2025 Call for Proposals

Through our annual call for proposals, we offer Montana-based organizations a chance to apply for funding to design and pilot innovative Montana-grown solutions to critical health challenges. The applications we receive also help us understand the evolving needs and priorities in communities around the state.

To be considered for funding, applicant organizations must meet our eligibility criteria. Project proposals must address each of our selection criteria, which applicants should read in-depth before applying.

The strongest applications will demonstrate the importance of the health issue being addressed, the effectiveness of the program you seek to design or implement, strong partnerships with organizations that can contribute to success, and sustainability beyond the grant term.

For questions about the 2025 Call for Proposals, please visit our Grant FAQ page first. Contact us If you need additional help.

Manage Your Application

Overview Webinar

Watch a recording of the 2025 Call for Proposals Overview Webinar.

Download the webinar’s slides here.

Download

Download a PDF of the 2025 Call for Proposals.

Download the 2025 Call for Proposals application questions.

Grant Amounts

We provide grants between $10,000 and $50,000 for one-year (12-month) projects and up to $100,000 for two-year (24-month) projects.

Planning Projects: For projects in the planning phase, we provide grants of up to $50,000 to support strategic, business, and sustainability planning. Do not apply for over $50,000 if your project is currently in the planning phase.
Implementation Projects: We provide up to $100,000 for implementation for projects with strong business and sustainability plans. Please note that the larger implementation awards are very competitive, and we receive many more applications than we can fund.

Deadlines

We award grants through a one-step application process. Each organization may submit up to three different applications per year.

We make every effort to adhere to our grant application review and decision-making timeline. Sometimes, the review process requires more time. If that is the case, we will notify applicants of the review’s status by the “funding decision” date and provide an updated estimate of the timeline for reaching a funding decision.

Opportunity Opens	Applications Due	Funding Decision	Projects Begin
January 15	March 14	May 20	June 1

Eligibility Criteria

We only fund Montana-based organizations. “Montana-based” means that the organization is organized, incorporated, and has offices in Montana. Independent 501(c)(3) organizations that are Montana-based and controlled by a Montana board but are part of a chain of related nonprofits that also conduct operations outside of Montana are eligible to apply for funding restricted to the Montana-based organization.

Montana-based organizations that are eligible to apply for funding under this call for proposals include:

Tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (excluding those classified as private foundations or any type III non-functionally integrated supporting organization under Section 509(a) of the code).
Tax-exempt educational institutions.
State, tribal, or local government agencies.

NOTE: Eligible applicants may use a portion of the budget to fund consultants who may not meet these eligibility criteria.

Please read the “Eligibility” section of our Grant FAQ page carefully for detailed information on the types of organizations eligible to apply for funding.

Selection Criteria

We recognize that each application reflects a unique set of needs and challenges. Proposal reviewers apply our selection criteria holistically to understand each application’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential challenges.

The MTHF Board of Trustees reserves the discretion to consider factors not explicitly described when approving or rejecting grants.

Importance

The project addresses an important health issue or health-related need.

Need

The project fills a need that other available resources in the community have not met.

Sustainability

Benefits from the grant endure after the funding runs out. When the grant establishes or supports new programming, the strongest proposals will demonstrate a clear, feasible plan to sustain the programming through reliable revenue sources beyond grants and fundraising.

Creating partnerships

The project will create or advance new partnerships among organizations that may not have worked together before, resulting in more efficient use of community resources. Proposals should detail specific contributions the identified partners will make to the project.

Focus on at-risk populations

The project will serve a region or population of high need, as measured by limited access to health services, staffing shortages, geographic distance from services, higher rates of specific health issues, or unmet health and health-related needs. Our investments are intended to improve health, well-being, and resilience among those at greatest risk for poor health outcomes.

New solutions

Effective interventions for the identified health issue or health-related need exist but are not already being implemented. The grant will not be used to support the maintenance or expansion of an existing program.

Workable in Montana and culturally appropriate

The project is designed to fit the culture, strengths, infrastructure, and resource constraints of the community that will be served.

Feasibility and scale

There is a high probability that this grant will be successful. The strongest proposals will show potential for being replicated successfully in other communities.

Geography

We seek to support projects across the state in large and small communities. Preparing a high-quality proposal may be more difficult for smaller communities with fewer staff and resources. We may, therefore, give preference to projects from organizations based in and serving rural and frontier communities.

Involving stakeholders and community members

The project includes a strong plan to ensure that community members and other stakeholders are engaged and included in the work.

Collaboration with tribal leadership

Projects that involve a substantial focus on American Indian populations must demonstrate collaboration with the appropriate tribal health authorities, such as the relevant tribal council(s), the health directors of the relevant tribes, or the relevant urban Indian health centers.

What We Do Not Fund

Individuals
Capital campaigns
Operating deficits or retirement of debt
Unless part of a Montana Healthcare Foundation-invited proposal, construction projects, real estate, acquisitions, or endowments
Fundraising events
Organizations that discriminate because of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or political orientation
Lobbying as defined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, section 4945(d)(1)
Activities supporting political candidates or voter registration drives as defined in U.S. Internal Revenue Code, section 4945(d)(2)
Large equipment purchases (for example, medical equipment, vans, etc.), where such purchases constitute a substantial portion of the grant budget
Medical research or research lacking a direct, targeted, and practical benefit to Montanans’ health
Organizations or foundations for redistribution of funds via sub-grants

Please note that our funds may not be used in any way that might supplant government funding of existing programs. All applicants must read our Guidelines on Supplanting.

Project Examples

Please visit our grantee database for examples of projects we have funded through our call for proposals.

GRANTEE LIBRARY

Grants