The Montana Community Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 26 Montana nonprofits through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund. 

"We thank the Montana Community Foundation for administering the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund in Montana," said Francis M. Miley, co-CEO and trustee, OBT. "We are proud to support the critical work of the organizations that received these grants."

The Otto Bremer Trust selected the Montana Community Foundation as a philanthropic intermediary to administer and distribute $1.5 million in funds for grants up to $75,000 to support Montana organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in the community.

Otto Bremer’s 2025 focus areas include literacy, adoption and foster care services, children’s health, mental health, and capital projects for rural healthcare. MCF opened a pre-application for the program in April and received over 68 pre-applications, totaling more than $3.3 million in requests from organizations across the state.  

“We are honored to continue our work with the Otto Bremer Trust in supporting the health and well-being of Montana communities,” said Mary Rutherford, President & CEO of the Montana Community Foundation. “With more than $3.3 million in requests this year, it’s clear that there is a real need in our state. We are grateful to do our part and know we all have more to do to support Montana communities and strengthen Montana for the future.”

Here are the 2025 grantees. 

• Aware Inc. - $75,000 for youth mental health services in rural areas with limited access to services.
• Big Sandy Medical Center - $22,679 for a CT scanner to provide critical local access for 600 frontier farmers, ranchers, and elderly residents. The scanner will allow rapid diagnosis of head injuries, reducing long-distance emergency travel, and strengthening BSMC’s sustainability through outpatient revenue, acute admissions, and post-acute care.
• Billings Head Start, Inc. – $35,000 to improve children’s health by expanding access to sensory spaces, behavioral health support, and trauma-informed care tailored to young children’s social-emotional needs.
• Butte Native Wellness Center - $75,000 to launch a culturally grounded Well-Child Program to deliver preventive pediatric care for Native children in rural southwest Montana.
• Central Montana Medical Center (CMMC) - $75,000 for a Hana Table to expand local orthopedic surgical services, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for care.
• Daniels Memorial Hospital - $26,000 Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center plans to build a modern, 43,700 sq. ft. facility to ensure continued access to quality, local healthcare for Daniels County and surrounding areas.
• Fallon County Mental Health Council - $75,000 to strengthen mental health support for nearly 200, K–5 students in Baker by delivering monthly, trauma-informed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons and staff training.
• Florence Crittenton Home & Services - $75,000 towards programs to support early intervention for young families, helping parents achieve education, stable housing, and recovery while reducing recidivism.
• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- The Montana Coalition - $57,682 to expand access to essential safety equipment and education for Montana families, with a focus on children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. The project will provide portable cribs, car seats—including specialty models—and safe sleep kits, while offering caregiver education and maintaining statewide resource guides.
• Helena Indian Alliance - $75,000 to renovate 2,600 sq ft of underused space to expand behavioral health services. The updated unit will include 10 offices, a play therapy room, group therapy space, and culturally designed features. Upgraded HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems will support expanded care. Once complete, the center will grow from Level 1 to Level 2.1 outpatient services, increasing access by 150–300 visits and 30–60 new patients annually.
• HELP Committee and Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line - $34,000 to enhance mental well-being for staff and youth through trauma-informed training, wellness activities, and quiet spaces. Programs like SMART Moves and Healthy Habits build life skills and encourage positive behavior.
• Intermountain Deaconess Children's Services - $75,000 to support Intermountain’s Residential Treatment Program provides 24/7 therapeutic care for children ages 4–13 facing severe emotional and behavioral challenges. As Montana’s behavioral health system strains under workforce shortages and group home closures, Intermountain has doubled capacity to meet rising need.
• International Rescue Committee in Montana - $75,000 to expand its refugee child health initiative to serve 80 children in Flathead, Lewis & Clark, and Missoula Counties. The project offers enhanced case management and healthcare navigation.
• Madison Valley Hospital, Inc., dba Madison Valley Medical Center - $55,063 to replace nine outdated patient monitoring systems and upgrade internet infrastructure, both critical for safe, effective rural care. These improvements will enhance patient safety, increase staff efficiency, and ensure reliable, high-quality healthcare delivery.
• Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital Corp, dba Bitterroot Health - $54,330 to add urgent care, imaging, therapy, and lab services, reducing travel, saving patients time and money, and ensuring access to high-quality, local care close to home—strengthening healthcare in this underserved rural area.
• Mountain Home Montana - $75,000 for programs that provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care for young mothers facing poverty, homelessness, and the challenges of parenting. Our services support recovery from depression, trauma, and substance use, improving outcomes for both parents and children.
• Native American Development Corporation - $40,000 to hire a benefits coordinator and outreach coordinator to help Native children access healthcare, coverage, and support services. This project strengthens connections between families, schools, and health systems to ensure Native youth receive early intervention, preventive care, and culturally grounded support for long-term well-being.
• Northwest Association for Blind Athletes - $30,000 to support Camp Spark, a free residential sports camp, and Sports Outreach, which offers year-round adaptive activities like biking and hiking. These programs provide inclusive, supportive environments that build confidence and skills.
• Pioneer Medical Center - $65,615 to establish a local cardiac care program to address a critical gap in rural services. Without this investment, residents must travel long distances for care. The project will provide education, rehab, monitoring, and updated equipment, allowing PMC to deliver high-quality cardiac services close to home.
• Region IV Family Outreach, Inc. - $9,007 to support programs focused on early intervention services under IDEA for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Support includes assessments, service coordination, and family training.
• Rural Behavioral Health Institute - $75,000 to pilot its proven school-based Screening Linked to Care (SLTC) program for grades 3–5, serving 5,500 students statewide. Through universal depression/anxiety screening and rapid, free care navigation, SLTC connects families to 2,000+ providers, preventing future loss of function and suicidality.
• Sidney Health Center - $65,624 towards the health center’s $12.3M capital project will improve care access for 84,000+ residents across 11 counties in eastern Montana. Plans include a new Labor & Delivery Unit with six private suites, co-located with the Women’s Health Clinic and modern nursery, supporting over 250 births annually.
• St. Labre Indian School Educational Association (St. Labre) - $30,000 to support the Shiloh Youth Group Home for Native American children in foster care who have no safe place to live. Located on the St. Labre campus in Ashland, this licensed facility provides year-round residential care for up to eight children at a time, offering spiritual, educational, recreational, and therapeutic support. Funding will cover general operating costs.
• Watson's Children's Shelter, Inc. - $75,000 for emergency shelter and trauma-informed care for children facing abuse, neglect, or family crisis—many of whom enter foster care or become eligible for adoption. While not a placement agency, Watson’s supports children removed from unsafe situations, offering safety, stability, and healing.
• Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Inc. - $75,000 for supervised visitation services that support the mental and emotional well-being of children in foster care. Using models like SAFE and ARC, YBGR coaches families to strengthen bonds, promote healing, and address trauma, while expanding services to Bozeman and adding staff to enhance mental health support and family reunification outcomes.
• Youth Homes - $75,000 to support Targeted Case Management for 26 youth in four Missoula group homes, addressing severe emotional disturbances. Case managers create personalized care plans, connect youth to therapy, school, and medical services, and ensure consistent follow-up. By filling critical gaps in mental health navigation, the program fosters safety, stability, and hope for youth facing trauma, foster care, and court involvement. Services are Medicaid-eligible for sustainability.

The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minn. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, it is committed to supporting an enhanced quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Since its founding, Otto Bremer Trust has invested more than $1 billion in its region’s people, places, and opportunities. For more information about Otto Bremer Trust, visit https://ottobremer.org.