Best Grants for Women in Montana

NCAA Division II member colleges can receive US $48,000 over three years to fund salary, wages, and benefits for a new assistant coaching position that increases ethnic minority and gender representation. With a mission to support inclusive athletics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association provides opportunities that Montana institutions serving women and girls may be able to leverage.

Montana NCAA Division II conferences and institutions seeking to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Grants support full-time roles focused on strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare, and may benefit programs advancing opportunities for women in sports leadership.

Montana colleges and multisport conference offices that are active NCAA Division II members can access funding to create full-time, entry-level athletics administration internships for women and ethnic minorities. Through the National Collegiate Athletic Association, recipients receive US $30,000 for salary plus additional professional development support for one academic year.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with $500,000–$10 million budgets working on education or health programs can apply for L B Research and Education Foundation grants of US $10,000 - US $75,000. Montana organizations serving women and girls through adolescent, post-secondary, vocational education, or innovative health and mental health access initiatives may be especially competitive.

Local governments, tribal governments, state agencies, and private nonprofit agencies in Montana can receive funding to prevent and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Montana Board of Crime Control administers approximately US $800,000 in STOP Violence Against Women Act grants, requiring a 25% non-federal match for most applicants to enhance victim protection and community safety.

Greenawalt Foundation

Our Mission

The Greenawalt Foundation advances opportunities in the skilled trades through funding for accredited pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, workforce training initiatives, and youth career exploration experiences. These programs promote technical readiness and connect STEM education to modern trades careers, building a stronger, more sustainable workforce. Foundation support focuses on expanding access and creating equitable pathways to prosperity for individuals pursuing skilled trades careers. Through these efforts, the Foundation helps develop the next generation of skilled professionals who will shape the future of our communities.

Community Grant

The Greenawalt Foundation extends its commitment to opportunity and well-being through community grants that support nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and vulnerable populations. These grants focus on programs that promote safety, stability, and self-sufficiency, including initiatives supporting domestic violence recovery, foster care, the working poor, and animal welfare. Foundation support strengthens the social fabric of communities and expands access to essential resources for those in need. Through these efforts, the Foundation helps build stronger, more compassionate communities where individuals and families can thrive.

Areas of Support

We focus our community grants on initiatives that align with our mission of compassion, opportunity, and empowerment. Areas of support may include:

• Domestic violence prevention and survivor support
• Programs for women and children
• Family assistance and poverty relief initiatives
• Foster care, youth development, and educational support
• Animal welfare and community-based rescue programs

Madeline Mellers Memorial Girls Golf Scholarship

Madeline started playing golf at a young age with her father, Ed Mellers, in Missouri. After moving to Colorado with her mother and stepfather, Chris and Ann Bush in 4th grade, she continued to play and started competing in CJGA events around the state. When she started as a freshman at Rye High School in 1990-91, there was no girls’ golf team at Rye High School so CHSAA said she could try out for the boys’ team, and she made it! Her junior year, Madeline along with her coach, Greg Bailey and Hollydot Professional, Prim Ivan, approached CHSAA again to see if Mad’s scores from Boys golf in fall could qualify her for the Girls State golf tournament the next spring, and CHSAA decided yes! She qualified and played in her 1st state tournament the next spring, placing 10th. In those days, the girls competed against girls from every size of high school in the state 1A to 6A.

During her Junior and Senior years, Madeline was also working with Dana Smith, a well known teaching professional from the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy in Denver. Dana took Madeline’s golf to the next level and is now graciously helping with her scholarship. He was chosen as the best teacher in Colorado by Golf digest and has several articles on golf published by Golf digest and Golf Illustrated. He is currently one of the staff at Trent Wearner Golf in Denver.

Her senior year, we were able to field a team made up of girls from various Southern Colorado small high schools and they played in girls’ season, 11 tournaments in all. Madeline was medalist in all 11 tournaments. She went on to become the Pueblo Ladies City Champion 3 times in 1994, 1995, and 1996. She was the youngest girl to win the Ladies championship at 17 years old!

Madeline was awarded a golf and academic scholarship to Stetson University, a division 1 school in Florida, where she attended and played golf for 4 years graduating in 1998. Denver University Law School was her next stop, and she graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2002, passed the bar and started her law career with a private firm in Denver.

Tragically, we lost Madeline at 41 years old to colon cancer after a courageous 5-year battle. At the time of her death, she was a Senior Asst. Attorney General for the state of Colorado and very actively involved as a fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Alliance of Colorado. Madeline Ann Mellers played golf all of her life and was President of the Denver Businesswomen’s golf league. 

Description of the award

• We will be awarding two $2,500.00 scholarships
• Payment will be made to the institution directly
• Both in-state and out-of-state institutions are accepted
• Applicants must maintain a 3.0 or above GPA while maintaining the scholarship

Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mission Statement

The Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to memorialize Emma by helping female swimmers pursue their dreams of a college education. The scholarship awards will be granted on an annual basis to female graduating high school senior athletes in Southern Chester County.

About Emma

Emma was an excellent student as a sophomore at Unionville High School (UHS). She loved to swim and was a dedicated member of both the Kennett YMCA Sea Dragons and UHS swim teams. In her spare time, Emma was a lifeguard and also taught young children how to swim at the Y. As a younger child and teenager, Emma excelled on the ballfield in URA softball.

At the young age of 16, Emma passed away following complications caused by a rare type of gastric cancer, a form of the disease that was unheard of in a child and unfortunately found too late. Throughout Emma’s brief illness, she was strong and determined to get better, and did not let her health issues define her in any way.

