Foundation News
July Infinity 2025
July 22, 2025
July 2025
Letter from Mary
Dear Friends,
The results of the 2025 Economic Conditions Report, prepared by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in partnership with the Montana Nonprofit Association, confirm what many nonprofit leaders across our state already know firsthand: the sector is facing significant financial and operational pressure.
Of the 119 organizations surveyed this past spring, 78% reported flat or declining revenue, and 86% expect that trend to continue in the next quarter. Nearly half are operating with less than six months of reserves. Federal funding, which is critical for many, is decreasing or expected to decline. And individual giving continues to weaken, 62% of nonprofits reported flat or decreased donations, with 70% anticipating the same moving forward.
Costs are also up. Nearly 90% of organizations are paying more for goods and services, and more than 70% have had to raise prices for clients or customers. At the same time, staffing levels remain frozen. The overwhelming majority of nonprofits have not increased staff this year and don’t plan to in the months ahead.
All of this is happening against a backdrop of political volatility, strained public discourse, and increased demand for services, especially in Montana’s rural and underserved communities.
At the Montana Community Foundation (MCF), we see the challenges our partners are facing every day, and we know these are not short-term issues. That’s why we continue to focus on building permanent philanthropic resources and supporting local leadership, with an eye toward long-term stability and community resilience.
If you’re a fundholder, a donor, or simply someone who cares deeply about Montana’s future, now is the time to act. Consider supporting the nonprofits that hold your community together. Visit our fund list to find a cause that speaks to you and make a gift where it’s needed most.
Montana’s nonprofit sector is a critical part of the state’s social infrastructure. As pressures mount, our commitment remains: to listen, to invest wisely, and to stand with our partners in building long-term community strength.
Sincerely,
View the full Montana Nonprofit Association survey findings
P.S. The MNA survey reminds us how vital local data is in shaping effective support for Montana’s nonprofits and communities. That’s why we’re partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to gather input from Montana businesses and organizations. You can find more information about the survey below.
Call for Artists: Show Us What Shapes Montana
We’re excited to launch our first-ever Images that Shape Montana artwork contest—and we’re calling on Montana artists and photographers to show us how you see philanthropy in action across our state.
Whether it’s a painted portrait of community connection or a photograph that captures the impact of giving in rural Montana, we want to see how generosity is shaping our landscapes, our people, and our shared future.
Submissions will be accepted in four categories inspired by our mission:
- Education, Equity & Culture
- Community & Economic Vitality
- Land & Resiliency
- Health & Well-being
Winners will receive cash prizes—including a $1,500 Grand Prize—and be featured on the cover of MCF’s 2025 Impact Report, across our social media, and in a special Helena Art Walk exhibit this fall.
Open to Montana-based artists 16 and older, except for current MCF staff and board members. The contest will be open August 1 – September 30, 2025. The winners will be announced on October 17, 2025.
MCF Summer Board Meeting
In June, MCF gathered in Missoula for a full agenda of thoughtful discussion and meaningful connection.
Adam Jesperson, Executive Director of the Montana Nonprofit Association, joined the meeting to share key findings from MNA’s recent statewide survey on nonprofit health and sustainability.
During our time in Missoula, we were also joined by Kaia Peterson, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Montana, and Amy Allison of the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center. Their insights provided on-the-ground perspectives about how philanthropy intersects with housing, food access, and community resilience.
MCF’s Marketing & Communications Director, Rebecca Connors, also shared an update on our new brand process, focusing on how we communicate who we are, what we do, and how we talk about our impact. This included unveiling our “One Big Thing”:
At the Montana Community Foundation, we help you shape Montana’s future through giving.
We’re grateful to our partners and staff who made this a dynamic and thoughtful meeting, and to our board members for their continued leadership and commitment to Montana’s future.
Learn more about our Board of Directors on our website.
Honoring Pat Williams' Legacy
In June, Montana lost a lifelong public servant and champion for the common good. Pat Williams, who represented Montana in the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms, passed away at age 87. Known for his fierce advocacy for education, the arts, working people, and civil rights, Pat spent his life fighting for a more equitable and vibrant Montana.
His legacy lives on through the Williams Family Fund at MCF—a fund that reflects the family’s enduring commitment to progressive causes, Indigenous communities, artists, conservation, and efforts to strengthen democracy.
At MCF, we are honored to steward this fund and support the values that guided Pat’s life and work, ensuring his impact continues to shape Montana’s future through giving.
Read the full story from the Montana Free Press.
Give now to the Williams Family Fund
Grantmaking Around the State
Investing in Local Solutions
More than $310,000 in grant funding is being invested in southeastern Montana through MCF’s Community Investment Program (CIP). Now in its fifth round, the program supports work that improves quality of life in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon Counties, as well as on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation: strengthening local leadership, services, and long-term community vitality.
You can learn more about the Spring 2025 Community Investment Program grantees on our website.
$175,000 Awarded for Conservation
In its inaugural year of grantmaking, the Charles L. and Polly Anceney Gallatin Valley Fund has awarded $175,000 to support conservation efforts across the Gallatin Valley. Administered by the Montana Community Foundation (MCF), the fund is investing in 11 nonprofit organizations working to protect the region’s natural resources, restore habitat, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
You can learn more about the Charles L. and Polly Anceney Gallatin Valley Fund on our website.
William B. Pratt Fund Awards $7,000 in Grants
We are excited to announce the grant recipients of the William B. Pratt Fund to benefit Montana traditional and folk art, as well as media arts in Montana.
2025 Grantees Include:
- $2,000 to Montana Playwrights Network
- $1,500 to the Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners (MAWS)
- $1,500 to the Sweetgrass Powwow
- $2,000 to the MAP Media Institute
How is the economy affecting your business?
Let the Minneapolis Fed know
MCF is partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on a short survey to give local businesses a voice. Your response to this survey will help the Minneapolis Fed and its local partners understand the impact that the economy is having on your business.
Answers to these questions contribute to regional data that directly inform the Minneapolis Fed, local partners, policymakers, and others — a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. Click here to take the survey.
Please complete this survey by Friday, August 1 to ensure that your experience is represented. All responses are confidential
Heather Ohs | The Faces of MCF
Heather, a seasoned philanthropist with 25 years of experience, serving Southwest Montana from her charming small town of Pony. Alongside her husband and two daughters, she embraces the Montana lifestyle, seamlessly blending work, family, and outdoor adventures.
With unwavering dedication, Heather pours her heart into supporting the people and causes Montanans cherish most.
Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight the incredible individuals behind our mission!
Congratulations, Jessica!
Jessica Stewart-Kuntz, MCF’s Executive Vice President of Philanthropy, has been selected for the 2025 Career Pathways cohort, a national leadership program through Council on Foundations for rising philanthropic leaders. We’re proud to see her representing Montana and MCF in this incredible learning community.
