Montana Education Grants

This grant provides funding to K–12 educators and administrators in Montana to create engaging agricultural learning experiences for students, fostering awareness of the state's agricultural sector.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Western United States that implement high-impact, sustainable programs benefiting their communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Montana that focus on education, family strengthening, and relationship restoration to help improve the lives of local residents.

This funding opportunity supports the development and expansion of septic system maintenance programs in Western Montana to improve water quality and promote community education on proper septic care.

This funding opportunity supports conservation-focused educational initiatives for youth in Montana, providing resources for schools, educators, and community groups to promote environmental awareness and stewardship.

This funding opportunity supports researchers and students conducting mycological studies on mushroom-forming fungi in the Pacific Northwest, covering expenses like lab work, equipment, and conference participation.

This funding opportunity supports programs and services that enhance the education and development of children aged 0-8 in Red Lodge, addressing the need for quality childcare and early learning resources.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by supporting collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry to develop sustainable research infrastructure.

This program provides funding to non-profit organizations for innovative projects that improve the economic and social well-being of rural communities in several western states.

This funding opportunity provides up to $300 to Minnesota educators for purchasing instructional materials that enhance mathematics teaching and learning in their classrooms.

This program provides funding to schools and community organizations in Montana to engage students with guest artists, purchase art supplies, and facilitate transportation for enriching arts experiences.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions in Western Montana to develop green stormwater infrastructure projects that reduce urban pollution and promote community engagement and education.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public institutions in Montana for innovative community projects that promote humanities themes through storytelling, discussions, and public engagement.

This program provides funding to tribal communities in Montana for forestry projects that enhance green spaces, improve air and water quality, and support cultural practices and climate resilience.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities in the Great Falls region to support community improvement projects in areas such as education, culture, and civic development.

This scholarship provides financial assistance to LGBTQ+ students from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington who demonstrate leadership and face systemic barriers to education, prioritizing those in marginalized communities.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

The Social Justice Fund NorthWest (SJF) is offering the 2024 Base Building Grant, aimed at strengthening grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. This grant directly aligns with SJF's mission to foster social justice by investing in community organizing as a primary strategy. The program focuses on "Base Building," defined as a tactic that expands the number and engagement of people who share a vision for social justice and actively work to achieve it through organized strategies. This approach underscores SJF's strategic priority of empowering communities to drive systemic change. The grant targets organizations committed to community organizing and led by those most directly affected by the issues they address. Specifically, SJF prioritizes organizations with at least 51% leadership from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, or those working predominantly in reservation, rural, or small-town communities. The impact goals are to build collective power, widen the base of engaged individuals, develop strong leadership within communities, and implement effective long-term strategies. The expected outcomes include a critical mass of collective power capable of winning and defending policy, cultural, or institutional changes, as well as a diverse and actively engaged membership. SJF's community organizing framework emphasizes four key areas: Collective Power, Widening the Base, Leadership Development, and Strategy and Long-Term Planning. Under Collective Power, the focus is on building a diverse membership and achieving policy or cultural wins. Widening the Base involves fostering authentic relationships with those most affected, recruiting new people, and using varied, tailored communication methods, including face-to-face engagement. Leadership Development ensures clear entry points to leadership, accessible political education, and continuous engagement and agitation. Finally, Strategy and Long-Term Planning requires organizations to develop and adapt a comprehensive base-building plan with clear goals, timelines, infrastructure, and accountability structures. The grant, providing $100,000 over two years ($50,000 annually), is open to nonprofit organizations, tribal agencies, or fiscally sponsored groups with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status, or federally recognized American Indian tribal governments. This funding mechanism directly supports SJF's theory of change, which posits that sustained investment in community-led organizing, focused on these core elements, will lead to meaningful and lasting social justice outcomes in the specified regions.

This grant provides funding to support projects that improve mental health services and treatment for individuals with serious mental illness in Montana, focusing on prevention, crisis intervention, and transitional support.

This grant provides funding for full-time graduate students in the Western U.S. to collaborate with their academic advisors and local producers on projects that promote sustainable agriculture through research and education.