Abbie Shelter 2026

Domestic Violence Shelter Expansion Planning

Abbie Shelter serves victims and survivors of intimate partner violence in the Flathead Valley and northwestern Montana. This project will support planning activities to expand its current shelter facility, which is almost always full and has a waitlist. Grant funds will go toward staff salaries while they lead this work and toward a contract with an architect to lead the design planning process. Abbie Shelter has established partnerships with the Blackfeet Domestic Violence Program and law enforcement agencies in the Flathead Valley, including Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2026

Billings Community Foundation 2026

First Church Resiliency Project

Billings First Congregational Church (First Church) is a community-oriented nonprofit that provides a range of community services. First Church is planning to renovate its building to address mechanical and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access. It has taken the additional step of using the opportunity to work with community partners to determine how the renovation can maximize space to meet community health needs. The project will increase the space available for offices and meeting rooms for support and recovery groups, and for shelter for unhoused individuals. Grant funds will be used to develop architectural and engineering plans to accomplish this. The Billings Community Foundation serves as a fiscal sponsor for this project.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation 2026

Blackfeet Meadowlark Connections

The Blackfeet Tribe’s Southern Peigan Health Center (SPHC) provides primary care, integrated behavioral health, case management, and school-based services on the Blackfeet reservation. SPHC will recruit a care coordinator who will work with SPHC’s Meadowlark behavioral health provider to coordinate services across settings where maternal care occurs. This includes the Indian Health Service (IHS) Women’s Health Clinic, SPHC primary care and behavioral health, Tribal social service programs, and other community locations that serve perinatal patients. Grant funds will support the care coordinator position. Partners include the Blackfeet Community Hospital and Blackfeet Tribal Social Services, along with multiple community- based programs located on the reservation that include Sukapi Lodge, Blackfeet Tribal Behavioral Health, Tribal Health Improvement Program, Blackfeet Early Childhood Center (Head Start and Early Head Start), FAST Blackfeet (food pantry), Domestic Violence Programs, Blackfeet Housing and Crystal Creek Lodge.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation 2026

Blackfeet Tribal Emergency Operation Plan Rewrite

The Blackfeet Tribe will update and implement its Tribal Emergency Operations Plan. Through this project, the tribe will also train every agency that serves a role within the completed plan, improving emergency preparedness across the tribal government. The project will be led by Blackfeet Homeland Security and the Blackfeet Emergency Preparedness program. Grant funds will be used to support a consultant who will coordinate with 15 tribal programs to identify roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency. Completion of plan will also facilitate access to federal funds that will improve the long term stability of essential tribal services.

Grant Amount

$15,000

Term

12 month

2026

Central Montana Childcare Alliance 2026

Creating Healthy Communities through Childcare Excellence

The Central Montana Childcare Alliance (CMCA) is a community-based organization serving Wheatland, Fergus, Judith Basin, and Petroleum Counties in Central Montana. CMCA provides training and technical assistance to current and prospective childcare providers to expand licensed childcare facilities, enhance quality of care, and improve the economic viability of operating these facilities. This project will create a licensed childcare facility in Wheatland County (one of five Montana counties without licensed childcare), which will require recruiting 3-5 new childcare workers. CMCA will also support 45+ existing providers with monthly online training and site visits, and provide a one-day, in-person training to approximately 100+ providers across the state. MTHF funds will be used to support contract staff costs for the executive director and education coordinator, costs associated with the training, marketing, and communications. Partners include the state departments of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services, and Labor), the City of Lewistown, county commissions of all four counties, multiple non-profits, school districts, and healthcare providers, including Wheatland Memorial Healthcare.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2026

Chippewa Cree Housing Authority 2026

Home Accessibility & Safety Referral Program

The Chippewa Cree Housing Authority (CCHA) serves tribal members in the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. The goal for this project is to improve health outcomes and support safe, independent living for elders, individuals with disabilities, and medically vulnerable members of the community by providing medically necessary home repairs. This project will build a coordinated system that allows health care providers to identify patients with medical or functional safety needs and connect them with resources for essential home modifications, such as ramps and basic safety improvements. As such, the program will support patient safety and independent living. Grant funds will be used to hire licensed contractors to complete all approved home repairs and accessibility modifications. This is a collaboration between the Chippewa Cree Housing Authority and the Rocky Boy Health Center.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

12 month

2026

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation 2026

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe Food Sovereignty AmeriCorps Site

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Food Sovereignty Program works to restore traditional food systems, improve community health, and increase access to traditional foods and land-based practices on the Flathead Reservation. This grant will support two AmeriCorps members who will lead education, outreach, and food system development efforts. They'll create and teach lessons on food sovereignty, gardening, and cooking to youth, adults, and families, while developing easy-to-understand materials about traditional foods, healthy eating, and food sovereignty. Grant funds will cover the cost share for the AmeriCorps service members.

Grant Amount

$23,000

Term

12 month

2026

Dynamic Recovery 2026

Increasing Clinical Recovery Residences in Cascade County

Dynamic Recovery is a Great Falls-based organization that provides substance use and mental health treatment and recovery services to eight Certified Recovery Residences across Montana and on the Flathead Reservation. This project will add up to 20 clinically supported beds in Great Falls that combine safe housing with intensive daily treatment. Dynamic Recovery received a provisional license to provide these services; they are in the process of purchasing a building in downtown Great Falls to house current outpatient programming on the main floor, including offices, group rooms, 24/7 crisis support, and a drop-in center, as well as residential space for sober living on the second floor. Grant funds will support a nighttime staff member during the startup phase, as well as supplies and materials for the recovery residence. Confirmed partners include Recovery Access Montana, Toro Medical College, NeighborWorks Montana, Job Service, and Clearwater Credit Union.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Florence Crittenton Home & Services 2026

Implementing Youth Maternity Home Medicaid Residential Funding Source

Florence Crittenton Family Services is a youth maternity home located in Helena that provides shelter and supportive services to young and expecting mothers aged 12-21 and their children aged 0-5 in a trauma-responsive, family-centered environment. The grant will support the implementation of their recently approved Therapeutic Youth Group Home license and the establishment of Medicaid reimbursement rates for this newly approved Medicaid service. Grant funds will support additional residential staff to meet licensing requirements as well as participation in statewide outreach efforts to inform partner agencies of the new services.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation 2026

Water Tower Repair

The Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) experienced a windstorm that damaged their community water tower, leading to contamination concerns, boil water orders, and a federal emergency request. The goal of this project is to restore the water tower and ensure clean water to residents, businesses, and the local hospital. Grant funds support a thorough tank inspection and condition assessment and contribute to the most critical tank exterior and mechanical repairs. The Fort Belknap Environmental Protection Program staff, the Fort Belknap Water Quality Program, Prairie Mountain Utilities, the Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department, and the Fort Belknap Tribal Engineer are partners on this project.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Good Medicine Wellness Center 2026

Good Medicine Wellness Center: Launch and Early Operations of Bozeman’s First Urban Indian Health Clinic

Good Medicine Wellness Center (GMWC) is an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) headquartered in Belgrade, Montana, founded in 2024 to develop health services for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people living in the Greater Gallatin Valley. The grant will contribute to the creation of Bozeman's first urban Indian health clinic, delivering culturally grounded behavioral health and wellness services to AI/AN people. GMWC will start by launching tele-behavioral health services through a partnership with Billings Urban Indian Health and Wellness Center (BUIHWC), provides peer support through an Indigenous Peer Support Specialist, and serve as a community gathering space that integrates clinical care with cultural programming. MTHCF funds will support core personnel and operating costs during the startup phase as GMWC builds toward long-term sustainability through third-party reimbursement and pursuit of Urban Indian Health Program designation by the Indian Health Service. GMWC has already developed valuable partnerships with several community-based organizations that will provide referrals and access to community services and resources.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2026

Greater Missoula Family YMCA 2026

Better Together: Reimagining Community Health and Access

The Greater Missoula Family YMCA is a community center serving Missoula County through programming in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This grant supports a collaborative effort between the Missoula and Helena YMCAs to stabilize and strengthen Helena YMCA programming by providing operational support, capacity-building for local staff, facility assessments, and a due diligence process for a potential merger of the organizations. Grant funds will be used to support the formal exploration of a partnership model between the respective organizations, including staffing, facility assessments, consulting fees, and other planning costs.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Helena Indian Alliance 2026

Integrated Behavioral Health Re-Launch Support

The Helena Indian Alliance (HIA) is an urban Indian health center that serves the greater Helena community. The goal for this project is to support the relaunch and improvement of integrated behavioral health services (IBH) following recent staffing changes. The grant will support sending their new IBH team members to conduct a site visit to the Southcentral Foundation in Alaska, for training in the Nuka System of Care. HIA will use this training to support the implementation and enhancement of IBH. MTHCF funds will be used to support training and travel costs for 9 staff members to attend.

Grant Amount

$38,745

Term

12 month

2026

Helping Hands Food Bank 2026

Expanding Equitable Food Access Across Big Horn County by Strengthening the Regional Food Economy

Helping Hands Food Bank in Hardin is a nonprofit that works to improve food access, quality, and education in Big Horn county. This project will support Helping Hands to purchase a vehicle with refrigeration and a lift gate. The new truck will allow Helping Hands to receive and distribute a much higher volume of fresh and frozen foods and in turn, enable them to expand food access to partner organizations across Big Horn and Rosebud Counties, specifically on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations. The project will support collaboration with a large number of food system partners, including the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, Western Montana Growers Co-op, the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Health Improvement Programs (THIP), Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation, Black Lodge Community Center, Mighty Few Community Development, Northern Cheyenne Food Pantry, Centerpole, Biiluke Strong, Mountain Shadow, Faith Hope and Love Ministries, Arrow Creek Food Pantry, Big Horn Ministerial Association, Little Big Horn College, Hopa Mountain, Family Service, Montana Food Bank Network, Messengers for Health, Montana State University Extension, Hardin School District Farm to School Program, and local farmers and ranchers.

Grant Amount

$40,000

Term

12 month

2026

Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. 2026

Travertine Community Homes

Human Resource Development Council IX, Inc. (HRDC IX) is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Gallatin, Park, and Meagher counties with programming that includes housing, energy, food, community transportation, early childhood education, and services for older people. This grant will support the development of Travertine Community Homes, a community land trust (CLT) in Gardiner. The project will construct 36 townhomes, 30 of which will be priced to be affordable to households earning up to 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) (with sales to households up to 150% AMI), filling a critical workforce housing gap in the community. The CLT model is structured to ensure that the project is an enduring, affordable housing asset for the community. A deed restriction will ensure that none of the homes become short-term rentals, maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood. Grant funds will be used to support the development of infrastructure for the homes. Partners include Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Forever, North Yellowstone Education Foundation, US Forest Service Gardiner Ranger District, MSU Extension Park County, Greater Gardiner Community Council, Park County, Gardiner Resort Tax Area, Park County Community Foundation, RCAC, NWMT, and Rural LISC.

Grant Amount

$300,000

Term

36 months

2026

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana 2026

Enhancing Organizational Culture and Leadership Through Core Concepts Training

The Little Shell Health Clinic, operated by the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana since July 2025, provides comprehensive primary and preventive care to over 2,500 clients in Great Falls and surrounding counties. This grant will support the tribe in its efforts to build an organizational culture and leadership practices that support outstanding, client-centered care. To accomplish this, the tribe will send the clinic’s executive leadership team to Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska. The team will participate in Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka Core Concepts Training, followed by focused work sessions to translate their learning into practical tools, clinic processes, and culturally centered service practices across the clinic. Grant funds will cover travel costs and tuition.

Grant Amount

$20,000

Term

12 month

2026

Livingston Food Resource Center 2026

Expanding the Kamut for Community Bread Program to Strengthen Rural and Indigenous Food Access

The Livingston Food Resource Center (LFRC) combats food insecurity and promotes community wellness throughout Park County. The Kamut for Community Bread Program will expand access to nutritious, preservative-free bread in rural and Indigenous communities while strengthening local food systems. The project will source grains from Montana farmers and the Chippewa Cree Tribe at Rocky Boy’s Reservation, and use them to produce nutrient-dense bread. The bread will be distributed by the Yellowstone Basin Food Pantry Collaborative, a regional network under the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative that includes Helping Hands Food Pantry (serving the Crow Nation), Northern Cheyenne Food Pantry, and Gardiner Food Pantry. MTHF funds will support ingredient procurement, staff coordination, delivery logistics, and outreach to ensure culturally meaningful, healthy food reaches those most impacted by food insecurity and health disparities. Partners for this project include the Yellowstone Basin Food Pantry Collaborative; the Chippewa Cree Tribe, who will provide the flour; Montana Flour and Grain, which will provide organic whole wheat flour; and other partners, including Hopa Mountain and the Montana Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Bureau.

Grant Amount

$87,927

Term

18 month

2026

Mahchiwminahnahtik Chippewa and Cree Language Revitalization 2026

Chippewa and Cree Language Revitalization for Community Health and Well-Being

Mahchiwminahnahtik Chippewa and Cree Language Revitalization (MCCLR) is a community nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and preserving the Chippewa and Cree languages for future generations, serving the Rocky Boy Reservation. Through this grant, MCCLR will develop a Chippewa and Cree language immersion program that will be integrated into the behavioral health and recovery services of the Rocky Boy Health Center and White Sky Hope Center. To develop the program, MCCLR will conduct listening sessions, surveys, and focus groups with fluent speakers, elders, community members, and participants connected to the Rocky Boy Health Center and the White Sky Hope Center. Grant funds will be used to support planning activities, community outreach, coordination, evaluation, and the development of a sustainable framework positioning language as a recognized health intervention within Tribal health systems. The primary partner is the Rocky Boy Health Center, including its behavioral health and recovery programs. MCCLR also partners directly with fluent speakers in the community and elders, who are essential cultural knowledge holders and language carriers. Additional partners include Stone Child College and other Tribal education stakeholders to align this work with broader language revitalization and workforce development efforts.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Messengers for Health 2026

Messengers for Health Transportation Program AmeriCorps

Messengers for Health is a nonprofit that supports community-driven health programs for people on the Crow Indian Reservation and surrounding areas. This grant will support hiring an AmeriCorps member to help develop and fully implement Messengers for Health’s new Transportation Program. The AmeriCorps member will support core operations of the program, including responding to client inquiries and processing Transportation Program applications, as well as engaging Crow Tribal Health and the Medicaid Transportation Program to align services and explore opportunities for sustaining them through Medicaid reimbursement. Grant funds will cover the cost share for the AmeriCorps service member.

Grant Amount

$11,500

Term

12 month

2026

Messengers for Health 2026

Building Feasibility Study with Bannack Group

Messengers for Health works to improve the health of people on the Crow Reservation and neighboring communities through empowering people to manage their health care and chronic illnesses effectively. This grant will support Messengers to conduct a feasibility study for a new building to house their programming on land owned by the grantee in Crow Agency. The feasibility study will include interviews with key community members, prospective donors, and institutional funders to determine the depth and breadth of interest in and likely philanthropic support for campaign priorities. MTHF funds will be used to hire a consultant to conduct the feasibility study.

Grant Amount

$30,000

Term

12 month

2026

Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026

Montana Immunization Coalition

The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MTAAP) is the state professional association for Montana pediatricians. MTAAP will incubate a coalition to work with communities to address questions and improve vaccination rates for serious vaccine-preventable diseases. MTAAP has taken initial steps to plan this coalition and engage stakeholders across the state. Grant funds will support a strategic consultant to lead facilitation and stakeholder analysis, and to develop tools and infrastructure necessary to ensure long-term success. Primary partners are the DPHHS Immunization Program, Montana Medical Association, Montana Primary Care Association, Montana Hospital Association, Montana Public Health Institute, Confluence Public Health, the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences, and providers and organizations working with Native American tribal partners, among others.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Montana Continuum of Care Coalition 2026

Montana Coordinated Entry System Capacity Building and Implementation Project

The Montana Continuum of Care Coalition (CoC) is the collaborative, statewide agency funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness across Montana. Their primary functions include facilitating a collaborative process for HUD grant applications, maintaining HUD Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) to collect and report homelessness data, establishing statewide funding priorities, measuring performance, and supporting providers of housing services to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are matched to housing opportunities as effectively as possible. Through this grant, the CoC will hire a coordinated entry systems (CES) director responsible for statewide coordination. The CES director will work to standardize and enhance statewide utilization, processes, and data collection in accordance with HUD requirements while reducing the data collection burden on local providers. This project builds upon the CoC’s recent MTHF grant and responds to feedback received from statewide partners regarding HMIS utilization and coordinated entry systems. This grant will also further implement CES in rural and Tribal communities. MTHF funds will be used to support staffing, consulting, and travel costs for the CoC. Project partners include Pathways (the HMIS provider), the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and communities and organizations providing services to people experiencing homelessness.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2026

Montana Primary Care Association 2026

Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Montana

Montana Primary Care Association (MPCA) is a statewide non-profit association of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and urban Indian organizations (UIOs). The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a national clinical model designed to serve older adults who qualify for nursing home–level care but can live safely in the community with appropriate supports. The goal of this planning grant is to prepare for the future implementation of a rural PACE program in Montana. MPCA will achieve its goal by conducting a comprehensive feasibility and readiness assessment engaging key stakeholders, including Area Agencies on Aging, the Montana Health Care Association, the Montana Hospital Association, and tribal partners, to inform care model design, referral pathways, culturally responsive implementation, and key considerations. Grant funds will support specialized PACE consulting, stakeholder engagement, report development, and creation of an implementation roadmap.

Grant Amount

$70,000

Term

12 month

2026

Montana State University Extension 2026

Housing Technical Assistance for Low-Capacity Rural Communities

Montana State University Extension (MSU Extension) serves local needs in Montana counties and reservations through education in agriculture, healthy living, leadership, youth development, and more. Community Vitality is one of four MSU Extension program areas and focuses on building skills and confidence among local residents. This project will establish a monthly education program focused on housing solutions for community members in rural and frontier communities. Funds from MTHF will be used to hire a Housing Associate Specialist to lead the education program and provide coaching to 6-8 community groups per year through the process of creating their housing needs assessment. Partners include NeighborWorks MT, the Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division, Trust Montana, and local extension agents in communities.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Montana State University Foundation 2026

Launching the Montana Community Health Worker Association

The Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center will initiate the transition of the Montana Community Health Worker Association from an unincorporated group to an independent nonprofit to support and advance the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce and expand access to care statewide. CHWs play a critical role in addressing the health challenges Montanans face while reducing costly use of emergency systems. Grant funds will support project staff, professional services for nonprofit formation, and leadership development for board members. Key partners include the Montana Public Health Institute; the Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development; the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation within the Montana Hospital Association; the Montana Primary Care Association; and the Montana Health Network.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

NACDC Financial Services Inc 2026

Creating a pathway to financial wellness

Native American Community Development Corporation (NACDC) Financial Services is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in Browning, MT. This grant will support NACDC in finalizing a Trauma-Aware Toolkit. This will be done by working with a consultant to help finalize the toolkit and develop sustainability and implementation plans for it. Grant funds will cover consultant fees to complete the work, obtain copyright protection, create illustrations, and publish the toolkit. Partners include Black Sheep Consulting and Coaching, and other CDFIs to provide ongoing train-the-trainer courses, beginning with members of the Mountain Plains CDFI Coalition.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Northern Montana Health Care 2026

Enhancing Maternal & Women’s Health Outcomes

Located on the High-Line of north central Montana, Northern Montana Hospital (NMH) serves patients from Havre and surrounding communities, including the Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap Reservations. NMH offers perinatal services through, including comprehensive care coordination, integrated behavioral health, and lactation services. This project will allow NMH to strengthen Meadowlark services by improving workflows that increase maternal engagement, reduce service gaps, and promote healthier outcomes for mothers and infants. NMH will hire an additional behavioral health clinician to increase access to care and facilitate warm handoffs among medical and behavioral health providers. Partnerships developed during the implementation of Meadowlark, such as Rocky Boy Health Center, Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department, and other Hi-Line community partners, will continue to be improved and maintained throughout this project and beyond.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Opportunities Inc 2026

Housing Stability Services

Opportunities, Inc. is the community action agency serving Cascade County through programs that address housing, energy, Head Start, and behavioral health services for residents with low incomes. This grant will support Opportunities, Inc to plan and develop housing support services for individuals housed in the recently opened Baatz Block Apartments, the community’s first single-site permanent supportive housing (PSH). The Baatz Block apartments were developed by Neighborworks Great Falls, with Opportunities, Inc. the lead partner to provide services on site for residents. The grant will also support Opportunities, Inc to explore revenue streams to sustain housing and substance use treatment services beyond the grant. Partners include Neighborworks Great Falls, Alluvion Health, and Continuum of Care participants. MTHF funds will be used to support staffing costs (primarily in year 1) for services seeking full or partial reimbursement in year 2, including the LAC, Outreach Coordinator, Supportive Services Coordinator, and Housing Stability Specialists.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Pioneer Medical Center 2026

