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

ASPCA Northern Tier Shelter Initiative Grants

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans. We invite all voices to join us in working together to improve the lives of animals in need.

The Northern Tier Shelter Initiative (“NTSI”) is accepting applications from brick-and-mortar animal shelters in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to improve the quality of life for animals in their care by implementing new or enhancing existing processes in the following categories:

Fund Use Examples:

• Portals to retrofit cat housing to have double compartments
• Guillotine doors to retrofit dog kennels to have double compartments
• “Rescue” sanitation system
• Daily enrichment items

Grant Amount

Grants will range from $5,000-$25,000, with a maximum individual grant amount of $25,000. 

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.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

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. 

Summary

The Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC), an attachment to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), is seeking applications from eligible entities to serve as partners in programs that reinforce efforts to enhance water quality through the reduction of toxins from stormwater and septic leachate within Western Montana, the headwaters of the Columbia River Basin. WMCC Grant Programs will provide funds to complete projects and programs that address the elimination or reduction of stormwater and septic leachate pollution, reduce runoff, and promote citizen engagement and knowledge through education and outreach efforts. These grant programs aim to support tribal, state, and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others in implementing the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan, as well as activities under the Clean Water Act (CWA) § 123, the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act.

Residential and Community Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program Grant

Purpose

As Western Montana rapidly grows and the population increases, urban stormwater is, and will continue to be, a source of toxic pollution in the Upper Columbia Basin. Engaging residents and\ communities to take action to understand and reduce stormwater pollution is important to protect western Montana’s water quality for years to come.

The Residential and Community Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Program Grant is for residential GSI implementation with the goal to provide eligible entities with the resources to develop new or grow existing rain garden, rain barrel, or other applicable programs for residents and communities.

Eligible activities may include but are not limited to building an educational demonstration rain garden and beginning new or improving existing programs to provide financial and/or technical support to residents and communities implementing GSI. If no program already exists, all activities should include components of program development such that a program can be sustained by the recipient beyond the period of the grant and/or public education and outreach activities.

Alongside such activities, recipients will engage and educate residents about toxic pollution from stormwater and present participants with a pledge to garner long-term behavior change commitments to toxic reduction actions. Residents will be surveyed before and after program participation to assess knowledge increase and behavior change commitment.

WMCC staff will provide awardees with resources and capacity support during program development and implementation as needed within staff capacity. WMCC has developed a toolkit of materials that WMCC Stormwater and Septic Leachate Toxics Reduction Grant may be used by awardees to develop, advertise, and implement their program, including a Stormwater Stewardship pledge template and survey content for assessing participant knowledge.

Grants Awarded

Grants will be awarded until total awards reach $245,000.00

Summary

The Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC), an attachment to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), is seeking applications from eligible entities to serve as partners in programs that reinforce efforts to enhance water quality through the reduction of toxins from stormwater and septic leachate within Western Montana, the headwaters of the Columbia River Basin. WMCC Grant Programs will provide funds to complete projects and programs that address the elimination or reduction of stormwater and septic leachate pollution, reduce runoff, and promote citizen engagement and knowledge through education and outreach efforts. These grant programs aim to support tribal, state, and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others in implementing the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan, as well as activities under the Clean Water Act (CWA) § 123, the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act.

Residential Septic System Education and Maintenance Program Grant

Purpose

Underperforming septic systems can release pollutants into groundwater and waterbodies. Proper maintenance, inspections, and education programs can reduce potential pollutants introduced to ground and surface waters.

The Residential Septic System Education and Maintenance Program Grant has been created to incentivize residential septic system maintenance best practices while increasing knowledge on how septic systems impact water quality to create long-term behavior change). This grant is intended to provide eligible entities with the resources to develop new and support existing, residential septic system maintenance programs that include cost-shares for inspection, pumping, homeowner septic education and planning programs, and maintenance best practices for residential septic systems.

Grant recipients will develop new or expand an existing septic maintenance program. In addition to providing a maintenance cost-share, the program will engage and educate residents about toxic pollution from septic leachate and present participants with an elective Septic Stewardship pledge to reinforce a long-term behavior change commitment to toxic reduction actions. Residents will take part in a survey before and after participation in the program to assess knowledge increase and behavior change commitment.

WMCC staff will provide awardees with resources and capacity support during program development and implementation as needed and as capacity allows for. WMCC has developed a toolkit of materials that may be used by awardees to develop, advertise, and implement their program, including a pledge template and survey content for assessing participant knowledge

Grants Awarded

Grants will be awarded until total awards reach $500,000.00.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

The Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program (RRGL) funds the conservation, management, development and preservation of Montana's renewable resources. The RRGL program provides both grant and loan funding for public facility and other renewable resource projects. The Renewable Resource Grant Program recently completed the Stakeholder process. For more information visit RRG Strategic Planning.

Renewable resource grants to private entities are available for any water-related project that meets the purpose of the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program. They promote the conservation, development, and beneficial use of Montana’s water resources to secure maximum economic and social prosperity for its citizens.

The private water grant program is in place to support water projects funded by non-government entities such as individuals, associations, and watershed groups. Grants are available for projects that meet the following criteria:

• The project benefits a water resource
• The project is required by a government entity such as a county, conservation district or state agency
• Project costs are incurred before a grant agreement is signed
• The applicant is not a government entity
• The applicant has not received a grant from the Private Grant Program in the last five years

Summary

The Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC), an attachment to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), is seeking applications from eligible entities to serve as partners in programs that reinforce efforts to enhance water quality through the reduction of toxins from stormwater and septic leachate within Western Montana, the headwaters of the Columbia River Basin. WMCC Grant Programs will provide funds to complete projects and programs that address the elimination or reduction of stormwater and septic leachate pollution, reduce runoff, and promote citizen engagement and knowledge through education and outreach efforts. These grant programs aim to support tribal, state, and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others in implementing the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan, as well as activities under the Clean Water Act (CWA) § 123, the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act.

Septic System Replacement and Sewer Connectivity Grant

Purpose

Underperforming septic systems can release pollutants into groundwater and waterbodies. Replacing and upgrading underperforming septic systems or connecting to adjacent sewer systems can reduce potential pollutants introduced to ground and surface waters.

The Septic System Replacement and Sewer Connectivity Grant program provides funds for replacing aging and underperforming septic systems or to connect residents to local sewer districts/systems, if and where applicable. 

Grants Awarded

The number of grants awarded is dependent on the size of the projects submitted. A total of 3-10 grants will be awarded until total awards reach $237,967.00.

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

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.

WESTAF’s TourWest Grant provides flexible funding for presenters/presenting organizations within the WESTAF region to support their regional touring program. WESTAF also encourages the inclusion of community/educational outreach as part of an organization’s presentation of touring artists. 

TourWest is a competitive grant program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts to provide subsidies to arts and community organizations in the 13-state WESTAF region and jurisdictions, including Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa for the presentation of touring performers and literary artists. 

Through TourWest, WESTAF and the National Endowment for the Arts aim to encourage the presentation of performing arts programming to culturally diverse audiences and those that do not typically enjoy ready access to the performing arts. In order to understand local needs and interests, WESTAF advocates working directly with individuals and groups from the communities that your organization seeks to serve. Community engagement and participation are key components of a successful TourWest grant application. 

WESTAF defines regional touring as programming that presents out-of-state touring artists and/or in-state touring artists traveling at least 50 miles to your venue. Presenters/presenting organizations are defined as organizations that present or host guest artists for engagements in their communities. Presenters can include but are not limited to community cultural organizations, community centers, churches, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, film festivals/series, and performing arts centers. Typically, producing organizations or performing arts groups are not considered presenters, and are encouraged to contact WESTAF to discuss eligibility.

TourWest seeks to support the engagement of new audiences as well as collaboration between the presenters, artists, agents, and communities. In addition to working collaboratively with the artist(s) and/or community partners in planning the project, WESTAF encourages presenters to take advantage of opportunities such as block booking, presenter networks, and booking conferences to reduce costs and make artistic opportunities available to a broader audience. Partnerships and collaborative efforts between presenters are considered in the panel’s evaluation of an application and project.

Program Overview

Creative West’s TourWest grant program, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, provides funding to presenters and presenting organizations to bring touring performers and literary artists to communities throughout the Western region.

Regional touring is defined as:

Programming that brings out-of-state touring artists to your venue, or In-state artists traveling at least 50 miles from their home base TourWest focuses on expanding access to the performing arts, especially in underserved communities.

To support this goal:

• Creative West encourages working closely with local individuals and groups to understand and meet community needs.
• Applicants are urged to include community engagement or educational outreach activities in their projects.
• Collaboration with artists, agents, and community partners is highly encouraged, along with strategies like block booking and using presenter networks to reduce costs and maximize impact.

Battlefield Preservation Fund

Grants from the Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning

Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach

Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

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.

Guidelines

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Capital Grants

Is capital growth or expansion important to your nonprofit’s vision for long-term growth and success? The Murdock Trust regularly makes grants that support construction, renovation, land purchase and other capital projects. In most cases, we prefer to receive requests for these types of projects once your organization has raised a portion of the needed funds.

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Program & Staff

Expanding programs and adding staff are important markers of nonprofit success. Murdock Trust grants help fund both new programs and the expansion of existing programs and may be used to cover start-up costs and/or related staff member additions. Typically, we fund program and staff grants on a declining basis over three years (100/67/33%). 

