AMB West commits $688,000 to Montana nonprofits

Share

Link copied!

In its latest round of grants, the AMB West Community Fund (the Fund), an associate-led giving committee of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, has committed $688,000 to nonprofits serving communities across Montana.

Established in 2001, the Fund has awarded more than $10 million in grants. The Fund is comprised of associates from Arthur M. Blank’s four ranches in Montana who visit over 40 nonprofit organizations across the state and collectively recommend grants to enhance the quality of life for Montana residents, particularly in Park and Gallatin Counties and Indigenous communities across the state.

After assessing the landscape of existing programs and areas of need and opportunity through data and conversations with community stakeholders, the Fund identified priority areas for grant-making in 2024: nurturing childhood, thriving youth and infrastructure.

“I am proud of our latest round of grants to support nonprofits serving communities across Montana,” said Tawnya Rupe, AMB West Community Fund. “By focusing on nurturing childhood, thriving youth and infrastructure, we aim to create lasting, positive impacts in Park and Gallatin Counties and among Indigenous communities throughout the state. This grant-making cycle reflects our deep engagement with local stakeholders and our data-driven approach to philanthropy.”

Grant Examples:• Nurturing Childhood: $87,000 has been granted to four organizations that support nurturing childhoods, including a $50,000 grant to the Bozeman Schools Foundation for the Bozeman Reads Early Learning Center.

• Thriving Youth: More than $425,000 will support thriving youth in Montana, including a $140,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Cheyenne and $85,000 to support Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s youth mental health program.

• Infrastructure: $175,000 will support infrastructure in Montana, including a $75,000 grant to Northern Cheyenne Food Pantry to build a new facility and a $60,000 grant to Producer Partnership to increase storage capacity for local food donations.

AMB West Community Fund grant list:• Bozeman Schools Foundation — $50,000 for Bozeman Reads Early Learning Center

• Community Health Partners Inc. — $10,000 for Park County Early Childhood Coalition

• Montana Legal Services Association — $12,000 for the Montana Family Justice Project

• Thrive Inc. — $15,000 for General Operating Support Thriving Youth

• Bridger Ski Foundation — $37,000 for BSF Mental Health Initiative

• Big Sky Youth Empowerment (BYEP) — $85,000 for BYEP Youth Mental Health Program

• Boys and Girls Club Northern Cheyenne — $140,000 for General Operating Support

• Elk River Arts and Lectures — $10,000 for Youth Programs

• Greater Impact Inc. — $10,000 for Women’s Sober Living Home

• Livingston Flag Football League — $5,000 for Youth Programs

• Livingston Food Resource Center — $15,000 for Counseling Support Program

• Livingston HealthCare — $16,000 for Park County Youth Summit Partnership Project

• Livingston Ice Skating Association Inc. — $30,000 for Ice Rink General Manager

• Montana Community Foundation — $10,000 for General Operating Support for Funders for Thriving Communities

• Montana Free Press — $12,500 for Youth Wellness, Education, and Career Development Reporting

• Montana Wilderness Schools — $22,000 to Extend Wilderness Program Outcomes for Montana’s Under-Resourced Youth

• Park County 4H — $5,000 for General Operating Support

• The Free Verse Project — $12,000 for General Operating Support

• The Shane Lalani Center for The Arts — $14,000 for the Youth Education Program

• Windhorse Equine Learning — $12,500 for the Capital Campaign Coordination Infrastructure

• Paradise Valley Firefighters Association — $30,000

• Producer Partnership — $60,000 for Increase Storage Capacity for Local Food Donations

• Montana Community Foundation — $10,000 for General Operating Support for Funders for Thriving Communities

• Boys and Girls Club of Northern Cheyenne — $75,000 for new facility for its Food Pantry

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives in Montana are an example of the chairman’s approach to leveraging the Blank Family of Businesses for good. In addition to grantmaking by the foundation, opportunities are available for nonprofits and community organizations to access AMB West facilities.