The Aj Blain Foundation appears to prioritize local capacity-building and direct support for children/youth programs in Montana, often funding professional coaching/consulting services and philanthropic or program support for child-focused organizations and a regional college. Much of its giving is to a small set of recipients — including repeat awards to individual consultants — suggesting a hands-on, service-oriented approach to strengthening nonprofits and leaders rather than broad public fundraising.
The Aj Blain Foundation stands out for its repeated support of leadership coaching and facilitative training, especially in Billings and across Montana. Among its largest recent grants are several awards to Diana Shay Pllc for coaching, including $32,500 in 2023, $13,500 in 2024, and $14,000 in 2025, alongside repeated support for Tim Davis Consulting and Gravitas Leadership Institute. That pattern points to a funder that backs people and organizations through direct capacity-building rather than only through traditional program grants. The foundation also supports youth-serving and education-related work. Friends of the Children received $16,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025 for philanthropic purposes, while Rocky Mountain College received $14,600 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024. Those grants sit alongside awards for aviation-related and school-based projects, showing a consistent interest in initiatives that combine leadership development, education, and community support. Its grant activity is compact and local in reach, with a small group of recurring recipients appearing across multiple years. Recent awards also include Elysian School, Junior League of Billings, Eagle Mount Billings, and Civil Air Patrol Beartooth Composite.
Leadership development is a central theme in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $10,000 in 2023 to Gravitas Leadership Institute, $9,500 in 2025, and $7,500 in 2024 for coaching, which suggests sustained support for professional development over multiple years. It also gave $2,500 in 2023 to Hatch for assistance with a facilitative leadership summit. Youth and family-serving organizations also appear regularly. Friends of the Children received $16,000 in 2024, and Friends of Children received $15,000 in 2025, both for philanthropic purposes. In Billings, Junior League of Billings received multiple grants, including $5,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $2,500 in 2025. Education and aviation are another visible thread. Rocky Mountain College received $14,600 in 2025 for philanthropic purposes, and Elysian School received $3,900 in 2024 for an acro-club grant.
Typical grant size clusters in the mid-thousands, with p25 at $2,500, a median of $5,000, and p75 at $10,000. The recent grants list shows repeated awards to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially for coaching and philanthropic support, which indicates an ongoing relationship model rather than one-time-only giving. The foundation’s overall annual grants total is $250,000, and it does not fund individuals directly. It also accepts unsolicited requests through several listed programs, including its general grant program and leadership-related grant programs.
$43K
$99K
$112K
$45K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 97% of grants go to recipients in MT.
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Concentrated, modest number of mid-size grants with repeat funding to a few trusted service providers and local organizations; emphasis on paid consulting/coaching and targeted philanthropic support rather than many small, diversified gifts.
Notable grantees: DIANA SHAY PLLC, TIM DAVIS CONSULTING, FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Montana: 97% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Billings is the main recipient city, with additional grants to Missoula and Bozeman. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 35 grants in the United States and none elsewhere. Recent awards also reached regional Montana organizations such as Hatch in Bozeman and Friends of the Children in Missoula.
Its recent grants support nonprofit leadership development, youth-serving organizations, aviation and education projects, and local community groups. Examples in the data include coaching grants, philanthropic support for Friends of the Children, and funding for Rocky Mountain College and Elysian School.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards: p25 is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. Recent grants also include larger coaching awards such as $32,500 and $14,000.
Yes. Several active grant programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including the general grant program and leadership-related grant programs. The general grant program is described as bi-annual and open to both individuals and organizations.
Montana is the clear center of giving, with 97% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Billings appears most often among recipient cities, with additional awards in Missoula and Bozeman.