Emma was beautiful in every sense of the word, and was loved throughout her community and beyond. She worked hard at whatever she was trying to accomplish, but always with a cheery, exuberant attitude and lovely smile. More than anything, her absolute kindness and warm heart are what made Emma our sweet girl.

YWCA Chester County Fund

Mission Statement

A primary focus of the YWCA Chester County Fund is to provide scholarships to women, primarily non-traditional students, to continue their education.

The Bob Zylstra STEM Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports undergraduate students who identify as female or as students of color from West Michigan. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing STEM majors by removing barriers to education and fostering diversity in these fields. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to help students achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Female or female-identified high school students pursuing higher education with strong volunteer records may be eligible for this scholarship, which supports women and girl services. Scranton Area Foundation awards it to students from specific Northeastern Pennsylvania counties; Montana students working on similar goals may explore broader opportunities from this funder.

Girls and women in Montana pursuing further education, including traditional and nontraditional students, can receive scholarship support through the Irene Zurine Memorial Scholarship Fund. Scranton Area Foundation provides women and girl services in Montana with help covering higher education and adult education costs, and eligible students apply via the foundation’s online scholarship portal.

Female high school seniors pursuing higher education who attend Scranton or West Scranton High School and live in Lackawanna County may be eligible for this women and girls scholarship opportunity, open beyond Montana. Scranton Area Foundation offers the Junior League of Scranton Scholarship to support their postsecondary education goals.

Montana 501(c)(3) organizations focused on directly improving the lives of women and children can receive quarterly grants for specific capital or life-changing projects. Focused on women and girl services, One Valley Community Foundation invites Gallatin Valley nonprofits to propose projects with clear budgets and timelines to be completed within one year of grant disbursement.

Women who are unemployed or under-employed seeking higher education or vocational training can receive multiyear scholarship support for tuition and other college expenses from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Grants from Kalamazoo Community Foundation help women and girl services by supporting associate, bachelor’s, graduate, professional development, and trade programs. Applicants must reside in specific Michigan counties and demonstrate financial need.

Women students pursuing two- or four-year degrees can receive up to US $3,000 for tuition and related college costs through this scholarship, open to those studying at accredited U.S. institutions. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help women from Hampden County, which may interest Montana-based programs supporting women pursuing higher education elsewhere.

Women and girl students pursuing STEM degrees can receive US $1,000 - US $5,000 in scholarship support through the Athena Scholarship, part of San Diego Foundation’s common application, open to U.S. students. Montana residents planning to attend a four-year university and advancing gender equity in STEM may be eligible.

Women-led environmental organizations in Montana may be eligible to apply for Rachels Network’s Catalyst Award organizational grant, offering US $10,000 to support women of color environmental leaders. This national program also provides leadership services and recognition, which can benefit Montana groups advancing women’s and girls’ empowerment and environmental stewardship.

Women of color environmental leaders in Montana can receive personal support to advance their mid-career leadership and justice-focused work. Grants from Rachel’s Network help women and girl services and environmental stewardship efforts, and may benefit those working on sustainability and environmental conservation across the U.S., including Montana and U.S. territories.

With a mission to uplift community service leaders, L'Oreal Paris provides Montana women and girl services with national Women of Worth Awards. U.S.-based nonprofit leaders serving women, girls, education, child welfare, or community development can receive US $25,000, mentorship, and a national platform to advance their volunteer-driven causes.

Women survivors of domestic violence returning to the workforce can receive US $1,000 - US $4,000 in scholarship support through the YWCA Clark County Chan Barnett Scholarship, administered by Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. Eligible applicants must have an association with YWCA Clark County, live in Washington state, and demonstrate financial need; Montana women studying or resettling there may benefit.

Female high school seniors in Erie, Huron, or Ottawa County, Ohio planning to study STEM or medical fields can apply for the Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky High School STEM Scholarship Fund. Administered by Erie County Community Foundation, this scholarship supports academic and vocational programs at accredited nonprofit U.S. institutions and may benefit women-focused education efforts.

Female adult students pursuing undergraduate or vocational education who have resumed studies after an interruption may be eligible for this scholarship, including women in Montana studying at U.S. institutions. With a mission to strengthen communities, Erie County Community Foundation supports women and girl services and higher or vocational education through the Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky Nontraditional Students Scholarship Fund.

Female high school seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree and needing financial assistance can apply for this academic scholarship, which supports women and girls’ education. Erie County Community Foundation provides Montana women and girl services with scholarship support; eligible students must attend specific Erie County, Ohio high schools and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Doctoral students at U.S. universities researching 19th–early 21st century Russian/Soviet history can receive up to US $28,000 for dissertation research or completion, including projects in women’s and gender studies. With a mission to advance regional scholarship, the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies provides Montana gender-focused scholars with substantial fellowship support.

The AAUW Branch and State Affiliate Community Action Grants aim to empower AAUW branches and state organizations by providing up to $10,000 for innovative STEM programming targeted at girls in grades K-12. This initiative is designed to foster hands-on learning experiences, expand local impact, and showcase AAUW's commitment to gender equity in STEM. By collaborating with other organizations, AAUW seeks to build confidence and inspire the next generation of female STEM leaders.

The AAUW Community Action Grants provide up to $75,000 to support nonprofits and educational institutions that empower girls in grades K–12 to succeed in STEM fields. By fostering hands-on learning, mentorship, and family involvement, these grants aim to build confidence and skills among girls, especially those from underrepresented communities. AAUW believes that immersive STEM environments and relatable role models can inspire lasting interest and help close the gender gap in leadership and careers.