Our mission is to provide support to visionary people and organizations that are leading and implementing changes that create a sustainable future for Montana.
The High Stakes Foundation backs systems-change work for Montana, with general operating support showing up repeatedly in its recent grants. In the latest grant list, $100,000 went to Empower MT for general support, and $60,000 grants went to Mountain Mamas, MAPS Media Institute, Bitter Root Land Trust, Garden City Harvest, and other Montana organizations working across community, environment, and civic life. The foundation’s mission centers on support for visionary people and organizations leading changes that create a sustainable future for Montana, and that mission is reflected in grantees working on conservation, climate change, local food systems, social justice, leadership, and economic development. Recent awards also include support for Montana-based media and public-information groups such as Montana Free Press and Tiny News Collective, alongside land trusts, watershed groups, and community development organizations. The pattern is not limited to one issue area: the foundation funds both advocacy-oriented work and practical community infrastructure, often through unrestricted or general support. Its grantmaking is local in scope, with Montana receiving the clear majority of grants.
A clear thread in the portfolio is environmental and land-focused work. The foundation gave $50,000 to National Forest Foundation for general support, $48,000 to Climate Smart Missoula for general support, and $30,000 to Park County Environmental Council for general support, alongside support for land trusts and watershed organizations. Civic engagement and public information also appear in the recent record: Montana Free Press received $30,000 in 2024 and again $30,000 in 2025, while Thunderheart Media Inc received $30,000 for general support. Local food and community resilience are another visible theme. Community Food and Agriculture Coalition received $38,000 in 2023 and $32,500 in 2024 for general support, and Garden City Harvest received $60,000 in 2025 for general support. The foundation also funds leadership and community capacity, including a $40,000 grant to Western Native Voice for general support.
Typical awards cluster in the five-figure range: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $20,000, and p75 is $25,325. Recent grantmaking includes larger general-support awards above that band, such as $100,000 and multiple $60,000 grants, alongside repeated $30,000 grants. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not make program-related investments. Recipients appear across multiple years, including organizations funded in both 2024 and 2025, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off awards. Several active grant programs accept unsolicited applications, including Economic Development Grants, Civic Engagement Grants, Social Justice Grants, Leadership Grants, Sustainability Grants, and General Grants with an LOI process.
$1.9M
$1.1M
$73K
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 89% of grants go to recipients in MT.
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Montana, which accounts for 89% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Missoula appears often, including grants to Empower MT, Garden City Harvest, Climate Smart Missoula, Montana World Affairs Council, and the University of Montana Foundation - EVST. Other Montana cities in the recent list include Bozeman, Hamilton, Helena, Billings, Livingston, Whitefish, Arlee, and Gallatin Gateway. Outside the state, the recent list includes recipients in California and Illinois, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants center on Montana nonprofits working in systems change, conservation, climate change, civic engagement, social justice, leadership, economic development, local food systems, and sustainability. The active program list also includes priorities like environmental protection, rural economic development, and democracy and civic engagement.
Yes. General support is a major part of the portfolio, and the active grant programs include competitive general operating grants and LOI cycles. Recent awards include general support grants at $100,000, $60,000, $50,000, $48,000, and multiple $30,000 awards.
The typical grant-size distribution is p25 at $10,000, median at $20,000, and p75 at $25,325. The recent grant list also shows larger awards, including a $100,000 grant and several $60,000 grants.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Economic Development Grants, Civic Engagement Grants, Social Justice Grants, Leadership Grants, Sustainability Grants, and General Grants through LOI cycles.
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Montana. Montana is the top state by grant count, and 89% of grants go to recipients in Montana.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from High Stakes Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must be a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor; projects should advance sustainable local economic opportunity.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or apply with a fiscal sponsor. Projects should align with systems-change work in civic engagement and democracy.
Deadline: Annual application windows: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor required. Projects should further social justice and equity in Montana.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor required. Projects should focus on leadership development in Montana communities.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations or projects with a fiscal sponsor. Projects should demonstrate sustainable practices and community impact.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor required. Foundation does not fund research studies of species/habitat that are purely research-focused.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: Must be a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor. Projects should strengthen local food systems and food security in Montana.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
Who can apply: Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or apply with a fiscal sponsor. Projects should demonstrate systems-level climate solutions in Montana.