Yes. The recent grants show repeated awards to several recipients across multiple years, including Diana Shay Pllc, Tim Davis Consulting, Gravitas Leadership Institute, Junior League of Billings, and Rocky Mountain College.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES | BILLINGS, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| TIM DAVIS CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $7,600 | 2026 | COACHING |
| WE THE PEOPLE LAUREL HIGH | LAUREL, MT | $7,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BILLINGS, MT | $4,525 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DIANA SHAY PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | COACHING |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF MONTANA | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2026 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | BILLINGS, MT | $1,000 | 2026 | COACHING |
| FRIENDS OF CHILDREN | BILLINGS, MT | $15,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BILLINGS, MT | $14,600 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| DIANA SHAY PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $14,000 | 2025 | COACHING |
| GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | BILLINGS, MT | $9,500 | 2025 | COACHING |
| MT 20221 AIROTC LOCKWOOD | BILLINGS, MT | $8,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| TIM DAVIS CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $7,000 | 2025 | COACHING |
| EAA | BILLINGS, MT | $6,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| CIVIL AIR PATROL BEARTOOTH COMPOSITE | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| THE CONFESSION CLOSET | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2025 | COACHING |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| BEREAN EQUINE YOUTH & FAMILY | BILLINGS, MT | $2,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| SAM STINGRAKER | BILLINGS, MT | $2,000 | 2025 | COACHING |
| ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DIST 5390 YOUTH | POLSON, MT | $1,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| GROWTH SKILLS FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | COACHING |
| HATCH | BOZEMAN, MT | $1,000 | 2025 | ASSISTANCE WITH A FACILITATIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | MISSOULA, MT | $16,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| DIANA SHAY PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $13,500 | 2024 | COACHING |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BILLINGS, MT | $10,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| EAGLE MOUNT BILLINGS | BILLINGS, MT | $10,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | BILLINGS, MT | $7,500 | 2024 | COACHING |
| TIM DAVIS CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $6,500 | 2024 | COACHING |
| LIZ ZELLER PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | COACHING |
| LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| ELYSIAN SCHOOL | BILLINGS, MT | $3,900 | 2024 | ACRO-CLUB GRANT |
| JEFF CARROLL CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2024 | COACHING |
| TUMBLEWEED | BILLINGS, MT | $2,000 | 2024 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| DIANA SHAY PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $32,500 | 2023 | COACHING |
| TIM DAVIS CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $12,500 | 2023 | COACHING |
| GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | BILLINGS, MT | $10,000 | 2023 | COACHING |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS | BILLINGS, MT | $5,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES |
| LIZ ZELLER PLLC | BILLINGS, MT | $4,500 | 2023 | COACHING |
| HATCH | BOZEMAN, MT | $2,500 | 2023 | ASSISTANCE WITH A FACILITATIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT |
| JEFF CARROLL CONSULTING | BILLINGS, MT | $2,500 | 2023 | COACHING |
LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
TIM DAVIS CONSULTING
$7,600COACHING
WE THE PEOPLE LAUREL HIGH
$7,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$4,525SCHOLARSHIP
DIANA SHAY PLLC
$3,000COACHING
GIRL SCOUTS OF MONTANA
PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS
$2,500PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$1,000COACHING
FRIENDS OF CHILDREN
$15,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$14,600PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
DIANA SHAY PLLC
$14,000COACHING
GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$9,500COACHING
MT 20221 AIROTC LOCKWOOD
$8,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
TIM DAVIS CONSULTING
$7,000COACHING
EAA
$6,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
CIVIL AIR PATROL BEARTOOTH COMPOSITE
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES
$2,500PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
THE CONFESSION CLOSET
$2,500COACHING
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS
$2,500PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
BEREAN EQUINE YOUTH & FAMILY
$2,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
SAM STINGRAKER
$2,000COACHING
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DIST 5390 YOUTH
$1,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
GROWTH SKILLS FOUNDATION
$1,000COACHING
HATCH
$1,000ASSISTANCE WITH A FACILITATIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$16,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
DIANA SHAY PLLC
$13,500COACHING
ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
EAGLE MOUNT BILLINGS
$10,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$7,500COACHING
TIM DAVIS CONSULTING
$6,500COACHING
LIZ ZELLER PLLC
$5,000COACHING
LOVE & SONSHINE MINISTRIES
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
ELYSIAN SCHOOL
$3,900ACRO-CLUB GRANT
JEFF CARROLL CONSULTING
$2,500COACHING
TUMBLEWEED
$2,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
DIANA SHAY PLLC
$32,500COACHING
TIM DAVIS CONSULTING
$12,500COACHING
GRAVITAS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$10,000COACHING
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BILLINGS
$5,000PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES
LIZ ZELLER PLLC
$4,500COACHING
HATCH
$2,500ASSISTANCE WITH A FACILITATIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
JEFF CARROLL CONSULTING
$2,500COACHING
Current and upcoming funding from Aj Blain Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants may apply as individuals or organizations. The form requests tax ID for organizations and asks applicants to describe financial need, amount requested, funds needed by date, and intended use. Grants are reviewed and awarded bi-annually.
Deadline: July 10 and December 10 each year
Who can apply: Individuals seeking tuition/support for Townsend Leadership Program and organizations seeking funding for leadership programming; application follows the foundation's grant application requirements (contact details, amount requested, essay describing need/impact).
Deadline: Bi‑annual deadlines: July 10 and December 10 each year.
Who can apply: Organizations and projects that align with the foundation's mission (education, aviation, leadership, emotional health). Specific eligibility criteria and restrictions are not provided in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Applicants may be individuals or organizations. The application asks for organization tax ID when applicable, contact information, amount requested, funds needed by, time frame for use, and an essay describing need and impact. Organizational applicants should include who will be served and a vision statement.
Deadline: July 10 and December 10 each year
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