Best Grants for Youth Programs in Montana

Montana conservation districts can access funding through this program to run conservation and natural resource education projects for youth and adults in Montana. Grants from Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation help districts deliver workshops, school field trips, and other educational activities, with awards from US $1,000 - US $5,000 for locally led initiatives.

Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing direct services in education, health and human services, arts and culture, or community service for youth and disadvantaged families can apply for grants from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. Programs serving low-income, rural, at-risk, or special-needs youth may be especially competitive, including after-school, summer, wellness, and cultural initiatives.

Montana Kiwanis clubs and related Kiwanis family organizations running youth and children’s programs can access funding through the Kiwanis Foundation of Montana for approved projects that benefit young people and their communities. These club grants back initiatives that invest in children, empower communities, and strengthen Service Leadership Programs in Montana and beyond.

Montana youth-serving nonprofits can seek support for education, youth services, and community programs through NorthWestern Energy’s Community Works grants. NorthWestern Energy provides Montana youth organizations with funding for initiatives in education, health and human services, civic and community projects, culture and the arts, and resource conservation, with a preference for programs, equipment, or facility improvements over general overhead.

Youth robotics clubs in Montana can receive annual sponsorships to support coding and computer science activities, with awards of US $1,000 per team or up to 25% of the team’s annual budget. With a mission to equip Montanans to improve their lives, Gianforte Family Charitable Trust focuses this funding on extra-curricular robotics programs for youth.

The Semnani Family Foundation, established in 1993, is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities worldwide through health, education, and disaster relief initiatives. Founded by Khosrow and Ghazaleh Semnani, it began by funding an orphanage in Romania. The foundation also operates locally, providing free healthcare through the Maliheh Free Clinic in Utah. Its commitment to human welfare drives impactful partnerships in countries such as Afghanistan, India, and South Africa, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

Nonprofit organizations in Montana running youth education or youth-focused services can apply for grants supporting education, homelessness services, environmental and wildlife conservation, and dog welfare, including service dog programs. Grants from Cross Charitable Foundation help eligible groups in the Northwest U.S., including Montana, expand youth programs that build productive, contributing members of society.

Montana youth and family-serving nonprofits running community power-building projects can access funding through Headwaters Foundation’s Family Power Fund, with awards up to US $125,000. Eligible organizations must work alongside families in the 15-county Western Montana region to build leadership, drive health-focused advocacy, and elevate stories of families facing the greatest health barriers.

Montana youth-focused and conservation 501(c)(3) public charities serving the Big Sky Community can access funding through Moonlight Community Foundation for new or expanded programs with high community impact. Eligible projects must operate within Big Sky in Gallatin or Madison County and support youth education, conservation, or other under-served local needs.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - Montana

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must 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.

Youth-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, government entities, and state-recognized nonprofits in Montana can apply for The NRA Foundation’s US $3,000 - US $5,000 grants to support firearms safety, shooting sports, and hunting education programs. Eligible projects include youth marksmanship training, safety education, and related public-benefit shooting activities that advance charitable and educational purposes.

Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving youth, families, seniors, and vulnerable residents in Western Montana can apply for $3,300 - $25,000 to support education, health, arts, and community enrichment programs. With a mission to benefit Western Montana residents, Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation prioritizes youth services, after-school programs, child welfare, and assistance for those in need.

With a mission to strengthen nonprofits, organizations in Montana running youth or community programs can seek capital grants for construction, renovation, property purchase, and major facility upgrades; awards are typically more than US $50,000. The M J Murdock Charitable Trust prioritizes 501(c)(3)s and similar entities that have raised at least 40% of project costs and serve the Pacific Northwest region.

Montana youth-serving nonprofits, tribal entities, and eligible government institutions can access funding for new equipment and technology that build organizational capacity and infrastructure. Youth programs focused on artistic expression, community services, education, health, environment, or scientific research may be eligible for more than US $50,000 from M J Murdock Charitable Trust, which requires at least 50% cost share.

