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Dear Friends,
There is nothing quite like summer in Montana. It is one of the many reminders of why I love living in the Last Best Place.
This spring and summer, I have also had the privilege of connecting with many of you at our anniversary parties across the state. What a great reminder of how many amazing friends and partners we have here in Montana!
In this time of celebration, know that we are celebrating you, our partners, who have made this work possible. It is through your generosity, your support, and your partnership that MCF is what it is today. Together we are building a better Montana.
What started 35 years ago in Billings by a group who believed a statewide community foundation could work continues to make an impact on local communities and is helping preserve what we love about Montana for future generations. That is the power of building permanent philanthropy to benefit our state.
This month, we are also celebrating a recent big milestone. The MCF Board of Directors approved a Montana Impact Investing Policy that will enable us to invest up to 5% of our investable assets in Montana investment opportunities. It is one way we can have an even greater positive impact on Montana. We have much work to do as we finalize how we will make these investments. We expect to make our first investment toward the end of 2024.
Thank you for celebrating with us and for your continued support of MCF and Montana.
Sincerely,
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P.S. Our statewide 35th anniversary celebration continues! You’re invited to join us for our final party happening in Bozeman this Thursday, August 3. Learn more and RSVP here. | |
Montana Community Foundation, History Highlight | |
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The Women’s Foundation of Montana (WFM) was established at the Montana Community Foundation in August of 1999 with a $500,000 challenge grant from the Chambers Initiative. Merle Chambers, President of Chambers Family Fund, envisioned a permanent resource for women and girls. She partnered with community foundations in several states to create new statewide women’s funds. Today, Merle’s generosity can be seen through the work of Women’s Foundation of Montana, Women’s Foundation of Oklahoma, and the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, as well as with many other organizations.
Each Women’s Foundation established an advisory committee of knowledgeable, committed women who were dedicated to creating a lasting source of support for organizations serving women and girls, building women’s philanthropy, and promoting systems change. Merle Chambers, as one of the initial members of the WFM Advisory Committee, contributed her time, knowledge, and vision to improve the lives of women and girls. In January 2005, the $500,000 from the Chambers Family Fund was matched dollar-for-dollar to establish the initial $1 million of the permanent endowment for WFM.
Next year marks 25 years of WFM’s work of advancing the economic security of women and creating a brighter future for girls. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you. For more news and updates about WFM, you can subscribe to our Ignite newsletter, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website.
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MCF Board of Directors Meeting in Red Lodge | |
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Last month, our Board of Directors met in the beautiful town of Red Lodge. We are so appreciative of our board, a thoughtful and supportive group of individuals who are committed to our mission.
A big highlight was hearing from some wonderful organizations doing amazing work in their communities, including participants of the ReImagining Rural program.
The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF) was a gracious host and is doing incredible work in their community. Tracy Timmons, Executive Director, shared highlights of the organization’s work. Our board, staff, and guests were treated to a field trip to experience the work for themselves.
Special thanks to Red Lodge Fire Rescue for the tour of their facility and the chance to see some state-of-art equipment that is helping better fight fires in Montana.
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Staple Bar Ranch Fund Hopes to Inspire Future Donors | |
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On July 15th, the Evans family and MCF jointly acknowledged the Staple Bar Ranch Fund’s $500,000 matching contribution to the revitalization project of the Judith Basin County Fairgrounds. The family was recognized at a presentation at the Quick Finish Art & Auction located at the Judith Basin Country Fairgrounds in Stanford, Montana.
The Stable Bar Ranch Fund was established in 2014 at MCF. The fund is named after the family ranch still in operation just outside Stanford. Tom and Frieda Evans passed away in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Through this significant contribution to a community project, the Evans family honors their parents (Tom and Frieda) and carries on their initial hope for the fund which was to support the Stanford community.
Learn more here.
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Eastern Montana Communities Receive More than $230,000 to Support Community Projects | |
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This month, Grid United and MCF awarded the first round of grants from the Community Investment Program (CIP). The grants totaled $232,434 and were awarded to organizations in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties to support work that enhances and strengthens their communities.
The organizations to which grants have been awarded include everything from helping a local Moose Lodge make ADA upgrades and provide a free community gathering space to helping an organization address urgent needs around the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis and equipping a library with computers and mobile routers to bridge the digital divide.
CIP was established at MCF by Grid United and supports communities in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon County, where Grid United’s North Plains Connector, a transmission line connecting U.S. eastern and western electric grids in Montana and North Dakota, will be located. Grid United is dedicated to partnering with these communities; as a result, CIP funds support innovative projects that enhance quality of life while strengthening communities in this corner of Eastern Montana.
Learn more here.
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Update on Recent Changes to MCF's Community Impact Fee Schedule | |
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Community Impact Fees provide MCF with funding that enables us to meet our mission: to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish.
The MCF Board of Directors annually reviews and adjusts, when necessary, Community Impact Fees. At the June meeting, the Board made a few changes to the Community Impact Fees.
The changes are effective July 1, 2023. The current Community Impact Fee Schedule can be found here.
Fees for endowed Local Community Foundation Funds, endowed Donor Advised Funds, endowed Donor Designated Funds, and Agency Funds remain unchanged.
Changes affect the following fund types:
- The annual fee for planned gifts up to $1 million is 2.5%.
- The annual fee on non-permanent
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The annual fee for planned gifts made through the Partners for Montana’s Future program has increased by 0.25%.
For questions, please contact us at (406) 443-8313 or info@mtcf.org.
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Gift and Estate Planning Director
The Gift and Estate Planning Director is an integral part of a team of professionals dedicated to growing philanthropy in Montana. The position reports to the Vice President of Philanthropy and works closely with other teammates in achieving MCF’s mission of cultivating a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish.
Learn more and apply here. (closes today)
Marketing and Communications Director
The Marketing and Communications Director (Director) is primarily responsible for developing and implementing the strategic marketing plan in support of the Montana Community Foundation’s (MCF) mission. This includes managing the department and supervising a team of dedicated professionals. The position is responsible for designing, planning, implementing, and assessing the Foundation’s marketing strategies, communications efforts, and public relations activities, both external and internal.
Learn more and apply here.
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