Search Through Foundation Grants for Nonprofits in Montana in the U.S.

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation funds direct service non-profit organizations that help improve the quality of people’s lives by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Since its inception in 1988, it has funded programs for those with special needs, summer camps for cancer-stricken or troubled children and ensured access to theater, arts and music programs by economically disadvantaged youth and their families. It has granted wishes for terminally ill children, awards for science and math fair winners, and funded programs to purchase clothing, school supplies and toys for needy children. The Foundation also has supported rescue missions, food banks, shelters for victims of domestic violence, free mammogram exams for low-income women, and dental screenings and preventive care for underprivileged youth.

When making a grant decision, we examine each organization’s financial stability, staffing and facility capacity, and relevant partnerships. Additionally, we assess the capability of an organization to sustain a program into the future and their ability to show measurable impact on the population they serve. Finally, funding is guided toward organizations that support low income, rural, and underserved populations through one of our four main focus areas:

Our Four Main Focus:

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation funds organizations that have accurately identified needs consistent with our mission and scope and who have successfully worked to provide programs and services that give youth and economically and socially disadvantaged individuals, families and those with special needs the tools they need to succeed in life.

Education

Education taps the immeasurable potential of the mind. Reaching children through early childhood education, after-school learning programs, post-secondary and graduate scholarships help our young people get the start they deserve. Providing higher education scholarships and funding educational programs helps build a strong educational foundation for future leaders.

Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services ensures the vitality of the human body and spirit. We target programs that ensure access to basic health care services to the most vulnerable members of our communities, as well as programs that educate our youth about wellness, nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles. We also support experiential programs that offer disabled or disadvantaged people opportunities they may not have otherwise.

Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture represents the innovation and creativity of a society. Through cultural endeavors we help bring people together to share their creative talents, intellects, passions, customs and bold initiatives to explore new ways of doing things. In the areas of theatre, art, and music the Foundation grants have helped organizations reach a broader audience, infused new life into programs and created long-lasting cultural traditions within our communities.

Community Service

Community Service touches the lives of everyone where they work, play and live. Despite our individual differences, we are linked by common interests to do more for the places we call home. The Foundation invests in organizations that fortify this connection. When everyone is involved one way or another in the improvement of their community, the community progresses in a positive direction.

JFLA Mini Grant For Japanese Arts & Culture Program

This grant aims to support projects that will enhance further understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Successful candidates may be granted up to $5,000. The Japan Foundation Los Angeles handles Arts and Culture grants for the 13 states west of the Rocky Mountains. These include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Grant Coverage

• Publicity fees
• Printing costs of programs, flyers, and brochures
• Honoraria for artists and lecturers
• Travel Expenses for artists and lecturers, including per diem and accommodation expenses
• Shipping cost of films, exhibits and other materials related to the proposed event
• Facility fee

The grant will be paid in the form of reimbursement for the preceding expenses. The award money will be remitted upon receipt of the final report and proofs of payment. 

Since its inception, MJF has awarded more than $9 million to nonprofit organizations across Montana. We support projects that help people stay in housing, receive medical care, escape abusive and violent environments, and rebuild their lives. 

Law-Related Education Grants

The Montana Justice Foundation Law-Related Education (LRE) Grants Program provides small grant awards (up to $3,000) to qualifying organizations for the purpose of conducting projects that support a knowledge and awareness of the law. Examples of projects that may qualify for a Law-Related Education Grant include:

• We The People,
• mock trial or courtroom events for high school students,
• Constitution In The Classroom events,
• Girls/Boys State projects,
• staff or community training on a law-related topic or area of law, or
• any other project designed to enhance public knowledge or awareness of the law.

Applications for Law Related Education Grants may be submitted year-round

Community Works

NorthWestern Energy is a community within many communities. We are close to 1,600 individuals working collectively to build stronger communities in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota through the production, generation and delivery of electricity and natural gas.

Our goal is to be a leading corporate citizen in each of the diverse communities we serve. In 2019, our Community Works Fund contributed more than $2.1 million in economic development, charitable donations and community sponsorships. We are invested fully in the community spirit that connects us in common purpose.

Grant Categories

NorthWestern Energy wants to make the communities it serves better places to live, work and prosper. That's why we're proud to donate to a wide range of worthy causes. We encourage qualified nonprofit organizations that operate within our service territory to apply for donations through our NorthWestern Energy Charitable Giving program. Our local committees review requests year-round and determine funding.

While we seek to support a wide range of community activities, donations will generally be made to those non-profit groups that have the greatest opportunity for positively affecting the communities we serve and are focused in one of the following categories:

Education:

• Education remains a primary focus of the company. Donations to education will primarily be made through university system foundations and scholarship programs. Donations will also be made in support of local colleges, and special primary and secondary education programs in the fields of science, technology, math, and youth leadership.

Health And Human Services:

• Donations will be considered for organizations serving human needs such as the United Way, youth homes and special community health and safety needs. Donations will generally not be made to national health organizations or for medical equipment or research funds.

Civic And Community:

• Donations will be considered for civic improvement, special events, and youth and senior citizen organizations.

Culture And The Arts::

• Donations will be considered for local museums, libraries, cultural centers and the performing arts.

Resource Conservation::

• Donations will be considered for requests regarding environmental preservation including habitat, fish, and wildlife protection.

Since its inception, the Foundation, which is still led by Lester T. Sunderland's descendants, has focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. 

 The Foundation prefers to make grants for construction and special interest projects rather than for annual operating expenses. 

Grants for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and energy efficient affordable housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations. 

Funding Areas

In recent grant cycles, the Board of Trustees has awarded the majority of grants in four broadly defined areas:

Higher Education

In 2022, the Foundation awarded $49 million to more than 35 educational organizations. Grantees included community colleges, private colleges, and public universities.

Human Services

The Foundation awarded $30 million to human service nonprofits in 2022, and many grants in this area went to groups that provide essential services to youth and families. Grantees included a range of youth-focused groups, including Reconciliation Services, the Nebraska Youth Justice Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska and the Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation, Washington. 

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture projects received $23 million in 2022, including grants to the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri, the Omaha Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, Washington. Health Care and Hospitals.

Health Care and Hospitals

This is a growing area of need in many communities the Foundation serves. In 2022, $65 million was awarded to hospitals and health-care groups to build and improve their facilities.

Our Mission

The Treacy Foundation is committed to supporting and strengthening nonprofit organizations in our community by awarding financial grants and providing financial assistance through scholarships to students pursuing higher education.

Broadwater Community Foundation

Mission:

The Broadwater Community Foundation (BCF) builds a community endowment fund that develops resources to enhance the quality of life and shape the future of Broadwater County.

About Us: 

Broadwater Community Foundation (BCF) is a permanent endowment fund created in 1993 by and for the people of Broadwater County. We serve as catalysts and supporters of good works to address community needs and challenges. 

Funds raised by BCF are placed in an endowment under the supervision of the Montana Community Foundation in Helena, Montana, where they are invested and managed with the goal of "growing" the fund. Each year a percentage of the earnings from the fund are available for the BCF Board of Directors to grant out to support local projects that will improve our community.

The BCF Board of Directors is a group of dedicated local volunteers who work diligently on behalf of the foundation to increase public awareness, raise funds, support community projects, and provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors. We are your neighbors and our goal is to help ensure that the quality of life we so cherish continues in our community. We appreciate your support and hope that you consider giving again, or for the first time, to BCF this year. Remember your donations are tax deductible!

Background

The Thomas and Corinne Nyquist Foundation is a family foundation. 

It was formed in 2004 to provide financial support for local initiatives and programs of nonprofit organizations and groups in New Paltz, NY, and in Roosevelt County, Montana, with emphasis on the communities of Bainville, Culbertson, and Froid.

Grants

The Nyquist Foundation awards small grants to local nonprofit organizations in the towns of Bainville, Froid and Culbertson, MT and New Paltz, NY annually. Past grant recipients have included the Froid Library to augment their Montana Collection, Historic Huguenot Street to support a series of guided tours focusing on native plants, Culbertson Museum for a facilities upgrade, the Town of Froid for updates to their Community Center, The Mill Brook Preserve to install bog bridges, and the Mohonk Preserve to create new trail markers.

Applications must include detailed information on how the money would be spent including written documentation or links to websites showing the items to be purchased and their costs, or written estimates from any contractor providing a service.

Grant money must be used for what was stated in the grant application, and within one year of the award. Any unused moneys must be returned.

The NRA Foundation: Montana Grants

Grant funding provided by The NRA Foundation must meet all NRA Foundation requirements and be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials. Eligibility and funding amount are determined solely by the Foundation.

