to support mentored clinical research careers. Grants from NIH help Montana nonprofits collaborating with these LMIC investigators on cancer, cardiovascular, mental health, environmental health, and other biomedical research projects access approximately US $140,000 in support.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Montana working to advance health equity can apply for US $10,000 - US $50,000 from the PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement. Funding supports access to healthcare, mental and behavioral health, maternal and infant health, nutrition, supportive housing services, and other community-driven efforts addressing health disparities and vulnerable populations.

Early-career research scientists in eligible low- and middle-income countries with junior faculty posts at academic or research institutions can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award from the National Institutes of Health. This approximately US $140,000 award supports 3–5 years of mentored health-related research and career development; Montana-based nonprofits hosting such scientists may be involved as partners.

Focused on education and related community programs, 501(c)(3) nonprofits can seek funding for scholarships, tutoring, literacy, arts education, youth initiatives, and community services through the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust; awards range from US $5,000 - US $20,000. Montana organizations may be eligible as part of its U.S. geographic focus.

Montana health-focused organizations planning congresses, events, or similar initiatives can seek funding to support activities that offer Biogen tangible benefits like exhibits, recognition, or marketing opportunities. Biogen Foundation considers sponsorships across neuroscience, neurological and immune system diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, ALS, and related medical areas, based on event details and location.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on regenerative agriculture, climate justice, healthy food access, or environmental health can seek general operating support through the Clif Family Foundation’s Open Call. Montana grassroots groups working on food systems, sustainable farming, or pollution-free communities may be competitive for these U.S.-focused grants, awarded twice yearly for one-year projects.

Nonprofit and conservation organizations supporting regenerative agriculture and habitat conservation in Montana and other eligible states can apply for the Conservation Partners Grant Program, with awards of US $250,000 - US $750,000. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funding supports technical assistance that helps private landowners plan, implement best practices, join Farm Bill programs, and share conservation results.

About the Montana Department of Commerce

Every day, staff at Commerce work alongside private industry and local organizations to create jobs, grow businesses, provide affordable housing and improve community infrastructure.

The economy of the Treasure State continues to grow and diversify. Studies rank Montana as the number one place in the country to start a business. Plus, our workforce has earned some of the highest rankings in both trade and technical skills by having one of the highest STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concentrations in the country.

Public and Community Facilities

Public and Community Facility Grants

Montana's CDBG Public and Community Facilities grants help local governments fund construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure and facilities that primarily benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) Montanans, i.e. individuals earning less than 80% of the area median income. These projects can target LMI residents and provide direct benefits by improving or creating access to suitable living environments or necessary services, or these projects can provide an area-wide benefit to the entire community as long as at least 51% of the project’s beneficiaries are determined to be LMI. 

Certain projects such as senior centers, food banks, homeless shelters, youth homes, or head start centers are presumed to serve a limited clientele that is primarily LMI. Therefore, determining exactly what percent of project beneficiaries qualify as LMI is not required. Other projects, such as a wastewater improvements or water treatment improvements provide benefits to the entire community and are considered to have area-wide benefit because both LMI and non-LMI residents are served. Therefore, applicants must document at least 51% of the project’s beneficiaries qualify as LMI for projects considered to have an area-wide benefit.

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

The High Stakes Foundation Grant supports transformative initiatives in Montana, focusing on civic engagement, climate change solutions, economic development, and social justice. By providing general operating support to 501(c)(3) organizations, the foundation aims to empower leaders and strengthen local communities. With an emphasis on sustainability and preserving public lands, this grant cultivates a vibrant, interconnected society committed to the health and prosperity of Montana. Organizations interested in applying must submit a letter of inquiry before the full proposal.

Intermountain Community Care Foundation

Our mission: Helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Intermountain Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. We’re dedicated to creating healthier communities and helping our patients thrive.

Intermountain Health was established in 1975, but our legacy of compassion and care extends well beyond that, going back to the late 1800s and the early 1900s in Colorado and Utah respectively. We have since become a 60,000+ person strong nonprofit health system, with operations in six states across the interior West with a shared vision to be a model health system that inspires the future of health.

Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health, and HealthCare Partners Nevada have now come together to serve communities in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Grants

The Intermountain Community Care Foundation awards grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment. By supporting evidence-based programs and services that strengthen communities, the Foundation is dedicated to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

What We Fund

We provide grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment.

• Healthcare Access Grants
• Social Drivers of Health Grants
• Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants
• Utah Education Innovation Grants

Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants

To qualify for Child and Family Mental Well-Being funding, your program or service must focus on families with children. Funding priority areas include:

• Mental well-being for children, including: reducing suicide deaths; reducing frequent mental distress, anxiety, and depression; decreasing substance misuse
• Advance prevention and early intervention addressing risk and protective factors
• Expand comprehensive, family-centered, mental well-being programs
• Build trauma-informed systems for young children including evidence-based prevention, behavioral health treatment, or related interventions or programs
• Strengthen community behavioral health capacity and collaborations through coalition-building

Requirements

• A full and complete financial audit conducted within the last two years. Submission must include the entire audit, including any findings and the auditor's letter
• A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) designation letter or a comparable government designation
• A completed W9
• A completed Supplier Form (a blank copy will be provided in the application)

Additional information

• In Utah and Idaho, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $100,000 per year for 3 years (up to $300,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• In Colorado, Montana, and Nevada, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $50,000 per year for 2 years (up to $100,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• A funding request may not exceed 20 percent of an organization’s annual operating budget, e.g., to be eligible for a $50,000 grant, your organization’s annual operating budget must be at least $250,000.
• In general, small equipment and materials are eligible at no more than a total $5,000 cost, but large equipment, construction, and capital costs are not eligible. Consideration will be given if computer equipment is necessary and vital to the success of the project.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

NAFC Healthcare Services Expansion Fund

The NAFC Healthcare Services Expansion Fund supports the launch or expansion of clinical programs and new service areas that increase access to care for underserved patients. This funding is designed to help NAFC members introduce new services or grow existing programs that address unmet community health needs and improve access to comprehensive, patient-centered care.

The Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, provides financial support to students pursuing careers in natural resources. Applicants must reside in specific Illinois counties and plan to enroll in a full-time program related to fields such as ecology, hydrology, and conservation. Academic performance is a key consideration in the selection process. For more details, contact the Winnebago County Soil & Water Conservation District.

The OECD Conference Sponsorship aims to enhance scientific knowledge and provide essential information to influence policy decisions on sustainable resource use in food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It supports international events that showcase innovative research and developments, inviting applications from scientists in these fields. The event sponsorship encourages collaboration among policymakers, industry, and academia, ensuring that research insights are effectively communicated and utilized in decision-making processes.