Montana Private Grants

This grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest to support strategic projects that promote community well-being, education, health, and cultural initiatives.

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.

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Grubhub Community Fund have come together once again to provide vital assistance for LGBTQ+-owned and allied restaurants, cafes, bars serving food, and other eating establishments. Donor Name: National LGBT Chamber of Commerce State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, provides a financial lifeline to these businesses with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the Community Impact Grant, applicants must: Be an LGBTQ+-owned or LGBTQ+ ally-owned restaurant, bar or café that serves food. Provide proof that you are an LGBTQ+-owned or allied establishment. Establishment has not received 2+ NGLCC Community Impact Grants in previous years. For more information, visit NGLCC.

First Nations’ Young Natural Resource Professionals Cohort (“cohort”) is a 12-month enrichment opportunity, designed to support the knowledge and networks of young natural resource professionals in the Northern Great Plains. Donor Name: First Nations Development Institute State: Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The goal of the cohort is to support and convene 15 early-career natural resource professionals who are employed by Tribes in the Northern Great Plains. Members of the cohort will develop professional, leadership, and technical skills, and learn how to employ tribal and community conservation priorities. By the end of the cohort, participants will 1.) gain a deeper understanding of traditional stewardship practices that improve and conserve tribal lands, 2.) receive specialized training to manage projects, and 3.) be able to communicate the importance of upholding tribal sovereignty, cultural grounding, and connection to ancestral lands in resource management. Members of the cohort have access to the following: A $5,000 stipend to hosting Tribe Travel support for professional development A $50,000 tribal grant to lead a conservation-focused project Participation in a supportive network comprised of other young professionals in your region. Mentorship in project planning, management, reporting, and much more! Project Period The start date of the cohort is October 1, 2024, and the end date is September 30, 2025. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants must be early-career tribally-affiliated natural resource professionals that are employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains (Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming). Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to: Applicants must be tribally-affiliated with a Native American community. Applicants must be employed by a tribal natural resource and/or environmental department in the Northern Great Plains. Applicants must be between the age of 18-30 years old. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information, visit First Nations Development Institute.

AgWest Farm Credit's New Producer Grant Program supports new agricultural producers who have two years or less of operational experience or plan to start their operation within two years of applying. The grant aims to alleviate the challenge of lacking start-up funds, celebrating the ingenuity and passion of new producers. Successful applicants will receive a one-time $15,000 grant to support their operation's growth. The grant focuses on applicants within AgWest Farm Credit’s territory who are not current lending customers and are U.S. citizens or lawful residents.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations to undertake projects that conserve, preserve, or restore the environment in specific regions of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

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.

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 seeking proposals for the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund to advance pollinator conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The goal of the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators.  The most competitive projects will demonstrate clear benefits to both monarch butterfly and additional at-risk native insect pollinator species (i.e., federally listed, candidate, or proposed native insect pollinator species). Special consideration will be given to projects benefiting rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. Categories Grants will be awarded in two categories:  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands Funding in this category will support implementation of technical assistance to increase the number of private landowners voluntarily engaged in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation practices on private working lands. Up to $2 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to three years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. This category aims to support conservation planning and practice design with private landowners to advance voluntary conservation efforts on working lands that align with NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks or initiatives, and especially increase Working Lands for Wildlife participation among farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. The 2024 Pollinator Fund RFP will support projects that: Direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices. Increase Farm Bill program participation and conservation practice implementation among agricultural producers, especially farmers and ranchers in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Hiring additional staff or contractors, based on demonstrated need, including staff to assist private landowners and NRCS with developing pollinator habitat management plans and implementation of new and existing NRCS financial assistance contracts. Targeting outreach to landowners and other partners to prioritize, plan, and deliver financial assistance available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other Farm Bill programs to improve pollinator habitat and support at-risk pollinator species. Habitat Improvement Funding in this category will support on-the-ground work to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. Up to $3.1 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to two years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. Applicants in this category should define a step-by-step restoration plan including site preparation, equipment used, planting techniques, size of the project area, description of target native plant community, and maintenance plan (e.g., prescribed burning, mowing, grazing schedules). Projects proposed to benefit other at-risk native insect pollinators should specify habitat needs for those species and how the proposed work will support their breeding, nectaring, nesting, or other habitat needs. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Restore and enhance pollinator habitat, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate milkweed and a diversity of native nectar plants. Increase native seed and seedling supply, with an emphasis on improving the sustainability and affordability of regionally appropriate, local ecotypes. Program Priorities  All proposals must specifically address how the proposed project will directly and measurably contribute to the accomplishment of the Pollinator Fund’s goals as outlined in NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Business Plan. As such, all proposals must provide the number of acres restored or enhanced as a result of the project. Proposals must include plans to restore or enhance a minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states. Acres may be counted from multiple sites; the sites do not need to be contiguous. Since 2015, successful proposals have included a median of 960 acres and an average of 2,120 acres restored or enhanced.  Funding Information The Pollinator Fund will award up to $5.1 million in grants in 2024: up to $2 million for Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands and up to $3.1 million for Habitat Improvement. Funding is provided by Bayer Crop Science, Danone North America, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  Geographical Areas  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands  Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. Projects are restricted to private working lands. Habitat Improvement Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. West of the Rocky Mountains, priority will be given to projects on or adjacent to the following: monarch butterfly overwintering sites, BLM lands, and USFS lands. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Entities: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

This program provides funding to Montana communities to develop sustainable tourism initiatives that enhance local economies while preserving their unique character and culture.

