About the Foundation

The Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation (BSBCF) is a steward of private assets entrusted to BSBCF by donors invested in meeting the challenges of contemporary life. The Foundation is committed to respecting the trust and intent of donors while maintaining integrity and responsiveness as a community foundation. BSBCF is committed to quality of opportunity and justice for all citizens in Silver Bow County. BSBCF is an affiliate partner of the Montana Community Foundation.

History

The Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation began in 1995 as part of a Montana Community Foundation and Ford Foundation initiative. Anheuser Busch gave to MCF’s statewide fund and challenged all local A-B distributors in Montana to begin local community foundations. Thompson Distributing of Butte donated the challenge funds necessary to get BSBCF started. The primary function of BSBCF is to secure special gifts or bequests to build a permanent endowment for the betterment of the Butte-Silver Bow community. Such a ready resource of private wealth will further enhance our local nonprofit agencies to carry out existing or new activities and to respond effectively to emerging community needs. We distribute funds from the earnings on our endowment and also provide and nurture community leadership as an affiliate partner of the Montana Community Foundation.

Board

We have 18 board members, including Butte-Silver Bow’s chief executive, School District #1 superintendent, a state legislator, an attorney, CPA, financial services CEO, bank president, publisher of the Montana Standard newspaper, executive director of the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, and nine members at large, which include businessmen and women, Dean of UM Montana Tech and retired business executives. They each serve three-year terms, rotating every three years, for a maximum of six years.

Grantmaking

The Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation awards grants once a year to 501(c)(3) organizations whose needs qualify for one of our five focus areas: arts and culture, basic human needs, economic development, education, and natural resources & conservation. We have about $5,000 available annually for grantmaking. The deadline for grant applications is September 1; grants are awarded in December. Applicants must submit a written request along with a copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) status. More information about BSBCF's grantmaking along with the application can be found here.

News & Events

We award our grants each December in conjunction with a Business After Five event, hosted by a local business and also sponsored by the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce. This free event is typically attended by more than 300 local citizens.

How To Give

Your contribution, bequest, memorial, or scholarship will make a difference for future generations. Help us build a permanent savings account, the earnings of which will benefit the children and grandchildren of our community forever. Send your gift to BSBCF, PO Box 430, Butte, MT 59703 or give online.