Sweet Grass Community Foundation

05/27/2026

Attention tax-exempt community organizations—SAVE THE DATE: Applications for our 2026 Give Where You Live community-wide fundraiser open on Thursday, June 11! This event is a great opportunity to raise awareness, connect with supporters, and generate funding for the important work you do in Sweet Grass County. 𝐆𝐖𝐘𝐋 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐄𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝟏𝟏.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply and be part of this collaborative effort to strengthen and support local causes.

05/19/2026

Meet Nathan! A 2025 graduate of SGCHS, he is the sixth generation of his family to be born and raised in Sweet Grass County. This fall, he’ll be embarking on his sophomore year at University of Montana where he is studying visual arts and business management. Nathan is the 2026 recipient of the Jessica Zemsky Scholarship, which is administered by Sweet Grass Community Foundation on behalf of Crazy Mountain Museum, Big Timber, Montana.

Drawn to art his entire life, painting has always been near and dear to Nathan’s heart. Portraits are one of his favorite subjects. He envisions a possible future career in marketing or graphic design, and having his own art studio is at the top of his wish list.

If he could sit down with Zemsky today, Nathan says he’d first thank her for helping him with education expenses via her scholarship. “And then, secondly, I just want her to know how influential she’s been, not just as a person, but as an artist in our community.”

Included are a few samples of Nathan’s work for you to enjoy. 🎨 Jessica would be so pleased!

05/13/2026

Meet Bradley! He’ll be graduating from Sweet Grass County High School in a few weeks and is the 2026 recipient of both the Robert Martinz Scholarship and John C. Brekke Scholarship. Next fall, Brad will be attending Montana State University Billings to pursue a degree in instrumentation and electronics, with additional training in process control. He’ll gain knowledge on basic electrical systems, programmable logic controllers and skill sets to inspect, operate and repair instrumentation systems. “I’ve always been interested in understanding how mechanical and technological systems operate, rather than just installing them,” he says. After completing his schooling, Brad’s goal is to become a process technician who installs, tests, repairs and troubleshoots instruments and electrical components in a setting such as a refinery, power plant or manufacturing facility.

When asked what he’d like to say to the late Robert Martinz and John Brekke if he could have coffee with them, Brad reflects, “I would like to thank them for providing financial support for the younger generation. One of the younger generations’ biggest problems is finances, and it’s nice to know that people from previous generations right here in my hometown are going out of their way to help us younger generations with schooling. It’s very, very appreciated.”

05/06/2026

Did you know Sweet Grass Community Foundation (SGCF) has a youth advisor who holds a non-voting position on its board of directors? The youth advisor is selected each academic year from a pool of SGHS senior applicants. They keep the foundation board’s hand on the pulse of local schools and provide a student’s unique perspective on discussion topics. At the same time, the youth advisor gets a sneak peek behind the scenes at their local community foundation!

Delaney Locke served as SGCF’s youth advisor for the 2025-2026 academic year. In appreciation for Delaney’s time and dedication, board chair Mary Ann Duffey presented her with a $1,000 college scholarship from the foundation board at our April meeting. After graduating in May, Delaney plans to spend the summer traveling to Europe and Indonesia before heading off to university to study English education and political science this fall. Delaney, we know you will achieve whatever it is that your heart desires. We’re so proud of you! Thank you for your contributions to Sweet Grass Community Foundation this past school year. 🎓

05/05/2026

We scream, you scream, we all scream THANK YOU to our amazing teachers and school staff in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week! Every day, they dish out kindness, scoop up challenges, and top it off with encouragement wherever it’s needed most. Their hard work, patience, and care help local students grow and thrive. We hope they enjoy the sweet treats we got for them—they deserve an extra scoop of gratitude. 🍦💚

04/27/2026

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE for Community Impact Grant applications. If you have a project, program, or idea that could make a meaningful impact in our community, apply today: https://sweetgrasscommunityfoundation.org/apply/grants

04/23/2026