March, 2026 

Letter from Kacie, Executive VP, Finance & Administration

Dear Friends,

Nine years ago this month, I hit the send button for the first time to distribute $2.8 million in annual endowment distributions to nonprofit organizations across Montana. Every year since, I’ve felt the exhilaration of sending vital funding to communities in all corners of the state and watched the total grow to nearly $6.4 million in 2026.

To me, the increase is more than just numbers — it’s expanding the list of donors seeing their visions come to life, boosting the power of nonprofits to fulfill their missions and strengthening the places we all call home.

Endowments are powerful because they are built to endure. The gifts that created them were made with long horizons in mind: invested carefully, grown responsibly, and distributed intentionally. Year after year, they provide steady support that organizations can count on.

More than 870 Montana nonprofits will benefit from this year’s distribution. Behind every payment is a story — students receiving scholarships, families accessing resources, arts programs thriving, rural services continuing without interruption. Being a part of the process that connects donor generosity to real, tangible impact is humbling and inspiring.

Distribution season is busy, but it’s also a reminder that philanthropy isn’t just about giving in the moment. It’s about building something that lasts. Together with our donors and nonprofit partners, we are strengthening Montana not only for today, but for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Kacie Tollefson

Goodbye, Cathy

Cathy Cooney has lived in the Flathead for 21 years, but she spent so much of that time traveling across Montana that she often joked she knew more people in Forsyth than in Bigfork.

“I think my biggest achievement, probably of my life, is getting to all 56 counties in Montana multiple times,” said Cathy, who logged all that road time over a decade providing programs and technical assistance to Montana Community Foundation’s local community foundation affiliates. “Very few people can say they did that.”

Now, after 21 years with MCF, Cathy will depart this month to explore new professional opportunities in the nonprofit sector.

Cathy joined MCF in 2005 after eight years working at a community foundation in California. After a year and a half leading the Women’s Foundation of Montana, she transitioned to working with local community foundations across the state.

“There's so many wonderful people living in those rural communities and I really enjoyed working with them,” Cathy said. “Our local community foundation program is just wonderful, and that's where we put so much of our time and our resources, and I think it's a great investment.”

After 12 years of watching local community foundations grow and cultivate gifts that allowed them to support major projects, Cathy was ready for a change — and a little less time on the road. Seeing a need to support donors with established funds at MCF, she stepped into the role of Director of Donor Services.

“The best thing about donor services is that it's about building a relationship with people,” Cathy said. “It’s been a real privilege to get to know people and see the interesting range of charitable interests. Once you open an endowment, you're part of the MCF family.”

Cathy will continue her volunteer role as fundraising coordinator for the Bigfork Food Bank.

“It was really good to be able to explore the whole state of Montana because I learned so much,” Cathy said of her time at MCF. “It’s an important story for us to be able to tell about legacy giving and being able to preserve rural communities is so important.”
 

Apply for Scholarships Now!

The window is closing soon to apply for the nearly 60 scholarships available through Montana Community Foundation. Last year we helped nearly 230 students, with average one-time awards of $1,932 per student and multi-year awards of $15,463. Take our Scholarship Eligibility Quiz, browse the Scholarship Directory and be sure to submit your application by the March 31 deadline. 

Got a Project to Improve Rosebud, Custer or Fallon County? 

If so, we have a grant opportunity for you! The Community Investment Program (CIP), established at Montana Community Foundation by Grid United, offers up to $50,000 for projects that benefit communities in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties, where Grid United’s Northern Plains Connector will be located.

Projects must have a broad impact on the quality of life for a significant number of people who live in the region, address community issues and problems, leverage other sources of support, and encourage others to get involved, among other requirements. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government entity, such as a local government, tribal government, or school district.

Spring application deadline — Friday, May 1.

Fall application deadline — Sunday, November 1.

For more information and to see the full guidelines, visit the CIP website or contact Shyanne Wallace, Local Community Foundation Program Officer, at shyanne@mtcf.org or 406-230-2785.

Check Out These Available Grants

• William B. Pratt Endowment Fund —Grant cycle closes March 31, awards from $500-$2,000.
  Grants help Montanans tell and share the stories — especially the untold ones — about Montana's arts, culture, and history, and to learn about the traditional art forms and cultures of Montana. Support is for projects that build awareness, involvement, and preservation of Traditional and Folk Arts in Montana and encourage the education about, and the production and presentation of, Media Arts in Montana.
• Valley County Masonic Endowment — Grant cycle closes March 31, awards up to $2,000.
  Funds are to benefit the communities and residents of Valley County. Eligible projects must be related to arts and culture, basic human needs, economic development, education, and/or natural resources and conservation. Ineligible projects include annual or capital campaigns, endowments, debt retirements, and religious, partisan, or sectarian activities. Applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an exempt governmental unit. While grants must be used for projects benefiting communities or residents in Valley County, the grantee organization does not need to be based in Valley County. 

