First Interstate BancSystem Foundation shows a highly centralized, strategic giving approach: in the reported period it made a single large grant to the Blackbaud Giving Fund, indicating the foundation channels philanthropic dollars through a donor-advised/regranting vehicle rather than making many direct program grants. This pattern suggests the foundation prefers flexible, intermediary-led distribution (likely to support employee/donor-advised or geographically dispersed community grants) rather than targeting specific programmatic causes itself.
Concentrated: one very large pass-through grant to an intermediary (DAF) rather than multiple direct grants; likely intended to finance downstream grants managed by the Blackbaud Giving Fund (flexible, potentially geographically broad or donor-directed).
A single $687,546 grant to The Blackbaud Giving Fund points to the foundation’s most distinctive pattern: it uses a regranting intermediary alongside a broad set of local community awards. First Interstate BancSystem Foundation Inc also appears in the recent grants list with repeated support for Special Olympics Montana, including awards of $110,980 in 2024, $102,755 in 2023, and $102,500 in 2025. Those grants show that the foundation’s giving is not limited to one-off gifts; it combines a large intermediary payment with recurring support to organizations serving community needs in its footprint. The recent grants also show support for human services, education, housing, food access, and community development. Billings-based recipients appear several times, alongside organizations in Great Falls, Missoula, Bozeman, and other regional cities. Many awards are in general operating support or general support, which suggests flexibility in how recipients use the funds. The foundation’s portfolio includes both direct grants and donations or sponsorship-style support, with some awards routed through local markets and branch recommendations rather than through a single program-specific channel.
Human services show up repeatedly in the recent grants. The foundation gave $75,000 to Cobre Valley Hospital in Globe, Arizona, for general operating support, and $58,524 to Montana Food Bank Network in Missoula for general operating support. It also awarded $37,508 to Montana Rescue Mission in Billings for general operating support, indicating support for basic-needs organizations in multiple parts of its service area. Education-related grants are also present. Rocky Mountain College in Billings received $40,000 for general support, while Montana State University Alumni Foundation in Bozeman received $40,500 for general support. In youth and community development, Boys & Girls Club of Ada County in Garden City, Idaho, received $37,964 for general operating support, and Junior Achievement of South Dakota in Sioux Falls received $36,330 for general support. The foundation also supports disability sports and community inclusion through Special Olympics Montana, which appears more than once in the recent grants list.
$5M
$19.2M
$4.2M
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $500 and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 4,438 | $21.9M | 100.0% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Notable grantees: The Blackbaud Giving Fund
The grant-size distribution is relatively small at the center: p25 is $500, median is $2,500, and p75 is $5,000. That sits alongside a much larger outlier grant, showing a mix of modest local awards and occasional large payments. Recent awards include repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, such as Special Olympics Montana, which received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and its grants include operating support, general support, donations, and sponsorships. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, while others rely on local branch or employee nomination channels. The pattern is not a single-purpose grantmaker; it uses multiple internal pathways to distribute community funding.
Most grants land in the United States, with 100% of recipient-country distribution in the U.S. and one grant in Canada. By city, Billings appears repeatedly, including YWCA of Billings, Tumbleweed Runaway Program, Community Leadership and Development Inc., Rocky Mountain College, and Montana Rescue Mission. Other recurring locations include Great Falls, Missoula, Bozeman, and Sioux Falls. Outside Montana, the recent grants list also reaches Globe, Arizona; Casper, Wyoming; Garden City, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington. Arizona is the top state by grant count, while 26% of grants go to recipients in Montana.
The recent grants list includes hospitals, food banks, youth programs, colleges, housing and shelter organizations, and community foundations. Examples include Cobre Valley Hospital in Globe, Montana Food Bank Network in Missoula, Rocky Mountain College in Billings, and Montana Rescue Mission in Billings, mostly with general operating or general support funding.
Yes. Special Olympics Montana appears in the recent grants list three times, with awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The amounts were $102,755, $110,980, and $102,500, showing repeated support over multiple years rather than a one-time grant relationship.
The typical grant size is small to moderate: p25 is $500, median is $2,500, and p75 is $5,000. The recent grants list also includes a large outlier of $687,546 to The Blackbaud Giving Fund, so the distribution includes both routine local awards and occasional larger payments.
Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Donations and Community Sponsorships and Donations & Sponsorships. The foundation also has programs that are not unsolicited, including Believe in Local employee-nominated community grants and some matching programs tied to employee giving or volunteer hours.
Arizona is the top state by grant count. Montana still receives a large share as well, with 26% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The recent grants list also shows recipients in Wyoming, Idaho, South Dakota, Washington, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $200 |
0.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Blackbaud Giving Fund | DANIEL ISLAND, SC | $663,178 | 2026 | Employee Giving Program Distributions |
| YELLOWSTONE ICE FOUNDATION | BILLINGS, MT | $125,000 | 2026 | New Ice Rink |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONTANA INC | GREAT FALLS, MT | $103,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | WHITEFISH, MT | $59,490 | 2026 | Great Fish Challenge |
| Billings School District | Billings, MT | $50,000 | 2026 | Daylis Stadium Project |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $50,000 | 2026 | Financial Education |
| RIVERPEAK HEALTH | RIVERTON, WY | $50,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| WISE WONDERS CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC | BILLINGS, MT | $40,245 | 2026 | Financial Education |
| E4E RELIEF LLC | Atlanta, GA | $38,713 | 2026 | Emergency Relief |
| FOUR BANDS COMMUNITY FUND INC | EAGLE BUTTE, SD | $37,500 | 2026 | Workforce Development |
| IDAHO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | BOISE, ID | $36,000 | 2026 | Nonprofit Education |
| FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $35,500 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| COMMUNITY ENTRY SERVICES INC | RIVERTON, WY | $32,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY | BEND, OR | $32,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH INC | GREAT FALLS, MT | $30,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Jackson Hole Airport | Jackson, WY | $30,000 | 2026 | Beautifying the Airport Project |
| ISAAC FOUNDATION | Spokane, WA | $29,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| LEADERSHIP MONTANA INC | BOZEMAN, MT | $28,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| RINGGOLD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORP | MOUNT AYR, IA | $27,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| GRATITUDE IN ACTION FOUNDATION | BILLINGS, MT | $26,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF FREMONT COUNTY INC | CANON CITY, CO | $25,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| FOOD BANK OF LINCOLN INC | LINCOLN, NE | $25,500 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| GARDINER FOOD PANTRY OF PARK COUNTY | GARDINER, MT | $25,500 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES | COUNCIL BLFS, IA | $25,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| MILLS COUNTY STOREHOUSE | GLENWOOD, IA | $25,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF WESTERN NEBRASKA | GERING, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| NEWTOWN-HARRIS R-III | Newtown, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| PCM FOOD PANTRY | MONROE, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| CUSTER COUNTY COMMUNITY TABLE | MILES CITY, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| ST PETERS HEALTH FOUNDATION | HELENA, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | Petes Place Daycare Project |
| FAMILY ACCESS NETWORK FOUNDATION | BEND, OR | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSN | HELENA, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| WATERTOWN CARES INC | WATERTOWN, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| SPOKANE EDIBLE TREE PROJECT | SPOKANE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | Education |
| VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM INC | SPEARFISH, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| A BRIDGE BETWEEN US | SCENIC, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Story County Inc | AMES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| KLAMATH CRISIS CENTER | KLAMATH FALLS, OR | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| NORTHWEST INFANT SURVIVAL ALLIANCE SIDS FOUNDATION OF WASHINGTON | Coeur D Alene, ID | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| ASPIRE INC | ABERDEEN, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC | MITCHELL, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| PROJECT PATCHWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| WATERTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT 14-4 | Watertown, SD | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| KIDSPAK | LOVELAND, CO | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Backpack Society | HGHLNDS RANCH, CO | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| ST JOHNS HEALTH FOUNDATION | JACKSON, WY | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| MONTANA FOOD BANK NETWORK INC | MISSOULA, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| COLES PANTRY | BILLINGS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| WILLIS DADY EMERGENCY SHELTER INC | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
$663,178Employee Giving Program Distributions
YELLOWSTONE ICE FOUNDATION
$125,000New Ice Rink
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONTANA INC
$103,000General Operating Support
WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
$59,490Great Fish Challenge
Billings School District
$50,000Daylis Stadium Project
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$50,000Financial Education
RIVERPEAK HEALTH
$50,000General Operating Support
WISE WONDERS CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC
$40,245Financial Education
E4E RELIEF LLC
$38,713Emergency Relief
FOUR BANDS COMMUNITY FUND INC
$37,500Workforce Development
IDAHO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
$36,000Nonprofit Education
FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA
$35,500Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
COMMUNITY ENTRY SERVICES INC
$32,500General Operating Support
MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY
$32,500General Operating Support
ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH INC
$30,000General Operating Support
Jackson Hole Airport
$30,000Beautifying the Airport Project
ISAAC FOUNDATION
$29,000General Operating Support
LEADERSHIP MONTANA INC
$28,000General Operating Support
RINGGOLD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORP
$27,500General Operating Support
GRATITUDE IN ACTION FOUNDATION
$26,000General Operating Support
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF FREMONT COUNTY INC
$25,500General Operating Support
FOOD BANK OF LINCOLN INC
$25,500Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
GARDINER FOOD PANTRY OF PARK COUNTY
$25,500Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES
$25,500General Operating Support
MILLS COUNTY STOREHOUSE
$25,500General Operating Support
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
$25,000General Operating Support
NEWTOWN-HARRIS R-III
$25,000General Operating Support
PCM FOOD PANTRY
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
CUSTER COUNTY COMMUNITY TABLE
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
ST PETERS HEALTH FOUNDATION
$25,000Petes Place Daycare Project
FAMILY ACCESS NETWORK FOUNDATION
$25,000General Operating Support
YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSN
$25,000General Operating Support
WATERTOWN CARES INC
$25,000General Operating Support
SPOKANE EDIBLE TREE PROJECT
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE
$25,000Education
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM INC
$25,000General Operating Support
A BRIDGE BETWEEN US
$25,000General Operating Support
Boys and Girls Clubs of Story County Inc
$25,000General Operating Support
KLAMATH CRISIS CENTER
$25,000General Operating Support
NORTHWEST INFANT SURVIVAL ALLIANCE SIDS FOUNDATION OF WASHINGTON
$25,000General Operating Support
ASPIRE INC
$25,000General Operating Support
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC
$25,000General Operating Support
PROJECT PATCHWORK
$25,000General Operating Support
WATERTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT 14-4
$25,000General Operating Support
KIDSPAK
$25,000General Operating Support
Backpack Society
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
ST JOHNS HEALTH FOUNDATION
$25,000General Operating Support
MONTANA FOOD BANK NETWORK INC
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
COLES PANTRY
$25,000Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
WILLIS DADY EMERGENCY SHELTER INC
$25,000General Operating Support
Current and upcoming funding from First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations do not have to be 501(c)(3) to apply. Requests are evaluated based on alignment with community needs and Foundation values; reviewed by the local Community Giving Representative.
Deadline: Requests are reviewed monthly (no single annual deadline).
Who can apply: Must be a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3), qualify as publicly supported under Section 509(a), or be a legally established unit of government. Grants are only awarded to organizations recommended by local First Interstate branches.
Deadline: Requests are reviewed monthly; no single annual deadline.
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