Deadline: Feb 1–Mar 1 and Aug 1–Sep 1 each year.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City Harvest | Missoula, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Bitter Root Land Trust | Hamilton, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| MAPS Media Institute | Hamilton, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Tiny News Collective | Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc | Calabasas, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Mountain Mamas | Bozeman, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| National Forest Foundation | Missoula, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Climate Smart Missoula | Missoula, MT | $48,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Environmental Information Center | Helena, MT | $41,200 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Watershed Coordination Council | Helena, MT | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Western Native Voice | Billings, MT | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Land to Hand | Whitefish, MT | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana World Affairs Council | Missoula, MT | $35,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Wild Montana | Helena, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Free Press | Helena, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Prickly Pear Land Trust | Helena, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Community Food and Agriculture Coalition | Missoula, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Piikani Lodge Health Institute | Browning, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Northern Plains Resource Council | Billings, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Heart of the Rockies Initiative | Missoula, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| EmpowerMT | Missoula, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Seeley Lake Community Foundation | Seeley Lake, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Vital Ground Foundation | Missoula, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Thunderheart Media Inc | Gallatin Gateway, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Winnett ACES | Winnett, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Park County Environmental Council | Livingston, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Bitter Root Water Forum | Hamilton, MT | $28,750 | 2025 | General Support |
| Western Enviromental Law Center | Eugene, OR | $26,300 | 2025 | General Support |
| Mainstreet Uptown Butte | Butte, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ACLU Montana | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Continental Divide Trail Coalition | Golden, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Budget and Policy Center | Helena, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| North-Missoula Community Development Corporation | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Upper Seven Law | Helena, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Human Rights Network | Helena, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Common Good Montana | Missoula, MT | $23,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Western Organization of Resource | Billings, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Red Lodge Area Community Foundation | Red Lodge, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Gallatin Valley Foundation for Economic Development | Bozeman, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Buffalo Field Campaign | West Yellowstone, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Farm to School of Park County | Livingston, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Cooperative Development Center Inc | Great Falls, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Livingston Food Pantry of Park County | Livingston, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Center for Large Landscape Conservation | Bozeman, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Montana Conservation Corps | Bozeman, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Families for a Livable Climate | Missoula, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Indij Public Media | Phoeniz, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Auricle Productions | Baileys Hbr, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Producers Partnership | Livingston, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Trust Montana | Missoula, MT | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
Garden City Harvest
$60,000General Support
Bitter Root Land Trust
$60,000General Support
MAPS Media Institute
$60,000General Support
Tiny News Collective
$60,000General Support
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc
$60,000General Support
Mountain Mamas
$60,000General Support
National Forest Foundation
General Support
Climate Smart Missoula
$48,000General Support
Montana Environmental Information Center
$41,200General Support
Montana Watershed Coordination Council
$40,000General Support
Western Native Voice
$40,000General Support
Montana Land to Hand
$40,000General Support
Montana World Affairs Council
$35,000General Support
Wild Montana
$30,000General Support
Montana Free Press
$30,000General Support
Prickly Pear Land Trust
$30,000General Support
Community Food and Agriculture Coalition
$30,000General Support
Piikani Lodge Health Institute
$30,000General Support
Northern Plains Resource Council
$30,000General Support
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
$30,000General Support
EmpowerMT
$30,000General Support
Seeley Lake Community Foundation
$30,000General Support
The Vital Ground Foundation
$30,000General Support
Thunderheart Media Inc
$30,000General Support
Winnett ACES
$30,000General Support
Park County Environmental Council
$30,000General Support
Bitter Root Water Forum
$28,750General Support
Western Enviromental Law Center
$26,300General Support
Mainstreet Uptown Butte
$25,000General Support
ACLU Montana
$25,000General Support
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
$25,000General Support
Montana Budget and Policy Center
$25,000General Support
North-Missoula Community Development Corporation
$25,000General Support
Upper Seven Law
$25,000General Support
Montana Human Rights Network
$25,000General Support
Common Good Montana
$23,000General Support
Western Organization of Resource
$20,000General Support
Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
$20,000General Support
Gallatin Valley Foundation for Economic Development
$20,000General Support
Buffalo Field Campaign
$20,000General Support
Farm to School of Park County
$20,000General Support
Montana Cooperative Development Center Inc
$20,000General Support
Livingston Food Pantry of Park County
$20,000General Support
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
$20,000General Support
Montana Conservation Corps
$20,000General Support
Families for a Livable Climate
$20,000General Support
Indij Public Media
$20,000General Support
Auricle Productions
$20,000General Support
Producers Partnership
$20,000General Support
Trust Montana
$20,000General Support