The Dowd Family Foundation concentrates its giving on local Big Sky-area community life, with particularly large, repeat support for a local animal rescue/sanctuary. Their grants also fund community institutions that serve families and youth — including school parent organizations, youth hockey, and local community foundations — suggesting a place-based focus on quality of life and recreation in their mountain community. The foundation tends to make a small number of substantial awards rather than many small gifts.
A defining thread in Dowd Family Foundation giving is repeat, high-dollar support for Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary, which received $445,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio that backs place-based community life, school enrichment, youth athletics, and local charitable intermediaries. The foundation’s recent awards include major support for Big Sky Community Organization, Big Sky School District PTO, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, and Gallatin Ice Foundation, showing how its funding moves between animal care and the institutions that shape daily life in and around Big Sky. The portfolio is not dominated by many small checks; instead, it uses a limited number of substantial grants, with awards frequently at five figures and above. Some grants stay close to the foundation’s mountain-community roots, while others extend to organizations in other states, including youth sports, health, and community-service groups. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor direct support rather than highly specialized funding mechanisms, with “SUPPORT” listed as the purpose on the grants provided.
Animal rescue is the clearest cause area in the recent record. Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary received $445,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025, making it the largest recurring recipient in the data. The foundation also supports community institutions that serve families and youth. Big Sky Community Organization received $110,000 in 2023, while Big Sky School District PTO received $50,680 in 2025 and $10,150 in 2024. Youth sports and recreation are another visible theme. Mt 64 Hockey Association Inc received $100,000 in 2025, and Gallatin Ice Foundation received $25,000 in 2025. The foundation also funds local grantmaking and community infrastructure through Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, which received $50,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2023.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range: p25 is $6,250, median is $10,000, and p75 is $25,000. The distribution includes a smaller number of larger awards, such as $445,000 and $200,000 to the same recipient in different years. Repeated support is visible across the recent grants list, including the same organizations appearing in multiple years and sometimes at the same dollar level. The foundation is a private family foundation by name and structure, funds individuals: false, and makes program-related investments: false. All listed grants are marked as SUPPORT, suggesting straightforward direct grants rather than program-specific sub-awards or other financing structures.
$1M
$8.6M
$1.4M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $6K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, place-based giving: a small portfolio of relatively large grants with repeat, sizable support to a single flagship grantee (Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary) alongside multi-thousand-dollar gifts to local education, youth sports, and community organizations.
Notable grantees: Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Big Sky Community Organization, MT 64 Hockey Association Inc, Big Sky School District PTO, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation
Most grants go to U.S. recipients, and 50% of grants are in Montana. Big Sky, Bozeman, and Gallatin Gateway appear often in the recent list, alongside a smaller set of recipients in other states. Illinois is the top state by grant count, helped by awards to Glen Ellyn and Joliet. Other recipient locations include Memphis, Wynnewood, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay, Dallas, and Tampa, showing a national spread even as the portfolio remains anchored in Montana.
The middle of the distribution is $10,000, with the 25th percentile at $6,250 and the 75th percentile at $25,000. The recent list also includes larger outliers, including grants of $445,000, $200,000, and $110,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Eagle Mount Bozeman, Big Sky School District PTO, Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, and Miracle League of Joliet.
The recent grants point to animal rescue, community infrastructure, youth sports and recreation, K–12 parent-school support, and local grantmaking through community foundations. Examples include Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Big Sky Community Organization, Mt 64 Hockey Association Inc, Big Sky School District PTO, and Yellowstone Club Community Foundation.
Montana accounts for 50% of grants by recipient location, and the recent list repeatedly names Big Sky, Bozeman, and Gallatin Gateway. Illinois is the top state by grant count overall, with recipients in Glen Ellyn and Joliet.
In the recent grants list, every award is labeled SUPPORT. The foundation also does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, based on the profile data.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GALLATIN ICE FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $525,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | WEBSTER, FL | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF BIRCHWOOD WI | BIRCHWOOD, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| EAGLE MOUNT BOZEMAN | BOZEMAN, MT | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| YELLOWSTONE CLUB COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $27,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE LEAGUE OF NORTHAMPTON | EASTON, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BIG SKY, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE BILLY POOLE FOUNDATION | ANACONDA, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | WEBSTER, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| MT 64 HOCKEY ASSOCIATION INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PTO | GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT | $50,680 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| YELLOWSTONE CLUB COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| EAGLE MOUNT BOZEMAN | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| GALLATIN ICE FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| THE WEITZMAN | TAMPA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE LEAGUE OF JOLIET | JOLIET, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | WEBSTER, FL | $445,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| EAGLE MOUNT BOZEMAN | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BIG SKY, MT | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PTO | GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT | $10,150 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY COMMUNITY LIBRARY | GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BIRCHWOOD FOUR CORNERS EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT | BIRCHWOOD, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION | BIG SKY, MT | $110,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SAGINAW COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SAGINAW, MI | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| YELLOWSTONE CLUB COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BIG SKY, MT | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SAMUEL COZEN FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY BRAVERY | BOZEMAN, MT | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| THE BILLY POOLE FOUNDATION | ANACONDA, MT | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| TEAM GLEASON FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| EAGLE MOUNT BOZEMAN | BOZEMAN, MT | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| GLEN ELLYN FOORD BANK | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE LEAGUE OF NORTHAMPTON | EASTON, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREEN BAY | GREEN BAY, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE LEAGUE OF JOLIET | JOLIET, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BIG SKY COUNTRY | BOZEMAN, MT | $2,500 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| PINK HEALS JOLIET AREA CHAPTER | CHANNAHON, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PIE AUCTION | GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT | $200 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
GALLATIN ICE FOUNDATION
$525,000SUPPORT
CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$300,000SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF BIRCHWOOD WI
$50,000SUPPORT
MIRACLE LEAGUE OF NORTHAMPTON
$25,000SUPPORT
THE BILLY POOLE FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT
CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$200,000SUPPORT
MT 64 HOCKEY ASSOCIATION INC
$100,000SUPPORT
BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PTO
$50,680SUPPORT
GALLATIN ICE FOUNDATION
$25,000SUPPORT
THE WEITZMAN
$10,000SUPPORT
MIRACLE LEAGUE OF JOLIET
$5,000SUPPORT
CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$445,000SUPPORT
BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PTO
$10,150SUPPORT
BIG SKY COMMUNITY LIBRARY
$5,000SUPPORT
BIRCHWOOD FOUR CORNERS EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT
$5,000SUPPORT
SAMUEL COZEN FUND
$15,000SUPPORT
BIG SKY BRAVERY
$10,000SUPPORT
THE BILLY POOLE FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT
BIG SKY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
$10,000SUPPORT
GLEN ELLYN FOORD BANK
$10,000SUPPORT
MIRACLE LEAGUE OF NORTHAMPTON
$10,000SUPPORT
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREEN BAY
$10,000SUPPORT
MIRACLE LEAGUE OF JOLIET
$5,000SUPPORT
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BIG SKY COUNTRY
$2,500SUPPORT
PINK HEALS JOLIET AREA CHAPTER
$1,000SUPPORT
BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT PIE AUCTION
$200SUPPORT