Montana Community Foundation

10/08/2026

Today is Donor Advised Fund Day, a time to recognize the role donor advised funds can play in making charitable giving more intentional, flexible, and meaningful.

In this video, Alley Fontenot, MCF’s Gift & Estate Planning Director, shares more about donor advised funds and how an endowed donor advised fund can help extend a family’s charitable impact for generations to come.

Whether you are looking for a flexible way to give today or hoping to create a lasting legacy of generosity, a donor advised fund can be a meaningful tool for shaping Montana’s future through giving.

Interested in learning more about donor advised funds or endowed donor advised funds? Reach out to our team at [email protected].

10/07/2026

A final reminder for organizations serving Blaine County: applications for the Blaine County Community Foundation Fund are due October 15.

Through this grant program, the Montana Community Foundation supports projects that provide a direct benefit to Blaine County residents, address important unmet needs, and create sustainable impact. Eligible nonprofits and exempt governmental units may request grants ranging from $500 to $2,000.

The Blaine County Community Foundation Fund was established at MCF by Warren Ross, with additional support from the Ross 87 Ranch Endowment Fund.

If your organization has a project that could make a meaningful difference for Blaine County residents, now is the time to submit your application.

Learn more and apply: https://mtcf.org/funding/apply-for-a-grant/blaine-county-community-foundation-fund

10/06/2026

More than $1.2 million in scholarships is helping Montana students take the next step toward their futures.

This year, the Montana Community Foundation awarded $1,267,114 in scholarships to more than 260 students pursuing college or technical education. That represents a 33% increase from last year, but the impact goes beyond the numbers.

Behind every scholarship is a donor who chose to invest in a student and in Montana’s future. Read the full story to learn more about this year’s scholarship recipients and the difference these investments are making across the state.

https://mtcf.org/news/more-than-1-2-million-in-scholarships-supports-montana-students

10/05/2026

Missed our recent Community Investment Program webinar? The recording is now available to help organizations learn more about the program and prepare for the upcoming fall grant cycle.

Hosted by Peter Baker, MCF’s Impact Programs Director, the session provides an overview of the Community Investment Program, which offers up to $50,000 in grants for eligible nonprofits and government entities in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties, as well as the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

CIP supports innovative, community-driven projects that enhance quality of life and strengthen communities across Eastern Montana. The fall application deadline is November 1, 2026.

Watch the webinar and learn more about the opportunity:

Helping you shape Montana's future through giving.

10/01/2026

Montana Community Foundation invites fundholders to join our Fall 2026 Fundholder Investment Update webinar.

This conversation will provide an overview of investment performance, current market activity, and MCF’s investment approach. Members of Cambridge Associates, MCF’s outsourced chief investment officer, will also answer questions about fund investments and MCF’s investment strategies.

Register now to learn more about how MCF stewards charitable dollars in support of fundholders’ long-term philanthropic goals.

Learn more and register at https://mtcf.org/news/register-now-for-fall-2026-fundholder-investment-update

09/30/2026

The Montana Community Foundation’s Corporate Partnership Program creates an opportunity for businesses to invest in the long-term strength and success of Local Community Foundations across Montana.

These locally rooted organizations play an important role in responding to community needs, supporting local priorities, and helping Montana communities thrive. Through corporate partnerships, businesses can provide reliable, long-term resources that help Local Community Foundations continue making an impact for generations to come.

We’re grateful to First Interstate Bank for being our inaugural Golden Valley Partner and for demonstrating the meaningful role businesses can play in strengthening Montana communities.

If your business is interested in making a lasting investment in Montana’s future, learn more about the Corporate Partnership Program at https://mtcf.org/about/corporate-partners

09/29/2026

Strong communities are built when local organizations have the resources to respond to the needs around them.

The Blaine County Community Foundation Fund provides an opportunity to support projects that make a meaningful difference for residents of Blaine County. If your organization has a project that could strengthen the community or address an important local need, we encourage you to explore this funding opportunity.

Applications are due October 15, 2026.

Learn more and apply: https://mtcf.org/funding/apply-for-a-grant/blaine-county-community-foundation-fund

09/28/2026

The Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County (CFNRC) is creating lasting impact by investing in the places that bring its communities together.

MCF Board Chair Tom McGree and President and CEO Mary K. Rutherford presented CFNRC with the Endowment Excellence Award during an MCF Board of Directors meeting in Billings on September 16. CFNRC Treasurer Ellen Coker and Fund Representative Darrell Grogan accepted the award on behalf of the local foundation and the communities it serves. Since its founding, CFNRC has awarded $187,240 in grants benefiting Angela, Forsyth, Ingomar, and Rosebud. In recent years, the foundation has distributed approximately $40,000 to $50,000 annually—and that impact is expected to grow along with its endowment.

“Our grants go to sustainable assets,” Coker said. “It’s pavilions in the parks that everyone uses every weekend. It’s a community center in each of our four communities, and we grant to them almost every year. That’s where residents vote in elections, celebrate weddings, gather for funerals, and hold other community events. They know they wouldn’t have those places without the grants.”

Congratulations to CFNRC on this remarkable achievement and its enduring commitment to the communities it serves.

09/25/2026

MCF’s Board of Directors gathered in Billings on September 15 and 16 to build on the Montana Community Foundation’s momentum and help lay the groundwork for an impactful 2027.

During the meeting, Jael Kampfe of Indigenous Impact Co. presented “Fortifying Montana’s Indigenous Finance Industry,” sharing valuable data and insights about opportunities to strengthen Indigenous finance across Montana.

We are grateful to our dedicated board members for bringing their expertise, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to helping Montana communities flourish!

09/24/2026

Have questions about the upcoming Community Investment Program grant cycle? Join the Montana Community Foundation for an informational webinar on October 1 at 11 a.m. via Zoom.

MCF staff will provide an overview of the CIP program, share information about the fall application cycle, and answer questions about eligibility and the application process.

The Community Investment Program supports innovative projects that strengthen communities and enhance quality of life in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

The fall application deadline is November 1, 2026. Register for the October 1 webinar to learn more and prepare for the upcoming grant cycle.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/idGorIGMT5if3Tuc591_GA #/registration