The Foundation for Christian Schools is focused on supporting Christian K–12 and higher education and affiliated religious institutions, prioritizing operational and scholarship support for faith-based schools and colleges. Grants are often unrestricted operating dollars or scholarships, and the foundation favors conservative Christian institutions (Lutheran and broadly evangelical) across Montana and to a lesser extent national Christian colleges. Their giving emphasizes keeping faith-based schools solvent and accessible through tuition assistance and core support.
A repeated pattern defines Foundation for Christian Schools: its largest grants have gone to Covenant College, including $200,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2025 for operations, with another $100,000 in 2024 also designated for unrestricted operating support. That makes the foundation’s approach clear at the top end of its giving: it favors core funding for Christian higher education rather than project-only awards. The same pattern appears in its support for tuition assistance and school infrastructure. ACE Scholarships Montana received $80,000 in 2023 and $60,000 in 2024 for scholarships, while The Oaks received operating support in 2024 and 2025. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs Christian K–12 schools, colleges, and affiliated religious institutions through operating dollars, scholarships, and general institutional support. Its recent recipients include Montana schools and ministries as well as Christian colleges outside Montana, showing a mix of local commitments and broader faith-based education support. The grant descriptions consistently point to keeping schools and colleges solvent, accessible, and able to cover core expenses.
Operational support is a major theme. Stillwater Free Lutheran Church received $50,000 in 2024 and $45,000 in 2023 for operational support, while Heritage Academy Inc. in Kalispell received $50,000 in 2023 for unrestricted operations. The foundation also supports Christian school tuition aid: Ace Scholarships Montana received $80,000 in 2023 and $60,000 in 2024 for scholarships, and Stillwater Christian School received $6,000 in 2023 for scholarships. Higher-education support is another clear lane. Covenant College was given $200,000 in 2023, $100,000 in 2024, and $150,000 in 2025, each tied to operating support. The Oaks also received $40,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025 for operational or general operating funds.
Typical grants cluster around mid-five figures: the p25 is $35,000, the median is $50,000, and the p75 is $70,000. The pattern is repeat support rather than one-off awards: Covenant College, Ace Scholarships, Stillwater Free Lutheran Church, The Oaks, and Stillwater Christian School all appear in multiple years. The foundation gives straightforward operating support, unrestricted funds, scholarships, and general operating funds. It does not fund individuals directly, and the data does not show an application process.
$297K
$2.5M
$182K
$430K
Most grants fall between $35K and $70K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$70K
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Concentrated, mission-aligned giving: a small portfolio (17 grants, ~$968k) with large, repeat commitments to a few core grantees (Covenant College and ACE Scholarships), plus mid-size operational grants to multiple Montana Christian schools. Grants skew toward unrestricted operating and scholarship support rather than project-specific funding.
Notable grantees: Covenant College, ACE Scholarships / ACE Scholarships Montana, Stillwater Free Lutheran Church / Stillwater Christian School, Heritage Academy, The Oaks
Grant recipients are all in the United States, with 17 grants and 100% of awards going to US organizations. Montana is the top state by grant count, accounting for 54% of grants. Recent Montana recipients include Kalispell, Polson, and statewide scholarship support routed through Denver. Outside Montana, the foundation has funded Lookout Mountain, Georgia; Spokane Valley, Washington; and Denver, Colorado. The geographic pattern is regional, with most awards landing in Montana but some support reaching national Christian education organizations.
Its recent grants go to Christian K–12 schools, Christian colleges, scholarship organizations, and church-affiliated ministries. Named recipients include Covenant College, ACE Scholarships Montana, Stillwater Christian School, The Oaks, Heritage Academy Inc., and Stillwater Free Lutheran Church.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-five figures: p25 is $35,000, median is $50,000, and p75 is $70,000. Recent awards range from $6,000 to $200,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Covenant College in 2023, 2024, and 2025; ACE Scholarships Montana in 2023 and 2024; Stillwater Free Lutheran Church in 2023 and 2024; and Stillwater Christian School in 2023 and 2025.
Montana is the top state by grant count, with 54% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Montana recipients include organizations in Kalispell and Polson.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVENANT COLLEGE | LOOKOUT MTN, GA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS | DENVER, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| OAKS | SPOKANE VALLEY, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | KALISPELL, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| MISSION VALLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | POLSON, MT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| ST MATTHEWS SCHOOL | KALISPELL, MT | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| COVENANT COLLEGE | LOOKOUT MTN, GA | $100,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS MONTANA | DENVER, CO | $60,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| STILLWATER FREE LUTHERAN CHUR | KALISPELL, MT | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| THE OAKS | SPOKANE VALLEY, WA | $40,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MISSION VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACAD | POLSON, MT | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MONTANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | KALISPELL, MT | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| COVENANT COLLEGE | LOOKOUT MTN, GA | $200,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS MONTANA | DENVER, CO | $80,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HERITAGE ACADEMY INC | KALISPELL, MT | $50,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS |
| STILLWATER FREE LUTHERAN CHUR | KALISPELL, MT | $45,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | KALISPELL, MT | $6,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
COVENANT COLLEGE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
ACE SCHOLARSHIPS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
OAKS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
MISSION VALLEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
ST MATTHEWS SCHOOL
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS
STILLWATER FREE LUTHERAN CHUR
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MISSION VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACAD
$30,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MONTANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$10,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
HERITAGE ACADEMY INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS
STILLWATER FREE LUTHERAN CHUR
$45,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT