The mission of YBGR Foundation is to support, promote, advance and enable charitable, religious, and educational programs benefiting youth and adults with special needs.
Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch Foundatio gives most of its recent dollars to its own ranch programs and academy in Billings, with two large grants to Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch totaling $5,939,796 across 2023 and 2024. That pattern points to a funder that is closely tied to direct service: psychiatric residential treatment, therapeutic group homes, community-based supports, specialized education, and related programming for youth and adults with special needs. The foundation also supports scholarship pathways connected to those programs. Its active scholarship work includes the Yellowstone Alumni Scholarship Program for former residents or students of Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch and Yellowstone Academy, plus the Doney scholarship programs at Montana State University–Bozeman, where preference is given to Yellowstone Academy alumni in some cases. Alongside its core institutional support, the foundation funds project-specific needs at Yellowstone Academy and other charitable organizations. The listed examples include school supplies, upgrades, therapy-related support, playgrounds, group home recreation, fire suppression, equine therapy, locker rooms, and podcast equipment. That mix shows a grantmaker that combines operating support, restricted-purpose funding, and in-kind or project-oriented grants within a local Montana footprint.
A major theme in the foundation’s giving is education tied to youth development. Yellowstone Academy received $157,012 in 2024 and $26,411 in 2023 for school supplies and upgrades, reflecting support for classroom materials, infrastructure, and school functioning. Therapeutic services are another clear area. The foundation’s general grantmaking and project funding include SMART therapy, equine therapy, and other therapeutic supports, all aligned with the ranch’s residential and community-based care model. It also funds scholarships that connect education with service pathways. The Doney Scholarship at Montana State University–Bozeman supports Montana students in fields such as Elementary Education, Early Childhood Development, Counseling, and Electrical Engineering, while the Yellowstone Alumni Scholarship Program supports former residents or students pursuing college degrees or vocational certificates. Project support extends beyond education and therapy to facility and safety needs, including bathroom remodels, fire suppression, playgrounds, and group home recreation.
$2.9M
$147.4M
$12.3M
$8.4M
Most grants fall between $124K and $2.8M, with a median of $1.4M.
25th Percentile
$124K
Median
$1.4M
75th Percentile
$2.8M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MT.
MARTI BURROUGHS
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Typical grant size is substantial, with a p25 of $124,362, a median of $1,438,068, and a p75 of $2,844,511. The recent record suggests a mix of large institutional support and smaller project grants. The foundation appears to fund recurring recipients rather than one-off awards: Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch and Yellowstone Academy both appear in multiple recent years, and the scholarship programs are ongoing offerings. The structure is programmatic and restricted-purpose rather than open-ended, with giving directed to its own ranch programs, related education efforts, and selected charitable projects. Some scholarship programs accept unsolicited applications, while the general grantmaking program does not.
Giving is concentrated in Montana, and every listed recent grant went to a recipient in the U.S. The largest recipient city is Billings, home to Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch and Yellowstone Academy. Scholarship activity also reaches Bozeman through Montana State University–Bozeman, and the scholarship programs extend to McCone County, including the Circle High School area. The foundation’s giving is local rather than national in practice, even though some programs serve residents from across the United States.
Its core focus areas include psychiatric residential treatment, therapeutic group homes, specialized education through Yellowstone Academy, community-based services, spiritual life and holistic care, scholarships, and equine-assisted therapy. Recent project support also includes school supplies, classroom upgrades, facility work, playgrounds, and therapy-related needs.
Yes. Active scholarship programs include the Yellowstone Alumni Scholarship Program, the Johnson Scholarship (McCone County), the Melvin & Kathryn Johnson Scholarship, and the Doney Scholarship programs at Montana State University–Bozeman. Award amounts in the scholarship programs listed range from $500 to $5,000.
The foundation primarily funds Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch and Yellowstone Academy in Billings. The recent grants list shows $3,220,672 in 2023 and $2,719,124 in 2024 to Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch, plus $157,012 in 2024 and $26,411 in 2023 to Yellowstone Academy.
The giving is entirely in Montana in the data provided, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Billings is the main recipient city, with additional scholarship activity in Bozeman and McCone County.
Yes. The Johnson Scholarship, Yellowstone Alumni Scholarship Program, Doney Scholarship (Earl & Fay Doney Endowment) — MSU Bozeman, Doney Alumni Scholarship Program (MSU Bozeman), and Annual Donation Appeal / Project Funding are marked as accepting unsolicited applications. The General Grantmaking to Yellowstone and Other Charities program is not.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YELLOWSTONE BOYS & GIRLS RANCH | BILLINGS, MT | $2,719,124 | 2024 | VARIOUS |
| YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY (SD#58) | BILLINGS, MT | $157,012 | 2024 | SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UPGRADES |
| YELLOWSTONE BOYS & GIRLS RANCH | BILLINGS, MT | $3,220,672 | 2023 | VARIOUS |
| YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY (SD#58) | BILLINGS, MT | $26,411 | 2023 | SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UPGRADES |
YELLOWSTONE BOYS & GIRLS RANCH
$2,719,124VARIOUS
YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY (SD#58)
$157,012SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UPGRADES
YELLOWSTONE BOYS & GIRLS RANCH
$3,220,672VARIOUS
YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY (SD#58)
$26,411SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UPGRADES