The Cadeau Foundation concentrates its giving on animal welfare and land/wildlife conservation in the Northern Rocky Mountain region (Montana/Idaho area), with a secondary strand of support for local family- and community-focused humanitarian services. It funds animal shelters, spay/neuter programs, wildlife rehabilitation centers and numerous regional land trusts and outdoor legacy organizations, typically providing substantial unrestricted or program-support grants. The foundation appears mission-driven toward protecting habitat and wildlife while also investing in rural community well-being.
A defining feature of Cadeau Foundation C/o Vicki J Rutter’s 2023 giving is its concentration in animal protection and land conservation across Montana and Idaho. At the top of the recent grants list, Friends of the Shelter Inc in Union, Kentucky received $338,770 for protection of animals, followed by Montana Land Reliance in Helena and Bitter Root Land Trust in Hamilton, each with more than $227,000 for land conservation. That pattern shows a funder willing to make substantial grants to both direct-service animal organizations and regional conservation groups. The foundation’s recipient list also includes wildlife and coexistence work, such as People & Carnivores in Bozeman, and wildlife rehabilitation through Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center in Kalispell. Humanitarian support appears alongside those priorities, with grants to groups such as Sanders County Coalition for Families in Thompson Falls, YWCA of Lewiston-clarkston in Lewiston, and Empower Mt in Missoula. The mix suggests a funder that links habitat protection, animal welfare, and rural community support rather than treating them as separate silos.
Land conservation is one of the clearest themes in the Cadeau Foundation C/o Vicki J Rutter portfolio. The foundation gave $227,472 to The Montana Land Reliance for land conservation and $227,471 to Bitter Root Land Trust for the same purpose, showing support for regional land-trust work in Montana. Animal welfare is equally prominent. It awarded $216,910 to Spay Montana for protection of animals and $203,912 to Flathead Spay & Neuter Task Force for the same purpose, alongside $176,290 to Second Chance Pet Rescue in Hayden, Idaho. The foundation also funds humanitarian and community services. Grants include $162,480 to Supporters of Abuse Free Environments in Hamilton for humanitarian programs and $155,981 to YWCA of Lewiston-clarkston in Lewiston for humanitarian programs. Educational and cultural support appears too, including $146,232 to Great Burn Study Group for educational programs and $135,670 to Hockaday Museum of Art for arts and culture.
Typical grant sizes cluster tightly around the mid-six-figure range: p25 is $135,670, the median is $146,232, and p75 is $162,480. Several grants recur at the same amount, including multiple awards at $146,232 and $135,670, which points to a fairly standardized grantmaking approach. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF or PRI vehicle. In the 2023 data, all grants went to U.S. recipients, and the recipient list shows a largely program-focused pattern across conservation, animal welfare, and humanitarian support.
$7.9M
$0
$1.8M
$8M
Most grants fall between $136K and $162K, with a median of $146K.
25th Percentile
$136K
Median
$146K
75th Percentile
$162K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MT.
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Concentrated, regionally targeted giving: relatively few, moderately large grants distributed among repeat categories (animal protection and land trusts). Funding is focused and consistent rather than broadly diversified—many similarly sized grants to mission-aligned nonprofits and recurring support for conservation and animal-welfare organizations, with occasional grants to local human services groups.
Notable grantees: Friends of the Shelter Inc, Montana Land Reliance, People & Carnivores, Flathead Land Trust, Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation
Grantmaking is national in scope, but Montana and Idaho dominate the recipient map. Montana recipients include Helena, Hamilton, Butte, Thompson Falls, Bozeman, Kalispell, Corvallis, Hungry Horse, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Missoula. Idaho recipients include Salmon, Hayden, Lewiston, Sandpoint, and Moscow. Outside that core region, the recent list also reaches Union, Kentucky; Reno, Nevada; and Spokane, Washington. The top state by grant count is Montana, while 0% of grants in the recent data went to Arizona.
Its recent grants center on land conservation, animal protection, wildlife conservation, and humanitarian programs. The recipient list includes land trusts, spay/neuter groups, shelters, wildlife rehabilitation, family support organizations, and a few arts and educational programs.
The distribution is tightly grouped in the mid-six-figure range. The 25th percentile is $135,670, the median is $146,232, and the 75th percentile is $162,480.
Montana is the top state by grant count in the recent data. Idaho is also heavily represented, and the recipient list includes cities such as Helena, Hamilton, Kalispell, Missoula, Salmon, Hayden, Lewiston, and Moscow.