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Equipment & Technology Grants

Best practices suggest that a healthy equipment and supporting technology infrastructure is essential. Please note that with these grants, recipient organizations are responsible for 50% or greater of the purchase cost.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

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.

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. 

Each year, with proceeds from the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, the Red Ants Pants Foundation awards grants to organizations and individuals whose projects further our mission. Our granting is focused on projects that align with our mission pillar of enriching and promoting rural communities. Now having completed our eleventh grant cycle, the Red Ants Pants Foundation has granted over $190,000 to well over 100 entities across nearly every corner of Montana.

​Eligible individuals or organizations must have a mission and values in alignment with the Foundation and demonstrate that the grant award will be used in a way that furthers the mission and values of the Red Ants Pants Foundation.

The Mission of the Red Ants Pants Foundation:

• To develop and expand leadership roles for women.
• To preserve and support working family farms and ranches.
• To enrich and promote rural communities.

The Values of the Red Ants Pants Foundation:

• To recognize and cultivate a strong work ethic.
• To encourage and build self-reliance, especially for women.
• To educate the public on the importance of maintaining traditional work skills.
• To provide opportunities for people with different perspectives to connect, build bridges, and discover common ground.

Priority Area - Enrich and promote rural communities

We believe in the value of rural communities, because in small towns, we need each other, and we maintain the personal connection.

Proposed projects should:

• Primarily serve rural areas in the state of Montana 
• Demonstrate community support via financial or in-kind donations, matches, volunteers, partnerships etc
• Be spearheaded by competent individuals and/or organizations that demonstrate strong leadership capacity and the ability to leverage resources
• Demonstrate an impact on the quality of life through tangible effects on the local community

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Community educational resources such as libraries, museums
• Community gatherings or events
• Public gathering spaces - bring back the dance halls!
• Community cultural education sessions, gatherings, or organizations 
• Training for local leaders 
• Agricultural or civic organizations with programs or resources that support rural areas
• Other projects that are important in your community

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. Opportunity grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.

How may funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Distance adult learning for job training and advancement.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

Opportunity grants can be used for:

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

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. 

Queer Justice Momentum Giving Project Grant

SJF is pleased to announce the 2022 Queer Justice Momentum Giving Project Grant, open to queer-led grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and/or Wyoming. 

What we will fund

Queer communities need our support NOW, with unrelenting attacks to reproductive justice and widespread surges in trans-antagonistic, anti-queer rhetoric, organizing, and legislation.

The 2022 Queer Justice Momentum Project will support building new and imaginative systems that help achieve a world where queer communities are protected, honored, and thriving. We hope to resource those working towards dismantling sexist, heteronormative structures and building practices and systems that protect and honor individuals and communities of different genders and sexual identities outside of the heteronormative binary. Through this grant, we hope to support organizers in working towards a world where LGBTQIA+ folks, fem(me)s, and gender non-conforming people are able to identify and express their gender and sexual orientation without fear, discrimination or harm, and have the economic, social, and political power and resources to make healthy decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities in all areas of their lives.

This grant will support groups led by LGBTQIA+ individuals, non-binary folks, and fem(me)s who are organizing against heterosexism, transmisogynoir, homophobia, cissexism, and working to build the liberation of groups who have been marginalized because of their sexual and/or gender identity in meaningful ways across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. We will prioritize funding organizations with Black, Indigenous, and/or POC leadership, and/or who conduct most of their work in rural, small town, and/or reservation communities.

• Some examples of organizing work that is eligible for this grant include: 
• Resource mobilization for LGBTQIA+ folks
• Establishing queer and nonbinary community spaces
• Reproductive justice organizing
• Leadership development programs for LGBTQIA+ individuals, nonbinary folks, and fem(me)s
• Facilitating healing and wellness
• Developing community restorative justice processes
• Civic engagement
• Organizing against gender based violence

What is a Momentum Giving Project?

The funding from this grant will be raised by an SJF Momentum Giving Project cohort. Momentum Giving Projects are designed to be responsive to the “movement moment” that is happening at the time. We recognize that our grantees are organizing — strengthening communities, training activists, building analysis, developing leaders, making change — all the time. But sometimes, a spark catches. Circumstances come together so that there’s new momentum and focused attention around a particular issue.

What is a Giving Project?

Giving Projects are a unique, participatory model of funding which provides significant financial resources to grassroots organizing for long-term progressive social change. Giving Projects bring together a diverse group of people of varied class identities who are passionate about social change and want to strengthen their skills in fundraising, grantmaking, and community building. Participants work together to deepen their understanding of social justice principles and engage in collective giving and fundraising to support grassroots organizations.

Click here to learn about Social Justice Fund’s Giving Project model.

Funding

Grant amount: Two-year grants of $40,000 ($20,000 per year).