The CDC Foundation is requesting proposals from community-based organizations who serve people who are pregnant or postpartum to help raise awareness about important health warning signs that can happen during and after pregnancy. Donor Name: CDC Foundation State: New York City: Selected Cities Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This work is part of the national Hear Her communication campaign designed to educate communities and help improve communication among people who are pregnant or postpartum, their support network (friends or family) and their healthcare providers. Funding Information Up to six awards of $50,000 each are available. Organizations will have up to one (1) year to complete their activities. Eligibility Criteria CBOs must meet all the following eligibility criteria: Headquartered and serving communities in the US. Must serve pregnant or postpartum people, and/or their support people, and/or healthcare providers who may interact with pregnant and postpartum people. Has staff capacity to do planned activities in proposed time period. Must be an organization serving its local community. Must serve communities that experience poorer maternal health outcomes. Special considerations for: Organizations serving communities in or around Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, New Orleans, New York City, and/or St. Louis. Organizations whose leadership and staff reflect the community they serve. For more information, visit CDC Foundation.

The Social Justice Fund NorthWest is pleased to announce the 2024 Base Building Grant, open to grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and/or Wyoming. Donor Name: Social Justice Fund NorthWest State: Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Focus: Base Building as a community organizing tactic that grows the breadth and depth of people who share a vision for social justice and who develop and execute the organizing strategies to make that vision a reality in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and/or Wyoming. Priority  SJF will prioritize organizations in both the prescreening and final decision process that: Have leadership (at least 51%) from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, and/or Conduct most of their work/organizing in reservation communities, and/or rural, small town communities SJF is looking for organizations that fit their community organizing framework AND whose work demonstrates EACH of the following four areas: Collective Power Working with a diverse membership to build collective power Building a critical mass of collective power that can win changes in policy, culture, or institution-building, and defend those wins Widening the Base Building authentic relationships with those in the base who are most affected by the issues the organization works on Bringing new people into the base who are not already engaged in organizing work Using varied methods of recruitment by uplifting differences through tailored communication and outreach Engaging in face-to-face (physical or virtual) conversation and relationship building Leadership Development Provide clear entry points for members to move to leadership positions Clear and accessible programs for political education and meaningful engagement Continual education and agitation Strategy and Long-Term Planning Developing, using, and continually adapting a base building plan which includes goals, timelines, infrastructure, leadership, opportunities for engagement, etc. Organizing strategies with clear goals Structures that hold the leadership accountable to its base Funding Information $100,000 for 2 years ($50,000/yr). Eligibility Criteria Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria: Nonprofit organizations or tribal agencies, or groups sponsored by a nonprofit organization or tribal agencyThis grant can fund: Organizations with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status as determined by the IRS Federally recognized American Indian tribal government or agency Organizations that are fiscally sponsored by 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations or by federally recognized tribal governments Unlike their other grants, this grant will not fund organizations which are neither incorporated nor fiscally sponsored Organizations that use community organizing as their primary strategy and do base building as described in the section above: collective power, widening the base, leadership development, and strategy and long-term planning. Organizations that are led by people who are most directly affected by the problems that the organization or project is addressing Organizations that carry out most of their work in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and/or Wyoming. For more information, visit SJF.

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 $100,000 over two years to grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming that focus on building community power and leadership among diverse groups, with a priority for those led by BIPOC and working in rural or reservation areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tribal governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions for solar energy projects that enhance energy independence and benefit low-to-moderate income communities.

Our grantees work to build on the entrepreneurial spirit, strong community ties, and untapped potential within Native nations, communities of color, rural communities, and other resilient communities who have fewer opportunities to thrive on their own terms. We envision strong, vibrant communities where people are connected to good jobs and have the financial capability to build their assets and provide a secure future for their families and communities. A Need to Close the Opportunity Gaps Our economic system doesn’t work for everyone. It widens income and opportunity gaps, restrains economic mobility, and traps people and communities in a cycle of poverty and injustice. A disproportionate number of Native Americans, people of color, refugees, immigrants, and rural Americans are living in crisis—or just a paycheck away from it. Nationally, six in 10 families of color don’t have the cash on hand to cover basic expenses—like rent, medical emergencies, or the need to fix a car—for three months.

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]

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation program proposals to advance bird species and habitat conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The purpose of this program is to help address the loss of 3 billion birds since 1970 by supporting projects that conserve, restore, or enhance grassland, wetland, sage-steppe, and coastal habitats for birds, or gather lacking bird population data with innovative methods, with an emphasis in focal geographies. Priorities Bird populations typically require a series of different seasonal or local habitats for their breeding, stopover, and wintering periods. Degradation, fragmentation, and loss of habitat can negatively impact bird populations, highlighting the need to implement science-driven and strategic conservation. With geographic focal areas that span major migratory routes in Alaska and along the north–south axis of the central United States, including the Gulf Coast, the program focuses on improving habitat quality and quantity for both migratory and non-migratory bird populations. Funding Information Grant awards will typically range from $100,000 to $275,000. Funded projects should be completed within two years following finalization of a grant agreement.  Geographic Focus Projects must occur in a major migratory route ranging from the northern slope of Alaska to the north-south axis of the central United States, including the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Funding is limited to the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Eligiblity Criteria Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.