Dear Friends,
As we enter this season of gratitude, I’m sure of a couple of things: our work would not be possible without generous supporters and partners like you, helping to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish.
We are grateful for you and your commitment to this state we love.
Another thing I’m sure of is the toll this pandemic is taking. Zoom call after Zoom call after Zoom call, people are expressing their frustration with the way we now are navigating through life. And I’m right there with you. We may be suiting up, showing up, and putting on a brave face trying to convince ourselves and each other that “we’re fine.” Yet, deep down, many are not fine. At MCF, we’re practicing patience and grace with ourselves and each other as the pandemic wears on. Rather than just asking “how are you?” we’re asking a new question: “What’s it like to be you right now?”. The answers to that question have been so much more meaningful. Person by person, both within our team and beyond, we are building authentic relationships across Montana.
Please take care of yourself. Practice self-care. Give yourself a little more grace than you might otherwise.
Thank you for allowing us to serve as your partner in philanthropy.
Stay well, enjoy every single moment you can with the ones you love, and happy holidays.
Sincerely,
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Mary K. Rutherford
President & CEO
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Honoring Native American Heritage Month |
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November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the culture, accomplishments, and contributions of our nation’s indigenous people, the first inhabitants of the United States. Here in Montana, our indigenous people have made a lasting impact on our state and for that we are grateful.
Annually on November 5, we celebrate one individual in particular whose contributions to society and our Native communities are numerous. Her name was Elouise Cobell, also known as Yellow Bird Woman. Cobell was a Montanan, member of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, and an advocate most known for successfully winning a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Government to guarantee that Native Americans would have control over their own financial future. She also helped to establish the Blackfeet National Bank in Browning, the first national bank located on an Indian reservation and owned by a Native American tribe.
In addition, Cobell served as a Montana Community Foundation board member and helped to establish the Blackfeet Community Endowment Fund, a fund established to enhance the quality of life within the Blackfeet nation. Currently, the fund supports the work of the Native American Community Development Corporation Financial Services, Inc. You can contribute to the fund and honor Elouise’s legacy here.
In 2011, Cobell died after a short battle with cancer. In 2016, President Obama awarded Cobell with the Congressional Medal of Freedom posthumously.
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Over $31,000 in Grants Awarded to Local Communities to ReImagine What is Possible |
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This month, MCF awarded over $31,000 in ReImagine What is Possible Grants to local community foundations and organizations that participated in the second installment of ReImagining Rural (RR2), a partnership with the First Interstate Bank Foundation, the Governor’s Office of Montana, and Montana State University Extension. This year, RR2 was offered through a virtual platform, welcoming over 200 people from communities throughout Montana.
Over the course of three separate sessions, participants heard from experts that dispelled the notion that rural communities are dying and offered tangible ways to create a community plan and ensure our rural communities thrive for generations. See the full sessions here.
As an incentive to capitalize on what they learned during these sessions, community foundations, local organizations, and other public entities, that participated in the event were able to submit grant applications for funding to support the development of their community plans.
One participant and grant recipient shares their takeaway from the event:
“Do what we can do to improve our own community and encourage others to improve theirs. Build beautification, pride, and momentum in our community. Seek strong leadership by having a warm body approach and make room for new ideas by encouraging others in our community to volunteer, make them feel part of something worthwhile.”
– Laurel Montana Community Foundation Incorporated
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Celebrating the Collective Impact of Community Foundations |
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On November 12-18, MCF joined the nation in celebrating National Community Foundation Week to recognize the increasingly important role community foundations play in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.
For more than a century, community foundations have served as a trusted partner and resource whose effect can be seen in the lives of millions and in the vibrant neighborhoods that continue to thrive through their mission-driven work.
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The CARES Act and Its Impact on Charitable Giving |
Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law in March 2020, individual and business donors have access to some unique and potentially impactful tax incentives for charitable giving in 2020. Below you will find examples of a few notable opportunities created by the CARES Act, which may be of interest to you or someone you know. The window for taking advantage of these changes closes on December 31. Learn more about the tax incentives to maximize our impact.
We can help you explore options to maximize your tax benefits and charitable giving impact, including gifts to qualify for the Montana Endowment Tax Credit (METC), provide income during your lifetime if desired, offset capital gains, and support the nonprofits and essential services you value most. Together we can build a permanent base of support for our communities through the power of endowed funds.
Your charitable giving interests are our top priority. We want to help you enrich the lives of our children, support our neighbors, and ensure a
viable future for the nonprofits and services that make Montana strong.
Want to learn more? We are hosting a brief CARES Act Webinar on Thursday, December 3rd, from 12:00-12:20 pm. We’ll share how the CARES Act may affect your charitable giving and MCF staff will be available to answer any questions you have may have. Register here.
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Five Funds to Consider this Giving Season |
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There are a variety of ways you can support notable causes this giving season and help our local communities. Not sure where to start? Consider a gift to one of the following funds at MCF to support veterans, women’s issues, disaster relief, and more. |
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Montana Community Foundation – Give today for Montana's tomorrow. Whether you're passionate about education, the arts, rural development, animals, the environment, or another important cause, giving at MCF helps ensure our communities are the places we love to call home for generations to come. It doesn't matter how you give, it simply matters that you give. At MCF, we make giving easy with options to fit your goals as a philanthropist and your needs for financial planning. Donate now.
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Women’s Foundation of Montana – Women makeup nearly half the workforce, direct 80 percent of all consumer spending decisions, and control 56 percent of our economy. At the Women's Foundation of Montana (WFM) we fuel the advancement of women's leadership and economic power while creating new possibilities for girls. By supporting WFM, you can end gender discrimination in Montana workplaces and help Montana woman and girls reach their true potential. Donate now.
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The Montana Veterans Fund, an endowed fund at MCF, was created in 2019 to continue the good work of the honor flights and support veterans in Montana now and forever. Of the remaining funds from the Big Sky Honor Flight Fund, $10,000 was sent to the National Honor Flight Hub organization for the “Lone Eagle Program” which helps send individual Montana veterans on to join WWII veterans from other states as they visit the World War II Memorial in Washington. DC. The remaining funds were placed into the new Montana Veterans Fund. Donate now.
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The Montana Disaster Relief Fund is ready to provide relief and recovery to Montana communities when disasters happen. With a special focus on long-term disaster recovery, the Montana Disaster Relief Fund enables MCF to support communities as they rebuild and recover after disaster strikes…and help them be ready for the next one. Fires, blizzards, and pandemics. The Montana Disaster Relief Fund has been there for Montanans and will continue to be there in the aftermath of future disasters. Donate now.
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Montana Community Foundation Scholarship Fund – Each year, MCF awards nearly $500,000 in scholarships. However, we are unable to fulfill every request we receive, leaving some students without the support they need to attend college or a technical school. The MCF Scholarship Fund was created to provide scholarship funding to Montana students by augmenting other existing scholarship funds at MCF in the hope of supporting more Montana students in their educational endeavors. Donate now.
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Mitch joined our team as Philanthropy Officer in August. In his role, Mitch works closely with individuals and nonprofit organizations to achieve their philanthropic goals and dreams while supporting the causes they care about and helping Montana communities succeed.
Mitch can work with you to achieve your philanthropic dreams and goals while helping Montana communities flourish.
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