Snowbird Fund

The Snowbird Fund is a grant program designed to support Indigenous communities in Montana in their urgent and often personally funded efforts to locate missing loved ones. This initiative directly addresses the persistent crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), which continues to disproportionately impact Native American communities in the state. With Native Americans comprising only 6.7% of Montana's population but representing 26% of its missing persons cases, this fund acknowledges the pressing need for community-driven resources and intervention. Administered by the Montana Community Foundation, the Snowbird Fund helps cover expenses associated with search efforts led by family members and local communities when Indigenous individuals go missing. Historically, these searches have been conducted without formal support, forcing families to bear the burden alone due to insufficient law enforcement response, jurisdictional gaps, and limited financial means. This grant represents an essential lifeline, enabling timely and culturally informed searches that may otherwise be impossible. Eligible applicants for the Snowbird Fund are individuals or organizations that are part of or directly support Indigenous communities in Montana. The fund is geographically restricted to Montana, with no indication that it is available for applicants in other states. Its sole focus is on missing persons searches for Indigenous individuals, aligning it with broader efforts to address systemic inequities and improve public safety outcomes in tribal communities. There are no specific details in the provided information regarding the application process, deadline, or the amount of funding available. Likewise, there are no listed requirements for matching funds, documentation, or reporting procedures. As such, potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Montana Community Foundation directly for up-to-date details and application guidance. For those seeking assistance or further clarification, Thad Houdeshell, the Grants and Scholarships Administrator, is the primary point of contact. He can be reached via email at thad@mtcf.org or by phone at 406-541-7408. Engaging directly with the foundation is recommended to confirm eligibility, understand spending rules, and learn more about any upcoming deadlines or cycles. Based on the source material, the Snowbird Fund appears to be a non-rolling, potentially recurring opportunity, but without concrete information about annual cycles or future openings, applicants should verify timing with the funder. Its unique focus on supporting Indigenous-led efforts fills a critical gap in the landscape of missing persons assistance in Montana.