Montana Income Security and Social Services Grants

This grant provides funding to states and territories to develop a coordinated early childhood education system that integrates various programs, including Head Start, to improve access and efficiency for families with children from birth to age five.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local taxing districts and governments affected by the closure of the Colstrip power plants, helping them maintain essential services and mitigate tax revenue losses.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve habitats and migration routes for big game species in the western U.S., targeting conservation organizations, state and tribal agencies, and community groups involved in wildlife management.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that deliver high-quality early childhood education and family services to low-income children and families across multiple states in the U.S.

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.

Program: Helen B. Miller Horatio Alger Scholarship Funder: Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Award Details: The Helen B. Miller Horatio Alger Scholarship is a special scholarship directed towards Montana students attending Montana State University. It is dedicated to the memory of Helen B. Miller, an alumna of the university. The scholarship aims to support students with financial need who have demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity in their young lives. Eligibility: - Must be pursuing a degree from Montana State University - Must be a resident of Montana - Must demonstrate financial need - Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA required - Must demonstrate overcoming personal adversity Other Information: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process is changing for the 2024-2025 aid year due to the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act. The changes include a streamlined application process with fewer questions and requirements, enhanced exchange of income information with the IRS, and expanded eligibility for federal financial aid. Students and contributors will need FSA IDs, and contributors will be required to provide consent for using tax and financial data. For more information about the FAFSA changes, including a video summary, visit: [link]

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tribal entities and organizations in Montana for projects that enhance community forests, promote climate resilience, and improve environmental quality.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Montana cities, towns, nonprofits, and tribal governments for innovative urban forestry projects that enhance community forests and promote ecological resilience.

The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minn. Created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, it is committed to supporting a better quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Since its founding, OBT has invested nearly $1 billion and provides ~$105 million annually to nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Applications are due on a rolling basis on these dates: February 4, 2024; April 4, 2024; June 6, 2024; August 1, 2024. - General Operations Application: General operations grants provide unrestricted funding that enables an organization to carry out its mission. Typical uses could include support for an organization’s administrative and infrastructure costs, maintaining core programs and/or staffing. This application is for organizations seeking $75,000 or more in general operations support. - General Operations Short Application: This application is for organizations seeking general operations support of less than $75,000. - Restricted Application: Restricted grants provide funding for a specific program or project. These funds may not be used for other purposes, although a portion may be utilized for overhead or indirect costs of administering the program or project. - Capital Application: Capital grants support constructing, repairing, renovating, or rehabilitating an organization’s physical space. Capital grants can also support the purchase of equipment necessary for an organization to carry out its work.

This fund provides emergency financial support to Indigenous students in Montana to help cover urgent educational expenses and prevent interruptions in their studies.

This funding opportunity supports individuals and nonprofit organizations in Montana working on research and education projects that conserve wildlife habitats, particularly for nongame species like birds and invertebrates.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that enhance youth education, environmental conservation, and address community needs in Big Sky, Montana.

This grant provides financial support to individuals, nonprofits, and local entities in Colstrip, Montana, to foster economic development and assist those affected by the decline of coal-based industries.

This program provides financial support to individuals and organizations in Montana for projects that enhance irrigated agriculture while promoting water conservation and sustainable resource management.