Letter from the Gift and Estate Planning Team | |
|
Dear Friends,
As 2023 is coming to an end, you might be thinking about the causes that matter most to you so you can best meet your philanthropic goals. If so, we’ve created a quick guide to help you make these important decisions.
First, determine which cause or causes you want to support. If you're unsure about where to begin, ask yourself:
- What causes interest or excite me?
- What problems do I hope to see addressed?
- Is there a specific area where I have expertise or want to learn more?
- What opportunities have changed my life and should be available to others?
- What groups of people do I care most about supporting?
How can the Montana Community Foundation (MCF) help with these goals?
Once you’ve identified the cause you want to support, you’re ready to focus on the best ways to meet your charitable and financial goals. Here are some giving options:
-
Donor Advised Funds: You can establish a Donor Advised Fund at MCF to give to the causes you care about. You can name your fund and endow it to ensure it will honor your legacy.
- Donor Designated Funds: You can name a specific charitable organization to receive your generosity.
- Charitable Trusts
- Charitable Gift Annuities
MCF administers HUNDREDS of funds – we can help you find or create the fund that best meets your goals.
There are many ways you can fund a new fund or support an existing fund. Cash, real estate, or appreciated stocks can be used. You could also use your retirement account by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution. Beneficiary designations of your life insurance policies, IRA accounts, and bank and brokerage accounts are additional ways to support the causes you care about.
As your partner in philanthropy, we’re here to help you find the charitable giving option that works best for you and the causes you care about.
Together, we can preserve what makes Montana special and ensure a vibrant future for our state.
Sincerely,
The MCF Gift and Estate Planning Team
| |
P.S. If you have any questions about these options or how to structure your charitable giving, our Gift and Estate Planning team is available to assist you. Just call (406) 443-8313 or email giving@mtcf.org. | |
|
Celebrating 35 Years
MCF History Highlight
| |
|
In August 2005, MCF launched the LCF+ program; a challenge to encourage contributions to Local Community Foundation (LCF) endowments in return for re-granting funds from MCF. Twenty-one local community foundations enrolled in the challenge. The first to successfully cross the “challenge” finish line were the Seeley Lake Community Foundation and the Blackfeet Community.
Nearly twenty years later, in January 2024, MCF will be relaunching the LCF+ program to encourage LCF affiliates to grow their unrestricted endowed assets. The LCF+ Incentive Program will allow LCFs to invest additional funds within their communities to make an impact now and forever. Over the course of the LCF+ Incentive Program, MCF will distribute more than $1 million to LCFs across Montana.
| |
Women's Foundation of Montana 2023 Grantees! | |
|
The Women's Foundation of Montana (WFM) is thrilled to share with you the organizations funded through WFM's spring grant cycle. The WFM Advisory Committee selected 11 grantee partners using our newly adopted strategic grantmaking framework. The grantee partners represent communities across our state and use a mix of direct service, public policy advocacy, community organizing, and leadership development strategies to advance women’s economic security. See all 2023 grantees here.
| |
Rebecca Connors – Director of Marketing and Communications | |
|
MCF is excited to announce Rebecca Connors has joined the team to lead Marketing and Communications.
"What a rare opportunity to be part of an organization that is so generous to Montana communities as well as its team members," noted Rebecca. "I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started.”
Rebecca's background is steeped in leadership, public relations, marketing, and project management. When not in the office, she enjoys being with her husband, two pups, and five horses. Together, they train ranch performance horses, ski, hike, camp, and enjoy everything Montana has to offer. Originally from Pennsylvania, Rebecca moved to Montana in 2008 to attend graduate school at Montana State University.
| |
Alley Fontenot – Gift & Estate Planning Director (Missoula) | |
|
MCF is also excited to announce that Alley Fontenot has joined the team as a Gift & Estate Planning Director, located in Missoula.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work for such a well-respected organization,” says Alley, “and return to working in the philanthropy field.”
Alley started her professional career as an attorney, where she learned collaborative thinking, the ability to engage people in conversations, and active listening.
After many years as a sales representative and customer success manager, Alley pivoted her career to development. Where she’s been successful at creating and implementing strategic fundraising plans.
Alley has lived in Montana (mostly Missoula), on and off, since 1993, and is active and engaged in the community. She is an avid whitewater kayaker, yoga teacher and practitioner, downhill skier, dog walker/hiker, and dancer.
| |
October 10th is World Mental Health Day | |
|
World Mental Health Day, first celebrated in 1992, is about raising awareness and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.
“World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ to improve knowledge, raise awareness, and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.” – World Health Organization (WHO)
Montana has one of the highest suicide rates in the Country while accessing mental health services across the State remains a challenge for many. Historically there has been a lack of mental health services, especially in remote areas and tribal communities.
The Montana Mental Health Access Fund was established at MCF in 2021 by Frontier Psychiatry and AMB West Philanthropies to increase access to mental health services across Montana, with a focus on rural and tribal communities.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), Tribal Defender’s Office (located on the Flathead Reservation) along with Partners for Justice, recently received a $10,000 grant from MMHAF. Their program for incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use disorders was hindered by delayed access to necessary services, resulting in negative impacts on low-income individuals and their families. These funds will support Mental Health Client Advocates to increase engagement with incarcerated individuals and advocate for new responses to social, economic, and health problems driving arrests and criminal charges on the Flathead Reservation.
Your gift to the Montana Mental Health Access Fund helps further the impact of this important work and supports Montanans now and forever.
Learn more about MMHAF and give to the fund.
| |
|
Blaine County Grant Cycle
Deadline to Apply: October 15, 2023
| |
|
Blaine County Community Foundation Fund grants must be used for projects benefiting communities or residents in Blaine County, the grantee organization does not need to be based in Blaine County. Only one application is allowed per organization.
Eligible projects must provide a direct benefit to residents, be sustainable, and address important, unmet needs. Ineligible projects include conferences, workshops, planning, research, untested projects, and partisan or sectarian activities.
Grants will range in size from $500 to $2,000.
Learn more and apply for a grant now.
| |
|
Hill County Grant Cycle
Deadline to Apply: October 31, 2023
| |
|
Hill County Community Foundation (HCCF) strives to fund projects that show sustainability and potential for long-term and meaningful impact, address underlying causes of an issue, define clear objectives and align with the HCCF mission and values. Applications for operating funds or salaries will not be considered.
HCCF Grants are awarded in three focus areas:
· Arts and Culture
· Basic Human Needs
· Community/County Beautification
Grants will range in size from $500 to $1000.
| |
Consider Making Grant Recommendations Now | |
|
If you have a Donor Advised Fund at MCF, now is a great time to make grant recommendations. Due to the high volume of recommendations that are made in December, your grant awards may be significantly delayed if you wait until the end of the year.
It’s easy to make your year-end recommendations on our donor portal. Not registered? Register here. (Please allow at least 1-2 business days after you register to complete the process.) If you need assistance, please contact Cathy Cooney, Director of Donor Services, at 406-441-4954 or ccooney@mtcf.org.
| | | | |