In Case You Missed It

Fed Report Finds Unpredictable Business Conditions

Montana Community Foundation is partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on short surveys to give local businesses a voice. According to the January General Business Survey, businesses in the Federal Reserve’s Ninth District, which includes Montana, are dealing with economic uncertainty.

Just shy of half of the businesses surveyed reported lower revenues and 55% said they had smaller profits over the last quarter of 2025. Smaller businesses were hit harder than larger ones, the survey found. About 60% of respondents said they were not actively hiring workers; those who were had difficulty finding qualified employees.

One Montana construction company owner said they had “difficulty recruiting trained labor. Easy to find non-skilled labor but extremely difficult to hire skilled labor,” according to the report.

Businesses were split on how they felt about the next six months, with 37% reporting a pessimistic outlook and 39% optimistic. The rest were neutral.

The General Business Survey received 1,073 responses from business owners and financial decision-makers in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan, and northwestern Wisconsin between January 12 and February 6.

Montana Community Foundation News

• 

  🎙️New episode of Impact Under the Big Sky: To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Women's Foundation of Montana Director Kylie Gursky and Robin Turner, staff attorney at Legal Voice, discussed this year’s theme, “Give to Gain.” Listen here.

• 👋Two new faces recently joined Montana Community Foundation. Peter Baker is our new Director of Impact Programs. Peter joined MCF after more than 20 years of leading teams across programs focused on education, workforce development, and community impact initiatives. As the Impact Programs Director, he leads MCF’s strategic grantmaking, impact investing, and community‑focused initiatives while supporting department staff, managing grant portfolios, and ensuring that programs align with the organization’s mission, goals, and performance-assessment systems. Reach Peter at 406-218-6324 or peter@mtcf.org.
  
  Holly Michels is MCF’s new Communications Manager. She’ll use her storytelling skills and experiences from two decades of writing about Montanans to highlight the people, partnerships, and communities that show how philanthropy can create lasting change across the state. Reach Holly at 406-603-4913 or holly@mtcf.org.

Keep An Eye on Your Mailbox

Montana Community Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report will hit inboxes and mailboxes around the state in the coming weeks! Here’s a sneak peek at the cover, featuring an image from Jordan Lefler, winner of our Images that Shape Montana contest.

Announcing our Corporate Partnership Program

In Montana, the strength of our communities comes from the people and organizations who invest in the places they call home. At Montana Community Foundation, we see that impact every day through our partnerships with Local Community Foundations across the state. Rooted in the neighborhoods they serve, these organizations are uniquely positioned to identify local needs, respond to challenges, and build stronger futures for their communities.

Businesses have also long played a vital role in helping Montana thrive. That’s why MCF is launching a new initiative designed to ensure every corner of our state has access to the resources needed not just for today, but for generations to come.

Our new Corporate Partnership Program invites businesses to contribute to an endowment that supports Local Community Foundations and the vital work they do across Montana. Endowed funds provide permanent, reliable support for the organizations that strengthen our hometowns to create a lasting impact that grows over time.

We are grateful to our inaugural sponsor, First Interstate Bank, for helping lead the way as a Golden Valley Partner.

“First Interstate Bank is proud to stand as an inaugural supporter of Montana Community Foundation’s Corporate Partnership Program because we believe in investing in the future of every Montana community. MCF’s statewide impact — from strengthening local economies to supporting education, equity, and community vitality — demonstrates a deep commitment to helping Montanans thrive,” said Amberly Pahut, First Interstate Bank’s Director of Community Responsibility and Executive Director of the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation.

“We are especially inspired by the Reimagining Rural program, which empowers small towns with the tools, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies they need to shape their own futures and spark local leadership. Partnering with MCF allows us to help ensure that rural and urban communities alike have the resources and opportunities to grow stronger, more resilient, and more connected for generations to come.”

This program gives businesses that care deeply about Montana an effective way to help their communities. Corporate partners will also be recognized for their commitment to community investment. Depending on the sponsorship level, partners may receive recognition on MCF’s website, with more than 400,000 visitors each year; in our semi-monthly newsletter reaching 11,000 subscribers; and through features on our social media platforms. Sponsors may also qualify for the Montana Endowment Tax Credit.

Local Community Foundations are already making a difference. Following the devastating Yellowstone flooding in 2022, they helped support recovery efforts. In Phillips County, the local foundation recently helped the ambulance service purchase equipment to safely transport pediatric patients. Your support can help them do more.

We would be honored to partner with you in this effort. To learn more about the Corporate Partnership Program, please contact Mary K. Rutherford, President & Chief Executive Officer, at 406-441-4949 or maryr@mtcf.org.

Together, we can help ensure Montana’s communities remain vibrant, resilient, and full of opportunity for years to come.