The Time to Shine

Local Leaders,

Summer is when the work you do in your community shines. From splashing at a restored local pool to gathering for a street dance in a revitalized downtown, the investments you've made in community leadership and philanthropy come to life in the places and moments that make Montana special.

It's also a season of transition at Montana Community Foundation. We say thank you to Shyanne Wallace, Program Officer for local community foundations, for her dedication and service, and welcome Camden Graves as the first of two new Community Vitality Program Officers. This new role reflects our commitment to providing even stronger support for the local community foundations and nonprofit partners helping Montana communities thrive.

Our Community Vitality Program Officers will operate in specific regions of the state, allowing for more personalized support and stronger relationships. Camden will serve western Montana, and we're currently hiring a second Community Vitality Program Officer to serve eastern Montana. Together, they'll help expand our capacity and strengthen the work happening in communities across the state.

Thank you for all you do to make your community a place where people want to live, work, and give. We look forward to continuing this work alongside you and supporting the local leadership that makes Montana stronger.

Warmly,

Same Face, New Place

Montana Community Foundation is happy to announce Camden Graves as our new Community Vitality Program Officer. Camden has been with MCF since January 2025 and has provided expert coordination for the President and CEO, Board of Directors, and executive staff for the last year and a half. 

In her new role, Camden will ensure local community foundations, donors, and partners receive excellent service and support. She will also support nonprofits that have their endowments at Montana Community Foundation. She is a certified coach for the Community Heart & Soul program, where she helps small towns develop plans to help their communities thrive.

Camden received a Bachelor of Arts in History from King’s College London. She previously worked at Carroll College as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She was also an AmeriCorps VISTA in Boulder (Montana) and worked for JW3 in London.

LCF Spotlight

Columbus Community Foundation

The organizations that help Columbus thrive received a tremendous boost in May during the 11th Annual ColumbusMTGives, when the Columbus Community Foundation set a record by raising more than $169,620 to strengthen the community.

"ColumbusMTGives is proof that when a community comes together, remarkable things can happen. More than $169,000 will now go directly to support local nonprofits and the missions that serve our neighbors, enrich lives, and help our community thrive," said Marissa Hauge, President of the Columbus Community Foundation. 

"This success belongs to every donor, volunteer, nonprofit, and Match Pool partner who came together to make a huge difference."

Each spring, local community foundations across Montana host community giving campaigns that inspire generosity and celebrate local philanthropy. Over the past 11 years, ColumbusMTGives has raised more than $1 million for organizations making a lasting difference throughout Stillwater County. During the weeklong campaign, donors were able to amplify their impact through a community-funded Match Pool.

This year's record-breaking campaign will provide even more support for the nonprofits and projects that make Stillwater County a great place to live.

"While the final fundraising total is certainly worth celebrating, what many people don't see is the work happening behind the scenes," Marissa said. "The Columbus Community Foundation is governed entirely by volunteers who dedicate their time throughout the year to planning ColumbusMTGives, building partnerships, securing Match Pool sponsors, supporting participating nonprofits, and creating opportunities for our community to give back. Seeing our community come together in such a meaningful way makes every effort worthwhile."

Show Us the Images that Shape Montana

Calling all artists and photographers: Montana Community Foundation has opened its Images that Shape Montana contest, an opportunity for you to share how you see philanthropy shaping our communities, landscapes, and future.

Submissions will be judged in four impact areas central to MCF’s mission:

• Education, Equity, & Culture
• Community & Economic Vitality
• Land & Resiliency
• Health & Well-being

The contest is open to Montana-based artists and photographers of all levels, ages 16 and up.

Acceptable mediums include photography, digital art, illustration, painting, and mixed media. There will be four category winners, each receiving $500. The grand-prize winner will receive $1,500 and will be featured in Montana Community Foundation’s annual Impact Report and on social media.

The contest opened July 1, and the submission deadline is September 18. To learn more or to submit artwork, email communications@mtcf.org or visit https://mtcf.org/about/images-that-shape-montana.

Reimagining Rural

Next Step Grants Open

Applications are open for the Reimagining Rural Next Step Grants, offering eligible Montana communities an opportunity to turn local ideas into action. 

Communities that previously participated in the Reimagining Rural Virtual Series and received a Reimagining Rural Seed Grant may apply for $7,500 to $10,000 to support projects focused on capacity building, business space rehabilitation, placemaking, or arts and culture. 

Applications are due August 14. These grants are designed to help communities build on the momentum created through Reimagining Rural by investing in projects that strengthen local leadership, enhance downtowns, and create vibrant places to live and work. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and government entities, including schools. 

Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply at the Reimagining Rural grants page.

Save the Date

The Reimagining Rural Roadshow will be in Winnett on October 7. The roadshow's purpose is to bring rural community leaders, volunteers, and trailblazers together with regional and statewide agencies, organizations, and professionals under one roof.

More information, including a registration link, will be provided on the Montana Community Foundation and MSU Extension Reimagining Rural websites in the coming weeks.

Outreach Toolkit

Need to Send a Press Release? There's a Template for That

Montana Community Foundation has expanded its online marketing resources for local community foundations, offering customizable templates, one-page leave-behinds, press release templates, public service announcement templates, and other communications tools designed to help you tell your story.

Whether you're promoting a grant cycle, recruiting board members, thanking donors, or highlighting community impact, these resources can help you communicate more effectively.

Check out our Affiliate Resources to explore new tools and put them to work in your community

You can also watch our webinar to hear MCF’s Vice President of Communications Rebecca Connors highlight what resources are available.

Support for Nonprofits

Develop For Good is an organization that works with college students to build software for nonprofits, with the help of mentorship in the industry. Their mission is “to ensure every college student has the opportunity to gain real-world, high-impact tech experience, all while creating meaningful solutions for the nonprofit sector.”

For a $1,000 flat fee, nonprofits will work with a team for about 800 hours of technical work. Proposals for nonprofit projects are due September 6, 2026.

Learn more here.

Resources for Make-A-Will Month this August

August is Make-A-Will Month, offering local community foundations a timely opportunity to encourage residents to create or update their wills and consider the legacy they want to leave in their hometowns.

Through the Strive for 5 movement, you can remind community members that leaving just 5% of an estate to their local community foundation can make a lasting difference. These gifts can support scholarships, nonprofits, community projects, and permanent endowments that respond to changing needs for generations.

Use our communications package to craft an editorial for your local newspaper and find templates for content to use in your newsletter, website, social media, and in community conversations to share this simple message: You don’t need extraordinary wealth to create an extraordinary legacy. By providing for loved ones and leaving even a small portion to the community, everyone can help ensure the place they love continues to thrive.

You can also find the toolkit under the Marketing tab of our website.

This August, invite your neighbors to make a plan, share their values, and leave their community stronger.

Get the Materials Here

Come Work With Us

The Montana Community Foundation is excited to announce we’re hiring for a position to work with local community foundations and nonprofit partners.

The Community Vitality Program Officer, based in Yellowstone County, is part of the Impact Programs team and will provide support to local community foundations and nonprofit partners to help them thrive.

At MCF, you'll join a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to helping Montana thrive while enjoying competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth. Applications will be reviewed beginning July 22, 2026. Learn more about the position and how to apply here.