Youth-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal entities, and select government institutions in Montana can seek M J Murdock Charitable Trust support to expand programs and add staff. Strategic Project Grants fund capacity-building program and staff growth, typically over three years, for organizations advancing education, youth development, community services, health, arts, or related priorities in the Pacific Northwest region.

Montana nonprofit organizations and public institutions can receive $2,000 - $10,000 to run public humanities programs that foster community dialogue and learning. Grants from Humanities Montana help Montana youth services and other community groups support projects like cultural festivals, youth literacy initiatives, film screenings, and panel discussions that explore history, literature, philosophy, and diverse local stories.

With a mission to improve community quality of life, Seeley Lake Community Foundation provides Montana youth programs and other local 501(c)(3) organizations or public entities with up to US $3,000 for projects in education, arts, community development, conservation, and basic human needs. Eligible applicants must serve or be located in the Seeley Lake, Montana community.

With a mission to strengthen rural communities, the Steele-Reese Foundation provides Montana youth programs with US $5,000 - US $50,000 for education, health, human services, arts, and conservation projects in truly rural areas. 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public entities serving rural Montana and Native nations may apply through the Idaho and Montana Grant Program.

Montana 501(c)(3) organizations improving youth health and well-being can receive US $10,000 - US $50,000 to expand access to healthcare and prevent health inequities. PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement funds mental and behavioral health, medical, dental, early childhood and parent education, nutrition, supportive housing services, and resilience-building programs for marginalized children, teens, and families.

Youth sports 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Flathead County, Montana can apply for Whitefish Community Foundation’s Youth Sports Grant Program, with awards up to US $5,000 for eligible activities. Organizations running youth programs in Montana that are based in Flathead County and not in the Great Fish Community Challenge may benefit from this annual opportunity.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, tax-exempt government entities, and fiscally sponsored groups in northern Rosebud County, Montana can apply for Montana Community Foundation’s Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County Grant; awards up to US $3,500 for youth programs, education, recreation, arts, community development, emergency services, healthcare, environment, and historic preservation projects that enhance local quality of life.

Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tax-exempt government entities, and fiscally sponsored groups running youth and education or other community projects in northern Rosebud County can seek up to US $10,000 for significant community impact. Local youth programs in Forsyth, Angela, Ingomar, or Rosebud can access funding through Montana Community Foundation’s Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County affiliate.

Nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored groups supporting LGBTQ+ youth programs in Montana can receive approximately US $10,000 for health, education, and community-building initiatives. Pride Foundation supports work that advances equity and justice for LGBTQ+ communities, with priority for grassroots, BIPOC- and TGNC-led organizations serving youth and broader LGBTQ+ populations across the Northwest.

Montana youth-serving nonprofits, schools, and civic groups offering education and youth development programs in Sanders or Mineral County can apply for funding that supports local students and young people. Grants from Avista Foundation help organizations within the Avista Utilities or Alaska Electric Light & Power service areas strengthen education and youth development initiatives in their communities.

BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations running youth education, culture, or athletics programs for ages 6–18 in Montana can use this funding for general operating support. The Charlotte Martin Foundation supports rural and BIPOC youth programs across its five-state Western region, including Montana, that expand STEAM learning, cultural expression, sports access, and early college awareness.

Grants from Montana Department of Labor and Industry help Montana youth-serving organizations deliver workforce preparation, career pathways, and academic and occupational learning services for in-school youth ages 14–21 and out-of-school youth ages 16–24. Eligible providers should offer industry-driven training, apprenticeships or pre-apprenticeships, and outreach to hard-to-reach youth while coordinating with WIOA core partners.

Organizations in Montana providing shelter, supportive services, or prevention programs around family, domestic, or dating violence can apply for Montana Board of Crime Control’s Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funding. Projects serving youth victims and their dependents may be eligible, but applicants must provide a 20% non-federal match unless they are Federally Recognized Tribes.