Foundations that fund organizations in Billings, Montana
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Billings nonprofits
272 private foundations gave $38M to Billings organizations in their latest filings; 32 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
960 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Billings around $45K. 33 of these funders are based in Montana; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 272
- Accept applications
- 32
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Billings
- $38M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 960
- Typical median grant
- $45K
- Based in MT
- 33%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Billings organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust | New York, NY | 4 | $9.7M | $2.1M | Preselected only | Billings clinic surgical intensive care unit; Expanding ecmo services at billings clinic; Billings clinic transfer center |
| The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation | Palm Beach, FL | 24 | $4.2M | $20K | Preselected only | General support for programs |
| The Bair Ranch Foundation | Billings, MT | 2 | $2.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | Pass through to charities for gen operating; Pass through to charities for gen oper & scholarships |
| Waverley Street Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $2.0M | $2.0M | Preselected only | General Operating Support |
| M J Murdock Charitable Trust | Vancouver, WA | 9 | $1.4M | $122K | Yes | New executive director; New development and operations staff; Tapestry facility construction |
| Freedom Together Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $1.1M | $525K | Preselected only | General operating support; Worc education project: rural organizing for the next gener… |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 3 | $950K | $200K | Yes | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system; Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels; Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, stren… |
| Gianforte Family Charitable Trust | Bozeman, MT | 35 | $928K | $13K | Preselected only | Charitable purpose |
| Otto Bremer Trust | St Paul, MN | 3 | $850K | $350K | Yes | Healthcare capital; Food and shelter programs; Youth development and citizenship skills |
| Charles M Bair Family Trust C/O US Bank Na | Billings, MT | 31 | $664K | $15K | Yes | Grant for ABT educational programs and workshops.; Grant for Rocket Camp.; Grant for teachers excellence programs. |
| The Kendeda Fund | Wilmington, DE | 8 | $653K | $55K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; 2023 Indigenous Film Festival; the Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council Sherwood Apartments S… |
| Charles M Bair Memorial Trust US Bank Trust Dept | Billings, MT | 2 | $625K | $313K | Yes | Pass through to healthcare facility; General expense or capital expenditures |
| Wallace H Coulter Trust | Sebastian, FL | 3 | $625K | $250K | Preselected only | General Support |
| Montana Healthcare Foundation | Bozeman, MT | 17 | $556K | $25K | Yes | Expanding empaths: implementing collaborative care in the p…; Improving systems and sustainability for mental and behavio…; Expanding behavioral health services for childrens clinics… |
| Dan & Jeanne Scott Family Foundation | Billings, MT | 18 | $523K | $3,500 | Preselected only | Operational Expense - Matching gift; Board Grant; Hannah House |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | Menlo Park, CA | 2 | $500K | $250K | Yes | For general operating support |
| First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation Inc | Billings, MT | 54 | $485K | $2,250 | Yes | General Operating Support; Volunteer Day Project; Neighbors Feeding Neighbors |
| The Arthur M Blank Family Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 4 | $465K | $75K | Preselected only | General operating support; Veterans programming in montana and general; Support for veterans in montana |
| True North Foundation | Grass Valley, CA | 1 | $360K | $360K | Preselected only | Western mining activist/ network mini grants/ general suppo… |
| Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation | Missoula, MT | 34 | $354K | $7,500 | Yes | 2024 holiday giving; 2024 scholarships; Junior league of billings free laundry project |
| The Fortin Foundation of Florida Inc | Palm Beach, FL | 11 | $352K | $25K | Preselected only | General program support |
| Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $325K | $325K | Yes | To support the native farm bill coalition |
| Harnish Foundation | Tukwila, WA | 6 | $320K | $33K | Preselected only | Phases 2 & 3 - hannah's house; Equine assisted service sessions; Playground |
| Harry L Willett Foundation C O Boyd Ryan | Littleton, CO | 11 | $279K | $13K | Preselected only | General; Boot hill project - billings; Wyola projects |
| The Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation | Redwood City, CA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | To provide food and shelter to homeless families and indivi… |
| The Martin Family Foundation C/O Larry Bean | Casper, WY | 8 | $245K | $25K | Preselected only | General operations; Education grant; Back a kid program, foundation grant |
| Thomas W & Joan Scott Foundation | Billings, MT | 3 | $245K | $25K | Preselected only | Operating Funds; Advocates for Billings Baseball |
| Margaret a Cargill Foundation | Eden Prairie, MN | 2 | $235K | $118K | Preselected only | Bridging the native american achievement gap at msu; Summer success institute & academic transition success prog… |
| Totten Seager Esther Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $180K | $180K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Treacy Foundation | Helena, MT | 8 | $170K | $20K | Yes | Capital campaign; College scholarships for individuals paid directly to schoo… |
| The Bentley Foundation | Billings, MT | 5 | $165K | $5,000 | Yes | Philanthropic Purposes |
| The Louvin Foundation | Billings, MT | 14 | $162K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Humanitarian aid |
| Ajax Foundation | Seattle, WA | 5 | $160K | $25K | Preselected only | Community Support |
| The Leonard & Sophie Davis Fund | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $160K | $160K | Preselected only | Support for social service programs or educational programs |
| Cedar Tree Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Project support of the regenerative grazing iniatiative |
| Headwaters Health Foundation of Western Montana | Missoula, MT | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | Engaging native americans in policy issues in montana |
| Town Pump Charitable Foundation | Butte, MT | 38 | $132K | $1,000 | Yes | Adopt a family; Meals for backpacks; Program support |
| The Steele-Reese Foundation Xxxxx1004 | Chicago, IL | 5 | $130K | $25K | Yes | General |
| Living Legacy Foundation | Franklin, TN | 1 | $125K | $125K | Preselected only | El salvador |
| Brosovich Family Foundation | Billings, MT | 22 | $121K | $2,500 | Yes | Philanthropic Purposes |
| Oro y Plata Foundation | Kalispell, MT | 6 | $118K | $16K | Preselected only | General operating assistance; Unrestricted funds for operations. |
| Bnsf Railway Foundation | Fort Worth, TX | 5 | $116K | $5,000 | Yes | Civic; Education; Matching gifts 1 |
| The Sherwood Foundation | Omaha, NE | 2 | $115K | $58K | Preselected only | Nebraska organizing project; 2026 operating grant |
| Donald & Carol Roberts Foundation in Memory of Virginia K Weston Inc | Billings, MT | 52 | $115K | $1,500 | Preselected only | General operations; Endowment; General fund needs |
| Susan Scott Heyneman Foundation | Billings, MT | 10 | $112K | $4,000 | Preselected only | General support; For stage lift replacement project; For youth leadership development program |
| Tua Clayton&odessa L Ofstad Fdn | Dallas, TX | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Op & We Edwards Foundation Inc | Red Lodge, MT | 5 | $100K | $15K | Preselected only | Philanthropic purpose |
| Northwest Area Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Novo Foundation | Hurley, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | The montana native women's coalition |
| The Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $100K | $50K | Preselected only | General support (year 3 of 3); Civic engagement |
| Perry and Joyce Johns Foundation | Fort Worth, TX | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Yellowstone county museum foundation |
| Ge McDonald Foundation | Billings, MT | 15 | $92K | $3,250 | Yes | Program Sponsorship |
| Melvin & Lois Hoiness Foundation | Spokane, WA | 9 | $88K | $10K | Preselected only | Philanthropic purposes |
| Nance Family Foundation Inc | Billings, MT | 1 | $85K | $85K | Yes | Philanthropic purposes |
| Sample Foundation Inc | Billings, MT | 12 | $85K | $5,456 | Yes | Designated; Orchard elementary school - grounds maintenance project 2024; Replace failing equipment with commercial coin-free units t… |
| Kampgrounds of America Foundation | Billings, MT | 6 | $83K | $5,500 | Preselected only | General Operations; 2025 Sponsorship; Sled Hockey |
| The Henry Luce Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | General Operating Support |
| Tortuga Charitable Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Sidney E Frank Foundation C/O Pkf O'Connor Davies | Harrison, NY | 6 | $70K | $10K | Preselected only | To contribute to purchase of new piano; To support explore msuic program; For scholarship suppoert |
| Gladys E Knowles Charitable Trust | Eagan, MN | 3 | $66K | $16K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Johnson Family Foundation | Billings, MT | 44 | $65K | $1,200 | Preselected only | Further exempt purpose; Further exempt purposes; Further exempt purose |
| Gt Foundation | Lansdale, PA | 2 | $65K | $33K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Margaret V Ping Foundation | Billings, MT | 9 | $64K | $7,000 | Preselected only | Philanthropic purposes |
| Paul Milan and Cynthia Long Foster Foundation | Billings, MT | 7 | $63K | $10K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Newman's Own Foundation | Westport, CT | 2 | $60K | $30K | Preselected only | Regenerative agriculture programming for native youth |
| The Grace Richardson Stetson Fund | Parsippany, NJ | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | For cystic fibrosis research |
| Cloud Mountain Foundation C/O Wffa Pllc | New York, NY | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Environmental |
| Cornell Douglas Foundation Inc | Bethesda, MD | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | General support |
| The High Stakes Foundation | Missoula, MT | 2 | $55K | $28K | Yes | General Operations |
| Agua Fundinc | Front Royal, VA | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | For general support |
| Alice Lee Lund Charitable Trust | Great Falls, MT | 1 | $53K | $53K | Yes | Charitable |
| Bancroft-Clair Foundation Inc | Austin, TX | 1 | $52K | $52K | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift |
| Jackson Heath Foundation-Main | St Louis, MO | 1 | $51K | $51K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Trevecca Towers Inc Dba the Jones Heritage Foundation | Huntingdon, TN | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Serving servants |
| The Busy Tree Foundation Inc C/O Blue Trust | Marietta, GA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Americas Foundation Inc | San Diego, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Philanthropic/educational purpose |
| Wilburforce Foundation C/O Lisa Weinstein | Seattle, WA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Environmental - general support 2024 |
| The Collins Foundation | Portland, OR | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Support operations and programs for regenerative agricultur… |
| Timothy and Lisa Robertson Foundation | Virginia Beach, VA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose of the organization |
| Hauser Family Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Provide safehouses for sex-trafficking survivors. |
| Madrono Foundation C/O Woody Creek Management Group | Denver, CO | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Environment/climate change |
| Mattick Family Foundation Inc | Leesburg, FL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General support |
| Broussard Charitable Foundation Tr | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General operating |
| C Stone Foundation C/O Catherine S Campbell | San Antonio, TX | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General Purpose |
| 4s Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $48K | $24K | Preselected only | Multi-year grant for long term planning and birthday/christ…; General & Unrestricted |
| Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $45K | $45K | Preselected only | Project support for advocacy, supporter engagement, and com… |
| Bill and June Beaver Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $45K | $45K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Schatzi Family Foundation Inc | Billings, MT | 6 | $43K | $6,050 | Preselected only | Philanthropic purpose |
| Stepping Forward Foundation | Billings, MT | 2 | $42K | $21K | Yes | Philanthropic purpose |
| Big Joy Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $42K | $42K | Yes | General & Unrestricted |
| Natrona Collective Health Trust | Casper, WY | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Clif Family Foundation | St Helena, CA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Transform Food Systems |
| The Educational Foundation of America C/O Intentional Philanthropy | Bethesda, MD | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | 2024 montana civic engagement |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 2 | $40K | $20K | Preselected only | General Operating Support for Hannah House; United Way United to Solve Homelessness Tenancy Support Pro… |
| The Greater Montana Foundation | Helena, MT | 4 | $37K | $9,000 | Yes | Support for public announcements about the upcoming constit…; Support for marketing and journalism expansion at ypr.; Support for the production of the film "equally different:… |
| The Aj Blain Foundation | Billings, MT | 8 | $36K | $3,762 | Yes | Philanthropic purposes; Coaching; Scholarship |
| Haughton Family Foundation | Billings, MT | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | General Operations |
| Harris Willard E Char Tua | St Louis, MO | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Kirkwood Foundation Im 2573-07-43 | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $33K | $33K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose |
| Mwc Foundation Inc #0726315 | Boston, MA | 2 | $32K | $16K | Yes | General purposes; Rocky mountain tribal leaders council |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Billings, Montana?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, The Bair Ranch Foundation, Waverley Street Foundation, M J Murdock Charitable Trust and 95 others reported grants to Billings organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Billings. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.