Grant requests must conform to, and foster the purposes in, The NRA Foundation’s mission statement, such as:

• Promote, advance, and encourage firearms, the shooting sports, and hunting safety.
• Educate individuals, including the youth of the United States, with respect to firearms, firearms history, participation in the shooting sports, hunting safety, and marksmanship, as well as with respect to other subjects that are of importance to the well-being of the general public.
• Conduct research in furtherance of improved firearms safety and marksmanship facilities and techniques.
• Support activities of the National Rifle Association of America, to the extent that such activities are in furtherance of charitable, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which includes activities that are charitable, educational, or foster National or International sports competition.

Franz Bakery Foundation Grant

The Franz Bakery Foundation believes in the importance of supporting our communities. Our Foundation is committed to helping build an environment of respect, equity and inclusion for all. We recognize the value of diversity and know that we all do better when everyone in our communities are thriving. The Franz Bakery Foundation helps local organizations make a positive, impactful difference.

Our Mission

To support families, youth development and hunger reduction in areas that Franz and our family of bakeries serve.

The most effective way for the Foundation to support our communities is by giving grants to registered charitable organizations (501c3 tax-exempt nonprofits), that share our mission.

Funding

Our average grant is $3,000.

Community Grants

Community Grants provide support for community projects or general operating costs. Proposed projects should be for the benefit of Park County residents. 

Funding will be prioritized for community issues identified in the We Will visioning process.

Capacity Building Grants

Whitefish Community Foundation recognizes that nonprofit boards and staff with access to capacity-building software and training resources are better equipped to deliver excellent programs. As part of our Nonprofit Development Program, we are offering reimbursement capacity-building grants up to $2,000 to help Flathead Valley-based nonprofits achieve one of the following:

• Implement QuickBooks
• Improve accounting practices
• Select and purchase donor-database CRM software
• Access one-on-one training with consultant Ned Cooney to improve governance and strategic planning.

The Community Emergency Response Fund is available to provide flexible resources for nonprofits facing an unexpected emergency. These grants will fund repairs that must be addressed immediately in order to keep a local nonprofit operating

What kinds of projects are appropriate for an emergency grant request?

• Unforeseen situations that must be addressed immediately or the nonprofit will be unable to continue program delivery
• Support for nonprofit programs mobilized to address an emergency in one, or many Flathead Valley communities

There is no maximum request for a Community Emergency Response Fund grant. Whitefish CommunityFoundation will determine funding based on the grant request and the scale of the emergency

Social Justice Fund NW

Social Justice Fund NW is a foundation working at the frontlines of social change. We leverage the resources of our members to foster significant, long-term social justice solutions throughout  Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Emerging Justice Fund

In an effort to continue responding to the needs of our community, organizers, and activists SJF is so excited to launch our new grant cycle, the Emerging Justice Fund!

Emerging |  /əˈmərjənt/ | adjective – becoming apparent or prominent

The Emerging Justice Fund will move unrestricted funds to resource grassroots organizing for communities that have been and continue to be targeted by Federal, State and Local policies. Aligned with SJF’s intention to continue to move resources to groups that are most under represented in traditional grantmaking, the Emerging Justice Fund will resource organizations that are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color-led.

Funding

1-year grant of $10,000.

AMB West Community Fund

Through community-driven strategic philanthropy, the AMB West Community Fund (the Fund) is committed to catalyzing and nurturing both grassroots and systemic change to help build a thriving future for all Montanans. We listen to organizations and individuals closest to the challenges, who are inspired to help, and are deeply invested in solutions that support economic mobility and personal wellbeing, especially for those most vulnerable. We strive to bridge divides and foster common ground by honoring diverse voices, staying open to shifting perspectives and new ideas, and bringing our neighbors together to connect through a sense of shared purpose.

The mission of the AMB West Community Fund is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Montana, particularly in Park and Gallatin Counties and Indigenous communities across the state. Established in 2001, the Fund has awarded over $10 million in grants. After assessing the landscape of existing programs and areas of need and opportunity through data and conversations with community stakeholders, the Fund has identified two priority areas for 2024: nurturing childhood and thriving youth. Application requirements, preferences and priorities are outlined in the following sections and links.

The AMB West Community Fund is led by AMB West and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation associates in Montana. The AMB West portfolio of properties includes Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, West Creek Ranch, Paradise Valley Ranch, and The Ranch at Dome Mountain. At our ranches, our team is focused on meaningful and impactful guest service, and we strive to uphold those standards  by supporting the community.  Throughout the year, our associates give back to the communities in which they live and work – through volunteerism, personal philanthropy and grants made to nonprofit organizations by the AMB West Community Fund. AMB West associates help to identify and cultivate funding opportunities, review grant proposals, attend site visits, and provide recommendations for investments made by the AMB West Community Fund. Associates incorporate The Blank Family of Businesses Core Values in all aspects of their community giving.

