A Year of Unstoppable Growth

Local Leaders,

As we reflect on 2024, all of us at the Montana Community Foundation (MCF) are in awe of the strides made by Local Community Foundations (LCFs) in our state. LCFs have accomplished extraordinary things, surpassing expectations and demonstrating the power of collaboration and local leadership. Together, 44 LCF partners raised an impressive $2.86 million for their endowments while reinvesting $926,980 directly back into their communities.

Through the LCF+ Incentive Program: A Million Dollars for Montana, LCFs raised $1.28 million in its inaugural year – $920,175 more than we initially anticipated. Beyond these impressive numbers, we are inspired by the many milestones and stories of impact. Valley County Community Foundation and Powell County Community Foundation celebrated their 25th anniversaries. West Yellowstone Foundation awarded $142,500 in scholarships to local high school students, while Red Lodge Area Community Foundation completed four affordable rental units and four affordable owner-built homes. Seeley Lake Community Foundation provided hundreds of rides through their transportation service, while Sunburst Community Foundation threw a community-wide celebration to strengthen community connections.

We look forward to deepening our partnerships in 2025 and lifting up the incredible work of LCFs across Montana. 

Quarterly Webinars

We will be hosting quarterly webinars for LCFs again this year. We have chosen a number of different topics, ranging from grantmaking to fundraising. We hope that staff, board members, and volunteers from your community foundation can join us! Below is information about the first two webinars.

“LCFs Driving Change in their Towns” – Wednesday, February 19 at Noon

Are you curious to learn more about what other LCFs are up to outside of fundraising and grantmaking? If so, join us to hear about how LCFs are stepping up to the plate with transportation, childcare, housing, and so much more. 

“Innovative Practices in Grantmaking” – Wednesday, May 21 at Noon

Do you want to know about different approaches in grantmaking to increase your impact? If so, join us to hear about new strategies centered around equitable grantmaking. 

Did you miss the quarterly webinars in 2024? If so, you can catch up on them here:

• “Setting Up a Fundraising Plan”
• “Asking for a Gift in a Will or Estate Plan”
• “Easy-To-Use Marketing Tools”
• “Gearing Up for Planned Giving”

Sarah Varley: A New Face at MCF

In January, MCF welcomed Sarah Varley as our new Administrative Coordinator. In this role, she supports the Impact and Philanthropy departments, so LCFs will interact with her as she coordinates various tasks for the LCF Program. Learn more about Sarah below! 

Sarah joined the Montana Community Foundation in January 2025 as the Administrative Coordinator. In her role, as the Administrative Coordinator, she supports the Impact and Philanthropy departments at the Foundation. She received a Bachelor of Applied Science from Montana State University-Billings. Sarah previously worked at Rocky Mountain College as the Director of Alumni Relations. Sarah has also worked for the Rental Equipment Investment Co., Western Wyoming Community College, and Northwest College in Wyoming.

Let Us Know About Your 2025 Events!

Annual Endowment Distributions: What You Need to Know

The annual endowment distribution process is underway as the MCF team gets ready to distribute millions of dollars to Montana organizations in the first part of March. Below are answers to commonly asked questions about annual endowment distributions.

What are annual endowment distributions?

• Annual endowment distributions are paid out each spring from your LCF’s endowment fund(s) at MCF. These endowment distributions support your grantmaking, operations, or other community and economic development projects.

When can community foundations expect to see funds in their account?

• For LCFs that are under MCF’s 501(c)(3) status, you will see these new grantable funds on the Donor Portal in mid-March.
• For LCFs that have their own 501(c)(3) status, ACH (electronic) payments are planned for Monday, March 3, 2025.

Who receives information about my organization’s distribution(s)?

• Communication will be sent to the designated fund representative.

What if our bank account information has changed?

• If bank info has changed since March 1, 2024, complete the Direct Deposit Form by February 3, 2025.
• A new ACH form is needed if the bank has been sold or merged.
• No action is required if there are no changes or if a new form was recently submitted.

Have questions about annual endowment distributions? Please reach out to Taylor at taylor@mtcf.org or (406) 603-4913. 

LCFs in the News

Across Montana, LCFs are tackling countless projects – and many of them have received great news coverage for their hard work! Check out the articles below to see what other LCFs have been up to.

• “Powell County Community Foundation Builds Endowment”
• “Planting Seeds for Tomorrow: How Rural Foundations Can Grow a Stronger Community”
• “Valley County Community Foundation 25th Anniversary Dinner Celebration”  

Want to see more about your local community foundation in the news? If so, please reach out to Taylor at taylor@mtcf.org or (406) 603-4913. We can brainstorm ways to promote your efforts, like writing press releases or pitching stories to your local newspaper.

Resources and Opportunities

Below are some resources and funding opportunities that may be of interest. Please feel free to share them with others in your community as well!

• Red Ants Pants Foundation: If your LCF is involved in a project to enrich and promote your rural community, check out this grant opportunity for 2025. Letters of Intent (LOI) will be accepted between January 15-February 15, 2025. In the past, Red Ants Pants Foundation has funded $500-$2,500 grants for murals, events, and other community-based projects. Apply here. 
• AARP Montana: Are you involved with a quick-action project to make your community more livable for residents of all ages? If so, check out AARP’s Community Challenge Grants. Funding is available ranging from $1,000-$25,000 and applications are open until March 5. Apply here.  

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