Best Grants for Community Service Projects in Montana

Rural Montana communities that took part in all three 2025 Reimagining Rural sessions can seek funding for community development and revitalization projects inspired by those gatherings. Focused on collaborative, locally driven ideas, Montana Community Foundation supports projects that engage residents in planning and implementation to strengthen their hometowns.

Local governments in Montana seeking support to develop or rehabilitate affordable housing projects for low- to moderate-income residents can apply for the CDBG Affordable Housing Development and Rehabilitation Grant. Administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, this competitive program typically fills funding gaps in multi-family rental projects that strengthen community development efforts.

Grants support Montana 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations providing basic needs, education, and community assistance projects for Montana citizens. Grants from Town Pump Charitable Foundation help Montana community development and revitalization efforts, including food insecurity, homelessness, veterans’ needs, classroom activities, reading programs, first responders, and other local community projects and services.

Individuals and organizations in Montana enhancing the natural environment or diverse communities can apply for Jerry Metcalf Foundation grants of US $1,000 - US $5,000 to support community service projects. Funding may cover specific projects, buildings, endowments, operations, or matching funds in arts, education, health, environment, history, and community development.

Eligible Montana counties, cities, and towns can obtain planning funds for community development and revitalization projects, including work benefiting local nonprofits and service organizations. With a mission to strengthen Montana communities, Montana Department of Commerce provides local governments with up to US $50,000 per planning grant, including projects that support community service initiatives.

The MCF Community Heart & Soul Program, a collaboration between the Montana Community Foundation and Montana State University Extension, aims to empower rural communities in Montana to identify their core values and aspirations. This resident-driven initiative fosters community engagement through exploratory activities, grants, and support, ultimately enhancing local pride, volunteerism, and economic development. Selected communities will benefit from financial assistance, coaching, and a structured process over two years to ensure sustainable community growth and connection.

Montana 501(c)(3) organizations and qualified institutions seeking support for community service projects, new programs, or unmet needs can apply for grants covering health and human services, education, civic activities, culture and arts, and environment. Grants from MDU Resources Foundation help strengthen communities in areas where its member companies conduct business.

Donation Request

Bank of Montana aligns our giving with our team members philanthropic passions, i.e. giving to an organization will have greater impact if one of our team members is on the Board of the organization, volunteers their time with the organization, etc. 

Bank of Montana funding priorities are focused on programs that provide a direct impact to our community.

Bank of Montana provides donations in two main areas: Community Development and Leadership Opportunities.

Community Development 

Community Development Funds are awarded to nonprofit organizations that provide services to low-and moderate- income (LMI) individuals and communities across our territory. Bank of Montana’s CRA committee works together with those nonprofits toward the salient goal of community development. We provide expertise and resources to affordable housing projects, services targeted to LMI individuals, activities that revitalize or stabilize LMI geographies, and activities that promote economic development.

Donation Request

Bank of Montana aligns our giving with our team members philanthropic passions, i.e. giving to an organization will have greater impact if one of our team members is on the Board of the organization, volunteers their time with the organization, etc. 

Bank of Montana funding priorities are focused on programs that provide a direct impact to our community.

Bank of Montana provides donations in two main areas: Community Development and Leadership Opportunities.

Leadership Opportunities

Leadership Opportunities give Bank of Montana employees the opportunity to be community stewards. Bank of Montana relies on staff leadership to recommend funding based on the needs of their communities. From there, Bank of Montana donates to community projects and activities. Leadership Funding Opportunities are evaluated based on the nonprofits’ organizational background, community benefit and support, and the strength of the nonprofits’ leadership and financial stability.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits with established education or health programs can receive US $10,000 - US $75,000 to expand proven initiatives serving underserved populations. L B Research and Education Foundation supports adolescent, post-secondary, and adult vocational education, as well as innovative physical and mental health access and workforce efforts, including organizations working in Montana.

Montana 501(c)(3) public charities with $100,000+ budgets can seek funding for workforce preparation, youth development, arts access, and community-focused programs that improve quality of life. RBC Foundation USA provides support to organizations in Montana communities where it has a business presence and active community involvement, including projects that build job skills, inclusive prosperity, and environmental sustainability.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and eligible state or local government entities in Montana can seek funding for agriculture, food security, education, and community enhancement efforts. Greenpoint Foundation supports general operating expenses or specific projects, with priority for initiatives advancing food security, community development, and agriculture-focused community service programs.

Community and economic development organizations in Montana working on disaster recovery and resilience can access funding through the Economic Development Administration to plan or implement recovery projects. This U.S. program offers up to US $50,000,000 for readiness, implementation, or industry transformation efforts that rebuild local economies and strengthen long-term community development after 2023–2024 natural disasters.

Community development and service organizations in Montana can access funding through the Crawford Taylor Foundation for projects in areas like community development, child welfare, and supportive housing. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) charities in good IRS standing; while the foundation prefers Greater St. Louis, it also funds U.S. programs, including community service efforts.