Funding Priorities:

• Nurturing Childhood: Early childhood is the foundation of our community’s future. The Fund seeks organizations expanding access to quality childcare and early childhood experience to support preventative and upstream approaches. It provides children—zero to five—with opportunities to prepare them for successful lifelong development. The Fund is especially interested in projects promoting healthy parent-child relationships, connection to community resources, and social and emotional skills among parents and children.
• Thriving Youth: Thriving youth are energized about their future and have a sense of purpose. The Fund seeks creative efforts to help youth discover and develop talents, attributes, and passions; develop goals; connect to pathways and support networks to achieve their aspirations; and build life skills to reach independence and goals. 

Our Mission

Whitefish Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering philanthropy, building endowments, and helping donors and nonprofits benefit our communities.

Area of Service

Whitefish Community Foundation expanded its mission in 2020 to incorporate its reach across the Flathead Valley.

Youth Sports Grant Program

The Youth Sports Grant Program serves Flathead Valley youth sports organizations that do not participate in the Great Fish Community Challenge.

The Youth Sports Grant Program has one application cycle annually

The Treacy Foundation is committed to supporting and strengthening nonprofit organizations in our community by awarding financial grants and providing financial assistance through scholarships to students pursuing higher education.

Valley County Masonic Endowment Program Guidelines

The Valley County Masonic Endowment at the Montana Community Foundation was established by the Nemont Manor Foundation, Inc. The Valley County Masonic Endowment Fund is funded through a $1.25 million gift from the Nemont Manor Foundation, Inc, from the sale of the Nemont Manor, an affordable housing facility in Glasgow, Grants from the fund will support charitable organizations making a positive impact in Valley County.

The Greater Montana Foundation benefits the people of Montana by encouraging communications, with an emphasis on electronic media, on issues, trends, and values of importance to present and future generations of Montanans.

To further our mission of encouraging communication, especially electronic, on issues, values and trends of importance to Montanans, GMF offers several types of grants:

General grants for nonprofits and others: for film, TV programs, documentaries, videos, webinars, etc. with applications due April 1.

Background

Since its inception, MJF has awarded more than $8 million to nonprofit organizations across Montana. MJF grant funds provide essential legal help to those otherwise forced to navigate our civil justice system alone. Our grantees help Montanans stay in housing, receive medical care, escape abusive and violent environments, and rebuild their lives on a path to health, safety, and self-sufficiency.

The purpose of Montana Justice Foundation Grants is to provide funding to qualified nonprofit organizations committed to one or more of MJF's charitable objectives, which include:

• Supporting and encouraging the availability, accessibility, and quality of legal services, especially services to the vulnerable and under-served
• Increased public knowledge of the law and the legal system through education
• Promoting the effective administration of justice
• Increasing public understanding of and access to alternative dispute resolution

Special Project Grants

MJF Special Project Grants are made on an individual basis to support discrete, innovative projects targeting specific areas of need. Examples of eligible Special Projects include:

• Educating communities about the law or the legal community about access to justice,
• Establishing new legal aid or self-help law clinics,
• Advocating on specific legal issues affecting low-income or disadvantaged Montanans,
• Creating or revising pro se legal forms,
• Promoting increased pro bono service among the legal community,
• Making judicial processes more accessible or consistent, or
• Any other project designed to further the MJF’s charitable objectives. 

Our Current Priorities

For those requesting support for youth programs, the Foundation will continue to focus on rural BIPOC organizations and allowing organizations to use awarded funds for general operating support.

Recognizing the critical role of BIPOC organizations, the Charlotte Martin Foundation continues to make it a priority to partner with organizations doing progressive work specifically in the areas of youth education and climate change, with a special emphasis on serving communities of color. Three years ago, we created a fellowship designed around researching BIPOC led organizations within our 5-state region that align with our priorities. We recognize that private funding is inequitably given to white-led organizations and we want to show our commitment to redistributing resources to non-dominant, BIPOC organizations.

Increasing Opportunities for BIPOC:

Increasing racial equity and diversity for youth ages 6-18.

BIPOC led nonprofit organizations with diverse leadership and staff are the focus of our grant-making. Organizations based in rural communities are also a priority for our foundation.

Programs that create opportunities in areas of education, cultural expression and athletics. Including but not limited to:

• Increase access to and the creation of diverse cultural experiences.
• Improve school-based and out-of-school learning opportunities in areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and other areas.
• Increase early college awareness and access to post-secondary education.
• Increase access to sports and diversify sports programs.

Guidelines for Youth Programs

Our program funding for youth ages 6-18 falls into three areas: Athletics, Culture and Education. Grants for youth programs must fall within one of these three program areas.

Youth Athletics

Athletics include a wide range of individual and team sports, with an emphasis on the value of sports for lifelong participation. School-sponsored intramural and after school sports programs have been greatly reduced, and middle-school aged youth have been most affected. After school athletics can be the incentive that gets kids involved in programs that also have educational and cultural components. Demand is increasing for athletics programs and facilities in rural areas and inner cities. More girls are getting involved in sports, requiring additional programs and space. Coaches are key to a positive experience for young people, and good coaching requires training.

Youth Culture

Culture includes art, music, dance, literature, theater, ethnic and regional heritage. Positive experiences in culture are essential in educating the whole person and should be an integral part of the lives of youth. Young people can use cultural experiences as creative resources to build self-esteem, promote personal growth, and preserve traditions. Arts and culture programs in the schools are being reduced or eliminated, and many communities, both urban and rural, have limited access to cultural resources.

Youth Education

All young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Education, in and out of school, happens best when youth direct their learning and engage in compelling problem-solving and critical thinking. Educators need support to play a vital role in assisting youth to investigate their passions and explore new interests. Rural schools often have less access to resources and curricula than urban schools. Both public and private schools need support.

Mission

The Tobacco County Community Foundation (TVCF) is an affiliate of the Montana Community Foundation and provides philanthropic services to the Lincoln Electric service area- West Kootenai, Eureka, Rexford, Trego, Fortine, and Stryker.

The TVCF is a steward through which private assets entrusted to us by donors are invested to meet the challenges of contemporary life. We are committed to respecting the trust and intent of our donors while maintaining our integrity and responsiveness as a community foundation.

We seek to protect and enhance the unique resources of the Tobacco Valley, its diversity of culture, its richness of artistic support for area citizens, and the beauty and quality of its land, air, and water—so that these resources may be enjoyed now and in the future.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and justice for all citizens. We seek to enhance human dignity by providing support for area citizens to participate actively in determining the course of their lives and the life of their community and by investing in the future of our communities through a permanent endowment.

Mission

The Detwiler Family Foundation invests in local organizations to enrich and improve the lives of children in our community. We strive to serve children dealing with difficult life challenges by facilitating access to education and the arts.

Improving The Lives Of Children In Our Communities

The Detwiler Family Foundation invests in local organizations to enrich the lives of children in our community who are dealing with difficult life challenges. We strive to support projects and programs that improve the health, safety and welfare of children with a focus on facilitating access to education and the arts.

The foundation focuses on creating a local impact by serving specific communities in the United States. We believe in the power of community investment and strive to build relationships with organizations that directly impact the areas near where we live and work.

Areas of Service

The Detwiler Family Foundation supports organizations that enrich the lives of children and families though programing that focuses on the following areas of service:

• Children and Families Experiencing Food/Housing Insecurity
• Children in need of Mental Health/Medical Services
• Education and After School Programming for Disadvantaged Children
• Children with Disabilities
• Arts and Cultural Programs Benefiting Children Experiencing Trauma 

Organizations may apply for a grant to support specific projects or programs that will enhance the organizations ability to serve the children in our communities.

Grants

The Detwiler Family Foundation has defined a grant structure that reflects our commitment to our local communities. We award several grants a year to organizations that further our mission.

Project Grants (75%): The Detwiler Family Foundation accepts applications for Project Grants on a rolling basis. Funding applications should be for programming in one of the following categories:

• The Arts
• Education/Literacy
• Community Resource Improvement

Matching Grants (25%); The foundation supports successful fundraising through our Matching Program. Organizations with ongoing fundraising efforts may apply for funds that are conditional on the success of other efforts.

What We Fund

To maximize the impact of our financial support, the Foster Foundation cultivates long-term partnerships with organizations whose work aligns with our priority funding issues. By identifying well run nonprofit programs with the vision and capacity to get things done, we continue to make sound investments in the people, communities and future of the Pacific Northwest.

Priority Areas

Building strong communities benefits all of us. Improving community life encompasses not only meeting critical needs such as food, housing, healthcare, education and employment, but also enriching community spirt and well-being through the support of artistic expression, cultural programs and sports/recreational opportunities.

