The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in Missoula, MT, prioritizing core operating support for local community-serving nonprofits. Their grants are directed toward broad human services and community infrastructure—especially the YMCA, YWCA and the United Way—indicating a focus on sustaining local social services, family/youth programming, and women’s support services. Gifts are sizable, local, and unrestricted, suggesting trust in grantee leadership to meet community needs.
The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation gives almost entirely in Missoula, and its largest recent award was $55,000 to YWCA of Missoula Mt for general operating support in 2025. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s pattern is clear: it backs local nonprofits with unrestricted support, often at levels large enough to help with day-to-day operations rather than one-time projects. The YMCA, United Way of Missoula County, and other community-serving organizations appear repeatedly, showing a steady preference for institutions that coordinate services, youth programming, family support, and basic community infrastructure. Grants also reach organizations working in shelter, food access, aging services, children’s services, and cultural programming. The awards are usually tied to operating needs, with a few purpose-specific gifts such as summer enrichment and facilities-related support. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on sustaining local nonprofit capacity in Missoula and nearby Montana communities, rather than funding a broad national portfolio.
General operating support is the foundation’s dominant mode of giving. In 2025, it gave $35,000 to Mountain Home Montana for general operating, and it made similar unrestricted awards to Montana Food Bank and Partners Hope Foundation. Youth and family services are another visible thread: Youth Homes Partnership received $30,000 in both 2023 and 2024, while Child Bridge received $10,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports community arts and cultural access. Missoula Children’s Theatre received $10,000 in 2023, $10,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025, and Rialto Community Theatre Inc received $10,000 in 2025. Basic-needs support appears as well, including a $25,000 grant to Montana Food Bank.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $4,000, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $7,500. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including YMCA, United Way of Missoula County, Youth Homes Partnership, Montana Food Bank, and Missoula Children’s Theatre, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation appears to operate as a private family foundation and gives unrestricted support frequently, with some program-specific and facilities-related grants. Recipients do not appear to apply through a documented public application process in the provided data.
$380K
$4.8M
$750K
$515K
Most grants fall between $4K and $8K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$8K
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Concentrated, local philanthropy: few but relatively large grants, repeat funding to the same core organizations, and a preference for unrestricted/general operating support rather than project-specific grants.
Notable grantees: YMCA (Missoula), YWCA of Missoula, MT, United Way of Missoula County
Giving is highly concentrated in Montana: 96% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and the top state by grant count is MT. Missoula is the main recipient city, with repeated awards to organizations there such as YWCA of Missoula Mt, YMCA, and United Way of Missoula County. A smaller share reaches other Montana communities, including Butte, Bigfork, and Deer Lodge. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 113 grants in the United States.
It primarily supports Missoula-area nonprofits through general operating grants. The recent list includes community service organizations, youth and family programs, food access groups, aging services, and cultural institutions, with many awards labeled general operating or general purpose.
Typical grants cluster in a narrow band: p25 is $4,000, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $7,500. The recent record also includes larger operating awards, including $20,000, $25,000, $30,000, $35,000, $50,000, and $55,000 grants.
Its giving is local and strongly centered in Montana. The data shows 96% of grants go to recipients in Montana, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, including YMCA, United Way of Missoula County, Youth Homes Partnership, Montana Food Bank, and Missoula Children’s Theatre. That pattern points to recurring support for selected organizations rather than isolated one-off gifts.
A few grants are purpose-specific. Watson Children’s Shelter received $8,000 for summer enrichment programs, United Way of Missoula Co received $50,000 for W & R Gallagher Fdn Bldg, and Missoula Fairgrounds Foundation received $20,000 in 2024 followed by Missoula Fairgrounds at $20,000 in 2025 for general operating support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOUTH HOMES | MISSOULA, MT | $51,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MONTANA FOOD BANK | MISSOULA, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FLORENCE CRITTENTON HOME | HELENA, MT | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA FAIRGROUNDS | MISSOULA, MT | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN | SALINAS, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA AGING SERVICES | MISSOULA, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION INC | MISSOULA, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHILD BRIDGE INC | BIGFORK, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF MISSOULA COUNTY | MISSOULA, MT | $8,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SUMMIT CAREER CENTER | STEVENSVILLE, MT | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| YWCA | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE | MISSOULA, MT | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WATSON CHILDREN'S SHELTER INC | MISSOULA, MT | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SANDERS CO COUNCIL ON AGING | HOT SPRINGS, MT | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KIDS COOP | POLSON, MT | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CASA OF MISSOULA | MISSOULA, MT | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TAMARACK GRIEF RESOURCE CENTER | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA BUTTERFLY HOUSE | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PARTNERS HOPE FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE PRODUCER PARTNERSHIP | LIVINGSTON, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ANGEL FLIGHT WEST INC | SANTA MONICA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TRAVELERS REST CONNECTION | LOLO, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA INTERFAITH COLLABORATIVE | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SUMMIT FOR PARKINSONS | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SMILES ACROSS MONTANA | BOZEMAN, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STEVENSVILLE PLAYHOUSE INC | STEVENSVILLE, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HOME RESOURCE | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SEELEY LAKE, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PROMISE 686 INC | NORCROSS, GA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RAMPS | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GARDEN CITY HARVEST | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BONNER PTA | BONNER, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | MISSOULA, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OPERATION WARM INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WRITING COACHES OF MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OPEN ENDED COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER | HAMILTON, MT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIANCE | MISSOULA, MT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SPARK ARTS IGNITE LEARNING | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MISSOULA ART MUSEUM | MISSOULA, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MOUNTAIN HEALTH GIVES | HELENA, MT | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HAMILTON PLAYERS INC | HAMILTON, MT | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BROVOLD COMMUNITY ORCHARD | MISSOULA, MT | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GARDEN CITY BALLET COMPANY | MISSOULA, MT | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| YWCA OF MISSOULA MT | MISSOULA, MT | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MONTANA FOOD BANK | MISSOULA, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM FOREST SERVICE HSTRY | MISSOULA, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
MONTANA FOOD BANK
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
FLORENCE CRITTENTON HOME
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA FAIRGROUNDS
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA AGING SERVICES
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SUMMIT CAREER CENTER
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
YWCA
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
SANDERS CO COUNCIL ON AGING
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING
KIDS COOP
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING
CASA OF MISSOULA
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA BUTTERFLY HOUSE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE PRODUCER PARTNERSHIP
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
TRAVELERS REST CONNECTION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SUMMIT FOR PARKINSONS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SMILES ACROSS MONTANA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
STEVENSVILLE PLAYHOUSE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
HOME RESOURCE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
RAMPS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
GARDEN CITY HARVEST
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
BONNER PTA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
OPERATION WARM INC
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
WRITING COACHES OF MONTANA
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
OPEN ENDED COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIANCE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING
SPARK ARTS IGNITE LEARNING
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
MISSOULA ART MUSEUM
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
MOUNTAIN HEALTH GIVES
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
HAMILTON PLAYERS INC
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
BROVOLD COMMUNITY ORCHARD
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
GARDEN CITY BALLET COMPANY
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING
MONTANA FOOD BANK
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
NATIONAL MUSEUM FOREST SERVICE HSTRY
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING