Foundation News
November Infinity 2025
November 17, 2025
November 2025
Letter from Mary
Dear Friends,
Every Montanan has a story about a place, a neighbor, or a teacher that shaped their life. Those moments remind us how much our communities give to us, often without asking for anything in return. It’s a simple idea: when we succeed, we have the opportunity to give back, to ensure that the places and people we care about can thrive for generations.
That’s the spirit behind community foundations. More than a century ago, Cleveland businessman Frederick H. Goff imagined a way for charitable gifts to be pooled together and invested for the good of the community, forever. His vision became the first community foundation, and today more than 900 exist across the country, distributing billions of dollars each year to strengthen the places we call home.
Community Foundation Week (November 12-18) was created in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush to recognize and celebrate the work of community foundations and their collaborative, innovative approach to addressing local needs.
Here in Montana, that impact is profound. The Montana Community Foundation (MCF) manages nearly 2,000 philanthropic funds and planned gifts, and since our founding in 1988, we’ve reinvested more than $122 million across the state through scholarships, grants, and programs. Our 45 local community foundation affiliates collectively put more than $1 million back into their communities every year.
These gifts, large and small, make a real difference: new radios for the volunteer fire department in Boulder, free art classes for seniors in Glendive, bike helmets for kids in Havre, public transportation in Carbon County, and scholarships for every graduate in West Yellowstone.
As this week of celebration comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on how the power of giving is shaping Montana’s future. Community foundations are about more than funds, they are about people coming together to strengthen the places we love. Every donation, every volunteer hour, every act of generosity contributes to a Montana where families, neighbors, and communities can thrive now and in the future.
Thank you for being a part of this remarkable work and for helping build a brighter future for all Montanans.
Sincerely,
Honoring Montana's Heroes
As we celebrated Veterans Day last week, we reflected on the enduring impact of the Montana Veterans Fund (MVF). Since 2012, MVF has honored and supported Montana’s veterans—from helping 750 heroes visit their memorials through the Big Sky Honor Flight to funding programs that strengthen veterans’ well-being today.
In 2025, MVF awarded $5,000 to Hoodies for Heroes to help build a Memorial Wall honoring 49 Montana casualties since the Vietnam War. The wall will serve as a lasting tribute and a place of healing for families and communities.
Continue honoring Montana’s veterans by contributing to the Montana Veterans Fund. Your gift sustains programs supporting veterans’ health, healing, and transition to civilian life.
Images that Shape Montana Contest Winners
This fall, the Montana Community Foundation hosted its first Images that Shape Montana contest, inviting artists and photographers from across the state to share how philanthropy shapes our communities, landscapes, and future.
Thirty-six artists submitted works reflecting generosity and positive change across MCF’s four impact areas: Education, Equity & Culture; Community & Economic Vitality; Land & Resiliency; and Health & Well-being.
Together, these powerful images capture the spirit of giving and the beauty of Montana under the Big Sky.
- Grand Prize Winner – Jordan Lefter
- Category Winner: Community and Economic Vitality – Jessica Bower
- Category Winner: Education, Equity & Culture – Andrew “AJ” Butler
- Category Winner: Health & Well-being – Jordan Lefter
- Category Winner: Land & Resiliency – Bulbul Majumder
View the artwork and learn more about the winners.
Impact Under the Big Sky Podcast is now on Apple Podcasts
You can find our monthly podcast now on Apple Podcasts along with Spotify and YouTube.
In October, we released Episode Eight. Host Heather Ohs is joined by estate planning experts Jessica Stewart-Kuntz and Jim Bennett from MCF to unpack one of Montana’s most powerful giving tools—the Montana Endowment Tax Credit (METC). They explore how this unique state tax credit encourages legacy giving, helps donors make a lasting impact, and supports communities across the Big Sky State. Whether you're a donor, advisor, or nonprofit leader, this conversation offers valuable insights into how MCF can help you turn generosity into long-term change.
Navigating Year-End Giving:
We’re Here to Help Your Gifts Shine in 2025
As the holiday season approaches, our minds turn to festive gatherings, twinkling lights, and, of course, the joy of giving. If you're considering making a charitable impact before the year end, we've got some key dates and tips to make your year-end giving a seamless success.
Important Dates to Pencil In:
- December 8 (Monday): Transfers of mutual funds may take additional time and should be made by December 8.
- December 22 (Monday): Gifts of appreciated stock and wire transfers should be made by Monday, December 22 to ensure they will be received by December 31st. Notify MCF before initiating the transfer.
- December 24-25; 31: The last week and a half of the calendar year! Offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25.
Why December 31st Matters:
- Gift Settlement Deadline: The 31st isn't just any Wednesday; it's the deadline for gifts to settle and be considered part of your 2025 contributions. So, if you want your generosity to reflect in the upcoming tax year, this is your date. However, we recommend making your gift earlier than this date for a seamless transaction.
Learn more about year-end giving here.
Legacies That Strengthen Communities
In Stanford, Montana, the Staple Bar Ranch Fund shows how one family’s generosity can transform a small-town community. Established in 2014 by Tom and Freda Evans through MCF, the fund continues the Evans family legacy of giving back.
With a $500,000 matching grant to revitalize the Judith Basin County Fairgrounds and more than $264,000 granted to the local library, the fund has become a catalyst for growth, learning, and connection in Judith Basin County.
The Staple Bar Ranch Fund is a model for rural philanthropy, rooted in family, strengthened by community, and sustained through partnership with MCF.
Read more about the Staple Bar Ranch Fund and how it’s shaping Stanford’s future.
How a DAF Inspires Generational Giving
Two years ago, the Ohs family established the David and Heather Ohs Charitable Fund, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), at the Montana Community Foundation. While the Montana Endowment Tax Credit was a helpful incentive that offset their state income taxes, the most meaningful reason they opened a DAF was to encourage second-generation giving by creating a structured way to engage their teenage daughters in philanthropy.
Heather is a Gift & Estate Planning Director for the Montana Community Foundation and has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