Yes. The same broad priorities appear repeatedly: land conservation, protection of animals, and humanitarian programs. Those themes recur across multiple Montana and Idaho recipients, with additional grants for wildlife conservation, educational programs, and arts and culture.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER INC | UNION, KY | $338,770 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| THE MONTANA LAND RELIANCE | HELENA, MT | $227,472 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST | HAMILTON, MT | $227,471 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| SPAY MONTANA | BUTTE, MT | $216,910 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| THOMPSON RIVER ANIMAL CARE | THOMPSON FALLS, MT | $212,036 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| FLATHEAD SPAY & NEUTER TASK FORCE | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $203,912 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| PEOPLE & CARNIVORES | BOZEMAN, MT | $203,912 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| ANIMAL ARK | RENO, NV | $203,912 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| LEMHI COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | SALMON, ID | $203,231 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| KANIKSU LAND TRUST | SANDPOINT, ID | $189,289 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| MONTANA WILD WINGS RECOVERY CENTER | KALISPELL, MT | $176,290 | 2023 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION |
| SECOND CHANCE PET RESCUE | HAYDEN, ID | $176,290 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| SANDERS COUNTY COALITION FOR FAMILIES | THOMPSON FALLS, MT | $162,480 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| SUPPORTERS OF ABUSE FREE ENVIRONMENTS | HAMILTON, MT | $162,480 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| YWCA OF LEWISTON-CLARKSTON | LEWISTON, ID | $155,981 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| SELWAY BITTERROOT FRANK CHURCH FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $155,980 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| LEMHI REGIONAL LAND TRUST | SALMON, ID | $151,786 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| SAFE HAVEN LLAMA & ALPACA SANCTUARY | CORVALLIS, MT | $149,481 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS | HELENA, MT | $149,481 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS FOUNDATION | HUNGRY HORSE, MT | $148,669 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| FLATHEAD LAND TRUST | KALISPELL, MT | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| BITTER ROOT WATER FORUM | HAMILTON, MT | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| GREAT BURN STUDY GROUP | MISSOULA, MT | $146,232 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MONTANA'S OUTDOOR LEGACY FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| INLAND NORTHWEST LAND TRUST | SPOKANE, WA | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| PALOUSE LAND TRUST | MOSCOW, ID | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| WHITEFISH LAKE INSTITUTE | WHITEFISH, MT | $146,232 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| MONTANA HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK | HELENA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| EMPOWER MT | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| BONNER COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER | SANDPOINT, ID | $135,670 | 2023 | FOOD PROVISIONS |
| YWCA MISSOULA | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| CENTER FOR MUSIC | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | PERFORMING ARTS |
| MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| HOCKADAY MUSEUM OF ART | KALISPELL, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| TAMARACK GRIEF RESOURCE CENTER | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL | WHITEFISH, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| GARDEN CITY HARVEST | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | FOOD PROVISIONS |
| GLACIER SYMPHONY & CHORALE | KALISPELL, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | PERFORMING ARTS |
| SAFE HARBOR | RONAN, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| MISSOULA BUTTERFLY HOUSE | MISSOULA, MT | $135,670 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF INSECTS |
| SWAN VIEW COALITION | KALISPELL, MT | $132,421 | 2023 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST MONTANA | KALISPELL, MT | $122,672 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
| BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE | OVANDO, MT | $119,422 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| FRIENDS OF SCOTCHMAN PEAKS | SANDPOINT, ID | $119,422 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| KOOTENAI ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE | COUR DALENE, ID | $117,798 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| CASA FOR KIDS | KALISPELL, MT | $108,049 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| LIBBY FOOD PANTRY | LIBBY, MT | $108,049 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS |
| CLEARWATER RESROUCE COUNCIL | SEELEY LAKE, MT | $105,612 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| YAAK VALLEY FOREST COUNCIL | TROY, MT | $99,113 | 2023 | LAND CONSERVATION |
| LEWIS & CLARK HUMANE SOCIETY | HELENA, MT | $95,051 | 2023 | PROTECTION OF ANIMALS |
FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER INC
$338,770PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
BITTER ROOT LAND TRUST
$227,471LAND CONSERVATION
SPAY MONTANA
$216,910PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
THOMPSON RIVER ANIMAL CARE
$212,036PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
FLATHEAD SPAY & NEUTER TASK FORCE
$203,912PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
ANIMAL ARK
$203,912PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
LEMHI COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$203,231PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
MONTANA WILD WINGS RECOVERY CENTER
$176,290WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
SECOND CHANCE PET RESCUE
$176,290PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
SANDERS COUNTY COALITION FOR FAMILIES
$162,480HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
SUPPORTERS OF ABUSE FREE ENVIRONMENTS
$162,480HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
YWCA OF LEWISTON-CLARKSTON
$155,981HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
SELWAY BITTERROOT FRANK CHURCH FOUNDATION
$155,980HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
LEMHI REGIONAL LAND TRUST
$151,786LAND CONSERVATION
SAFE HAVEN LLAMA & ALPACA SANCTUARY
$149,481PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS
$149,481PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
FLATHEAD LAND TRUST
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
BITTER ROOT WATER FORUM
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
GREAT BURN STUDY GROUP
$146,232EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MONTANA'S OUTDOOR LEGACY FOUNDATION
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
INLAND NORTHWEST LAND TRUST
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
PALOUSE LAND TRUST
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
WHITEFISH LAKE INSTITUTE
$146,232LAND CONSERVATION
MONTANA HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK
$135,670HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
EMPOWER MT
$135,670HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
CENTER FOR MUSIC
$135,670PERFORMING ARTS
HOCKADAY MUSEUM OF ART
$135,670ARTS AND CULTURE
GARDEN CITY HARVEST
$135,670FOOD PROVISIONS
GLACIER SYMPHONY & CHORALE
$135,670PERFORMING ARTS
SAFE HARBOR
$135,670HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
SWAN VIEW COALITION
$132,421WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
HUMANE SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST MONTANA
$122,672PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
FRIENDS OF SCOTCHMAN PEAKS
$119,422LAND CONSERVATION
KOOTENAI ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE
$117,798LAND CONSERVATION
LIBBY FOOD PANTRY
$108,049HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS
CLEARWATER RESROUCE COUNCIL
$105,612LAND CONSERVATION
LEWIS & CLARK HUMANE SOCIETY
$95,051PROTECTION OF ANIMALS