We seek to identify and fund under-resourced opportunities to make a difference in these four areas:

Social Services/ Human Welfare

We fund emergency and critical human services that support people and families in need. This includes food, emergency/transitional housing, job/life's skills training, counseling and other resources and opportunities that build economic self-reliance.

Education

We support innovative programs that improve literacy, learning and academic success for all ages. Training, tutoring, mentoring and enrichment programs are examples of our outreach in this area.

Medical Research, Treatment & Care

We provide funding for promising medical research to aid in the understanding, treatment and prevention of diseases. The Foundation also supports hospice care as well as HIV/AIDs research and education.

Community Engagement

We nurture the spirt and well-being of Northwest communities by supporting cultural, artistic and recreational activities that engage all ages and populations. Foundation grants help sustain arts organizations and programs that express and grow the creative imagination. We also support community sports/recreational programs, centers and activities that promote health, well-being and teamwork.

Geographic Reach

With both family and business roots in the Pacific Northwest, The Foster Foundation takes a regional approach to giving. We target our funding to assist nonprofits engaged in our priority funding concerns within Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

In addressing the founders' original intent, the Foundation will expand our philanthropy into smaller, more diverse communities within this five state area over the coming years. We will continue to support existing grantees. But, we desire to learn about and fund other pioneering initiatives and nonprofit programs that address the underserved and disadvantaged segments of this population―especially children, women and seniors.

About Mignon Waterman

Mignon Waterman devoted her life to public service. She served as a Montana State Senator for 12 years. During that time, she served on several public and mental health-focused committees and chaired the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee.

Outside her work as a senator, Mignon focused on helping improve behavioral health services for those with mental health needs. She was a founding member of the Helena Local Advisory Council for Mental Health and a Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council member. She was also a member of the Helena Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Steering Committee and developed a mental health crisis system for Lewis & Clark and the surrounding counties.

Mignon served on several boards throughout her career, including St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, St. Peter’s Hospital Board of Directors Secretary-Treasury, Helena School District No. 1 Board of Trustees Chair, Montana School Boards Association President, the Montana Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Montana Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees Secretary.

As one of the Montana Healthcare Foundation’s founding trustees (2013 -2017), Mignon was a passionate and tireless advocate for behavioral health. Her vision, insight, and commitment played an indispensable role in shaping the Foundation’s strategy, investments, and approach to improving the prevention and treatment of behavioral health problems in Montana.

Mignon Waterman Award

The Mignon Waterman Award recognizes an individual’s innovation, leadership, partnership development, and progress towards improving behavioral health in Montana.

Organizations must nominate individuals and will accept the $10,000 award on their behalf. Only Montana-based nonprofit organizations, universities, state or local agencies, or Tribal governments are eligible to submit a nomination.

We created this award in honor of the late Mignon Waterman’s contributions to strengthening the system of care for people struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders.

Traits we look for:

• Innovation - Provides innovative solutions to long-standing problems.
• Leadership - Recognized leadership to improve the behavioral health system.
• Partnership Development - Demonstrates a commitment to collaboration and partnership development.
• Progress Towards Behavioral Health Improvement - Has made substantial progress on improving behavioral health for people in Montana.

Of community, by community, for community For decades, community groups and nonprofit organizations throughout the Northwest have worked to advance equity and justice for LGBTQ+ communities in every corner of our region. Our Community Grants Program helps fuel this work through providing consistent, long-term funding.   Since this program’s inception in 1987, we have awarded over $12 million dollars. Our most recent award cycle in 2021 was the largest in Pride Foundation’s history—$2,751,000 to 105 incredible organizations over three years. In 2021, we shifted to a proactive grantmaking model for this program, and began awarding funds without an application process. These programmatic changes were intentional shifts to center racial justice in our work, improve the experience of grantee partners, and align our grantmaking with our organizational priorities to move resources to LGBTQ+ communities most impacted by injustice. In 2024, we will have both a proactive grantmaking model and open application to ensure that all organizations have the space and opportunity to receive funding.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

We Are Your Family, Friends and Neighbors. We are Montanans.

We're all about Montana's future. Through the power of permanently endowed funds, we help people achieve their philanthropic goals and nonprofit organizations establish stable incomes to support their efforts. Our mission is to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish.

Since 1988, the Montana Community Foundation has worked tirelessly to create permanent philanthropy and build stronger communities. Our work with donors, charitable organizations, cities and towns plays a critical role in both philanthropic and community development. Since our founding, we have reinvested more than $68 million in Montana. In just the last 10 years, we have awarded more than $31 million in grants.