Jewish high school students leading impactful community service or social justice projects in Montana and beyond can apply for the Peter Chortek Leadership Award, which offers up to US $9,540 in support. Administered by the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, it recognizes innovative tikkun olam leadership and helps sustain youth-led community development efforts.

The U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation supports initiatives that drive self-sufficiency and community enrichment for vulnerable populations. With over $4.31 million awarded last year, the foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate measurable impact and foster stronger communities. Eligible organizations include those designated as public charities by the IRS. The foundation emphasizes collaboration with other funders, avoiding sole financial support to ensure comprehensive community development.

The Colstrip Impacts Foundation offers an Economic Development Grant aimed at supporting impacted workers and fostering economic growth in the Colstrip community. Grants are available for existing and startup businesses that propose innovative solutions to local economic challenges, leverage additional support, and contribute to community sustainability. The initiative seeks to enhance job creation and retention, ensuring a vibrant future for the region.

The Colstrip Impacts Foundation, part of the Montana Community Foundation, offers grants aimed at supporting impacted workers and enhancing economic development in the Colstrip community. With a focus on fostering community resilience, the foundation funds innovative projects that address local issues, leverage additional support, and promote sustainable growth. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to cover general support and operational expenses, driving meaningful change and development in this evolving region.

The MCF Community Investment Program (CIP) supports innovative projects that enhance the quality of life in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon County, Montana. Established by Grid United, this program aims to partner with local communities, encouraging projects that address community needs and leverage additional support. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities, while ineligible projects include one-time events and general operating expenses. Grants must benefit the specified counties.

The Family Power Fund by Headwaters Foundation supports nonprofits that empower families to lead health policy advocacy in Western Montana. It focuses on building leadership among youth and caregivers, fostering community organizing, and shifting narratives through storytelling. This initiative prioritizes families facing significant health challenges, including low-income, Indigenous, Black, and LGBTQ+ communities, aiming to amplify their voices and create impactful policy solutions.

The Thriving Community Impact Fund offers grants up to $2,499 to support local programs that enhance community health and well-being. This initiative by Gundersen Health emphasizes collaboration, focusing on areas such as physical and mental health, poverty alleviation, and neighborhood improvements. Organizations like non-profits and government agencies can apply for funding during a rolling application period, with decisions made monthly. The fund aims to empower communities and address health inequities through impactful partnerships.

Melton Foundation

The Melton Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the USA, and a leading proponent of Global Citizenship education and practice worldwide. Established nearly thirty years ago with the credence that collaborations across boundaries can forge sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, today, our programs reach millions of young leaders, having crystallized into a network of over 750 life-long Melton Fellows spread across 40+ countries. Our primary operations are in Chile, China, Germany, Ghana, India, and the United States of America, with legal subsidiaries in Bangalore, India; Jena, Germany; Temuco, Chile; and Accra, Ghana. 

Through our fellowship and collaborative programs we promote and enable global citizenship as a way for individuals and organizations to work together across boundaries of place and identity to solve challenges in an interconnected world.

Melton Foundation Action Grants

The Melton Foundation offers grants year-round to support Melton Fellows in developing skills, perspective and wider networks to further their capacity as global citizens and contribute towards building an equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

In almost 10 years of granting, more than 100 Fellows’ initiatives have been awarded with a Melton Foundation grant to

• Build awareness and/or further awareness raising around global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Develop individual and collective responsibility for sustained, collaborative action,
• Grow capacity to collaboratively drive and sustain social impact at the local and/or global level,
• Further the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative actions that embody the spirit of global citizenship practice and further social impact, or
• Support coordinated social-impact efforts in a particular or across (emerging) Melton Foundation Hub regions to promote global citizenship practice (s) and the organization’s mission.

Montana community development and service nonprofits can access funding through the H Hovnanian Family Foundation for projects in education, public health and emergency response, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, and youth and community development. U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with at least one year of outcomes may be eligible for up to US $10,000, with a preference for New Jersey-based work.

Eligible 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), and public tax-exempt organizations collaborating on joint projects can seek funding from Sweet Grass Community Foundation to advance community initiatives. Focused on community collaboration, the program supports work in Sweet Grass County that may benefit Montana community service efforts in areas like education, arts and culture, human services, youth, economic development, and community improvement.

Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations planning major community projects in Montana can seek more than US $10,000 to advance their missions and deliver significant local impact. With a mission to strengthen community development, Sweet Grass Community Foundation provides funding for initiatives in Sweet Grass County that may address education, arts and culture, youth, economic development, or broader community improvement.

Montana 501(c)(3) and tax-exempt organizations seeking matching funds for community-focused projects can apply for the Sweet Grass Community Match Grant. Sweet Grass Community Foundation supports efforts in areas like community development, education, and human services when applicants show confirmed outside funding and a clear positive impact on Sweet Grass County.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on community development, education access, humanitarian aid, or LDS initiatives, including those serving Montana communities, can apply for Strategic Impact Grants to support impactful programs. Bertin Family Foundation prioritizes mission-aligned projects with clear plans, measurable outcomes, strong governance, and transparent finances, with applications submitted annually through its Foundant portal.