LOCAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

The expansion of affiliates—or local community foundations—is central to the work of the Montana Community Foundation.

In 1994, as part of the Ford Foundation Rural Development and Community Foundations Initiative, the Foundation launched an intensive effort to demonstrate that small rural communities could build and benefit from local permanent endowment funds. Three pilot communities—Scobey, Browning and Broadus—were selected in a competitive process to participate in the Beacon Communities Program. Each of these communities faced serious economic difficulties, but each also presented tremendous opportunities to develop new projects, test innovative community development methods and build financial resources and human capacity.

The results of the program included substantial growth in local permanently endowed funds, the establishment of granting programs to support local charities and projects, and a new spirit of empowerment and self-reliance. Perhaps the best measure of the success of this first rural outreach effort was the fact that it spread—and continues to spread—to other communities across the state.

Local community foundations affiliated with the Foundation now number more than 40, and each year their impact grows through grant support for local charities and projects, and citizen participation in local endowment building. In 2006, LCF endowment balances exceeded $3 million; funds available for granting at the local level reached $283,000. These local foundations represent one of the fastest-growing components of the Montana Community Foundation's overall portfolio.

New! Visit the LCF Library and find resources for local community foundations on fundraising, planned giving, board development and more!

List of Local Community Foundations