The Ila B Dousman Fund concentrates its philanthropy locally in Whitefish, MT, directing all of its known giving to community-focused charitable efforts. Its grants consistently support the Whitefish Community Foundation's Great Fish Challenge, indicating a preference for pooled, place-based fundraising that benefits multiple local nonprofits. The foundation appears to favor flexible, general charitable contributions rather than program-specific grants.
Highly concentrated: all documented grants were given to a single intermediary (Whitefish Community Foundation) across multiple disbursements, suggesting repeat, unrestricted support for a community grantmaking/fundraising vehicle rather than direct programmatic funding.
Ila B Dousman Fund Inc centers its giving on Whitefish and nearby Montana communities, and its largest recent grants show that pattern clearly: $72,000 in 2023, $51,000 in 2024, and $55,000 in 2025 all went to the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge. That repeated commitment points to a funder that prefers pooled, place-based support rather than one-off project grants. The foundation also adds smaller charitable contributions to local organizations, including North Valley Music School in Whitefish, Whitefish Community Foundation itself, and Alpine Theatre Company. Across the grant list, the recurring structure is consistent: relatively modest awards layered on top of a few larger community-wide gifts. The recipients span community fundraising, arts, education, housing, and civil liberties organizations, but the common thread is local charitable support in northwest Montana. The foundation’s giving profile suggests a steady role in sustaining organizations that serve the Whitefish area and surrounding Flathead Valley through flexible contributions rather than tightly defined program awards.
A defining theme is community fundraising in Whitefish. Ila B Dousman Fund Inc gave $72,000 in 2023, $51,000 in 2024, and $55,000 in 2025 to the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge - Multiple 501(c)(3), making that pooled campaign the clearest anchor in the grant record. The funder also supported the Whitefish Community Foundation directly with $5,000 in both 2023 and 2024. In the arts, they gave $5,000 in 2023 to North Valley Music School and $500 in 2024 to Alpine Theatre Company. Education and local capacity-building appear as well: Flathead Valley Community College Foundation received $1,500 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Salish Kootenai College Scholarship Fund received $1,500 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. These awards point to broad charitable support for community infrastructure rather than a single issue area.
The grant record shows a small-to-midrange pattern, with a typical grant size of $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $1,500 at the median, and $3,000 at the 75th percentile. Against that baseline, the foundation occasionally makes much larger community gifts through the Great Fish Challenge. Recipients also appear across multiple years, including the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge, Whitefish Community Foundation, Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, Salish Kootenai College Scholarship Fund, Montana Innocence Project, and ACLU of Montana Foundation. The awards are listed as charitable contributions, and the foundation does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$48K
$62K
$66K
$79K
Most grants fall between $1K and $3K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$3K
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Notable grantees: Whitefish Community Foundation — Great Fish Challenge (multiple 501(c)(3) recipients)
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Montana, with 94% of grants to recipients in the headquarters state and all known grants going to U.S. organizations. Whitefish is the main hub, through the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge, Whitefish Community Foundation, North Valley Music School, and Alpine Theatre Company. Other Montana recipients include Missoula, Kalispell, Pablo, Columbia Falls, Helena, Billings, and Fort Benton. One non-Montana recipient appears as Sacred Sites Research in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $1,500 at the median, and $3,000 at the 75th percentile. The fund also makes larger community gifts, including annual support for the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the Whitefish Community Foundation Great Fish Challenge, Whitefish Community Foundation, Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, Salish Kootenai College Scholarship Fund, Montana Innocence Project, and ACLU of Montana Foundation.
The grant list includes community fundraising, arts, education, housing, civil liberties, and local assistance. Named recipients include North Valley Music School, Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Montana Innocence Project, and Planned Parenthood of Montana.
Its grantmaking is concentrated in Montana: 94% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state, and the top state by grant count is also MT. Whitefish is the most visible city in the record, especially through the Great Fish Challenge and other local organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3) | WHITEFISH, MT | $30,250 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WHITEFISH, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA | BILLINGS, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | PABLO, MT | $1,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALISPELL, MT | $1,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SACRED SITES RESEARCH | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $1,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | KALISPELL, MT | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT | MISSOULA, MT | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3) | WHITEFISH, MT | $55,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA | BILLINGS, MT | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | KALISPELL, MT | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALISPELL, MT | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SACRED SITES RESEARCH | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | PABLO, MT | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT | MISSOULA, MT | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| IMAGINE LIBRARY FOUNDAITON | KALISPELL, MT | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| RIVER AND PLAINS SOCIETY | FORT BENTON, MT | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3) | WHITEFISH, MT | $51,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WHITEFISH, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA | BILLINGS, MT | $3,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $3,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MOUNTAIN HOME | MISSOULA, MT | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | PABLO, MT | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALISPELL, MT | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SACRED SITES RESEARCH | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| COLUMBIA FALLS CHILD ASSISTANCE TEAM | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| RIVER AND PLAINS SOCIETY | FORT BENTON, MT | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT | MISSOULA, MT | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ALPINE THEATRE COMPANY | WHITEFISH, MT | $500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH LIBRARY ASSOCIATION | WHITEFISH, MT | $250 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3) | WHITEFISH, MT | $72,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL | WHITEFISH, MT | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WHITEFISH, MT | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| INTERMOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT | HELENA, MT | $3,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WHITEFISH SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION | COLUMBIA FALLS, MT | $3,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | PABLO, MT | $1,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FLATHEAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | KALISPELL, MT | $1,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT | MISSOULA, MT | $1,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3)
$30,250CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$1,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SACRED SITES RESEARCH
$1,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$2,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SACRED SITES RESEARCH
$1,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
IMAGINE LIBRARY FOUNDAITON
$500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
RIVER AND PLAINS SOCIETY
$500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MONTANA
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ACLU OF MONTANA FOUNDATION
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WHITEFISH SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SACRED SITES RESEARCH
$1,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
COLUMBIA FALLS CHILD ASSISTANCE TEAM
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
RIVER AND PLAINS SOCIETY
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ALPINE THEATRE COMPANY
$500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WHITEFISH LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
$250CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GREAT FISH CHALLENGE - MULTIPLE 501(C)(3)
$72,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
INTERMOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WHITEFISH SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION
$3,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$1,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION