The Indigenous Student Rapid Assistance Fund, administered by the Montana Community Foundation (MCF) in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Montana, provides emergency financial support to Indigenous students enrolled in postsecondary institutions across Montana. The fund is designed to mitigate immediate stressors that could interrupt or endanger a student’s educational journey.
Unlike scholarships, this fund serves as a rapid-response grant program for one-time emergency needs and is available year-round. Students may receive between $250 and $1,000 per request, though amounts outside this range are also considered. Applicants may reapply even if previously awarded, though award frequency, amount history, and available funding will factor into decisions. Applications are reviewed individually, and funding may be full, partial, or denied based on need and availability.
Eligible expenses include emergency food, housing, healthcare, childcare, educational technology, transportation, and other urgent educational costs. Students must be Indigenous and enrolled at an accredited postsecondary institution in Montana to qualify. Requests can be submitted by the student directly, by a third-party advocate (such as a faculty member or school counselor), or with support from MCF staff. If submitted by a third party, it is strongly recommended that the student be present during the process to ensure accuracy.
The application is processed through the MCF Scholarship Portal. Upon submission, the applicant must provide an email contact for a college faculty or staff member who can verify the student's need. This verification step is crucial, as disbursement of funds is contingent upon timely and successful verification. When approved, funds are typically disbursed within 1 to 2 business days, depending on processing and verification times.
For assistance or questions, applicants are encouraged to contact Corey Kopp, Impact Programs Operations Manager, at 406-262-7711 or via email. General inquiries may also be sent to info@mtcf.org. The Montana Community Foundation is located at 33 S. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 2A, Helena, MT 59601, with a mailing address of PO Box 1145, Helena, MT 59624.