Emergency Department Program to Address Social Determinants of Health and improve Outcomes

Pioneer Medical Center (PMC) in Big Timber is a non-profit 25-bed critical access hospital that serves Sweet Grass County and surrounding areas. The emergency department will implement structured screening and care coordination for behavioral health and social determinants of health (SDOH) needs such as transportation and housing instability. The goal is to reduce avoidable ED visits and to provide better follow-up care that addresses patients' needs, grounded in the integrated behavioral health model. Grant funds will help cover care coordination staff, set up the screening tools and workflows, and track results. Primary partners include Billings Clinic for specialty referrals and community organizations that can support housing, food access, transportation, and behavioral health.

Grant Amount

$22,272

Term

12 month

2026

Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation 2026

Solid Waste Feasibility Study

Plenty Doors Community Development Corporation works to support Apsáalooke (Crow) communities through economic development, capacity building, business development, workforce development, promotion and preservation of culture, and food sovereignty. This grant will support Plenty Doors to conduct a feasibility study to address the lack of adequate solid waste services on the Crow Reservation. There are six designated dumping sites, but the grantee notes that they are insufficient, poorly maintained, and often unattended due to ongoing administration and funding challenges. Plenty Doors will document current solid waste challenges and system gaps, gather community perspectives, learn from Tribal and rural communities facing similar situations, identify and detail feasible models, and provide clear recommendations with actionable next steps. Funds will be used for consulting, community events, and to compensate canvassers for conducting door-to-door surveys in the tribal housing near the dump sites. Partners for this project are Crow Public Utility (CPU), the utility company designated by the Crow Tribal government, and Spottedtail Holistic Health, a nonprofit organization focused on educating our youth and community to become better environmental stewards of the land. Sweetgrass Consulting will work closely with Plenty Doors to develop the study framework.

Grant Amount

$71,757

Term

12 month

2026

Red Lodge Area Community Foundation 2026

Aging in Carbon County

The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building thriving communities in Carbon County. This project will identify a plan to address barriers that can prevent Carbon County seniors from safely remaining in their homes and community. RLACF will work with area senior centers to collect data on county residents' needs. RCLAF will partner with Allies in Aging to scale proven urban resources for in-home care into rural areas, and with Carbon County Public Health to integrate a new approach to educating the public about the barriers to aging in Carbon County. Grant funds will be used to support planning and staffing to broaden stakeholder coalitions, directly engage seniors to inform decision-making, develop evaluation metrics and data collection protocols, and adapt urban solutions for the rural community.

Grant Amount

$49,988

Term

12 month

2026

Red Shield 8 Nations Inc 2026

Red Shield 8 Nations Creative Process

Red Shield 8 Nations (RS8N) is a newly formed nonprofit created by seven Montana tribes and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health Centers (MCUIH) to build a new, tribally led regional healing center. This one-year grant will provide the basis for creative marketing of RS8N as a nonprofit business. MTHF funds will be used for communications costs, including logo design, branding, and website development.

Grant Amount

$30,000

Term

12 month

2026

Rocky Boy Health Center 2026

THRIVE: Teaching Health, Resilience, and Indigenous Values for Early Life

Rocky Boy Health Center (RBHC) is a tribal health department serving the Chippewa Cree community on the Rocky Boy Reservation in northcentral Montana. This grant will support RBHC to expand and improve its Meadowlark services for obstetric patients. Through this project, called "THRIVE: Teaching Health, Resilience, and Indigenous Values for Early Life," RBHC will improve maternal, infant, and family health outcomes by providing an integrated, culturally grounded continuum of care from pregnancy through the child’s first year of life. The project will be led by Rocky Boy Health Center in partnership with the Mīyō Pimātisiwinkamik Youth Wellness Center, RBHC Behavioral Health, and a collaborating OB/GYN physician, with coordination across tribal and community programs. Funds will be used to support the continuation and expansion of integrated behavioral health services including screening, warm handoffs, individual counseling, care coordination and workforce support.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2026

Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council 2026

2026 National Community Health Aide Program Symposium – From Vision to Practice: Strengthening CHAP for the Next Generation of Tribal Health

Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council (RMTLC) is a tribally led organization serving tribal nations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. This project will support a National Symposium on the Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Symposium that will be held in Billings, Montana. This 3-day convening will advance workforce development, strengthen collaboration among tribal, state and national partners, and support planning, implementation, and long-term sustainability of CHAP through education, policy alignment, and shared learning. Grant funds will support meeting space, speaker honorariums, conference materials and direct student support. Partners include Montana Tribal Nations, Northwest Portland Area Health Board, Southern Plains Indian Health Board and the California Rural Indian Health Board.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2026

Salish Kootenai College 2026

Americorp service member Salish Kootenai College Health Promotion Practices Department

Salish Kootenai College’s (SKC) Health Promotion Practices Program prepares students to promote health and wellness in tribal and rural communities. This grant will support SKC to hire an AmeriCorps member to conduct a community-building and outreach project for the Health Promotion Practices program. This project will strengthen connections between SKC’s public health programs and the communities they serve, helping to build a culturally grounded public health workforce across Tribal and rural Montana. The AmeriCorps member will build partnerships with tribal health departments, local employers, and high schools statewide to increase awareness of public health careers and align the Health Promotion Practices Program with current community health worker initiatives. Grant funds will cover the cost share for the AmeriCorps service member.

Grant Amount

$11,500

Term

12 month

2026

Serious JuJu Skateworks 2026

The Balance Project: A Therapeutic Skateboard Group for Youth

Serious JuJu Skateworks operates Montana’s only indoor skatepark and serves as a trusted community hub for young people and families across Flathead Valley. This project will design a sustainable, prevention-focused mental health model that integrates evidence-based therapy and physical activity to expand access to early intervention for youth ages 8-12. Grant funds will support contracted clinical and program experts, partnership development, and evaluation design to ensure quality implementation and long-term sustainability. Partners for this project include the Kalispell School District, local outpatient behavioral health providers, and the Flathead Valley Community College.

Grant Amount

$49,700

Term

12 month

2026

Skyview Residences LLLP 2026

Skyview Residences

Skyview Apartments is a proposed 18-unit Low-Income Tax Credit (LIHTC) new construction project in Billings. The project proposes a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments affordable to households earning between 40 and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) (roughly ranging from $27,200-$69,920 annually, depending on household size). This $300,000 PRI will leverage approximately $6.6 million from the following funding sources, all of which have been secured. This includes Low-Income Tax Credits (LIHTC), Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the City of Billings, NeighborWorks Montana, and Coal Trust GO funds. The permanent loan proposes a 40-year amortization with an 18-year balloon and a 2% interest rate. This project would carry a 51-year Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA) to ensure long-term affordability. New units built with LIHTCs in Montana are required to comply with accessibility and adaptability requirements, as well as indoor air quality standards that support healthy living environments.

Grant Amount

$300,000

Term

Other

2026

The Fourth D Club, Inc. 2026

The Missoula Recovery Community Center Planning Initiative

The Fourth D Club, Inc., a peer-run recovery organization serving the greater Missoula area, will develop an implementation plan for a recovery community center to support individuals with behavioral health challenges. Grant funds will be used for stakeholder engagement, data collection, and the development of a sustainable, diversified funding and implementation plan. Project partners include Recovery Access Montana, Beautiful Minds Recovery Montana, and Crosswinds Recovery, each contributing expertise in recovery support and community engagement, with technical assistance provided by Faces & Voices of Recovery.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2026

University of Montana, Montana Public Health Training Center 2026

Engaging health departments in the Public Health in the Schools Initiative

Through this grant, the University of Montana Public Health Training Center (MPHTC) will build interest in public health careers among rural high school students through a partnership between MPHTC, ruraal schools, local health departments, and students. Public health officials will give talks in schools, and students will have the opportunity to explore public health careers through hands-on experiences such as job shadowing and interactive sessions. In turn, students will help the MPHTC develop messaging that explains and builds enthusiasm for public health through student-created essays, poems, art, and photography. Partners include the Richland County Health Department, Riverstone Health, and several rural health departments and schools, each of which have agreed to provide staff time and participate in this project. Grant funds will support MPHTC staff to develop the toolkit, engage students and local health department staff, and develop a public health branding campaign through insights and materials from participating students.

Grant Amount

$77,119

Term

24 month

2026

Watson Children's Shelter 2026

Voluntary Overnight Respite Services

Watson Children’s Shelter, located in Missoula, provides shelter, safety, and stability for children impacted by abuse, neglect, and abandonment across Montana. This project will pilot a voluntary overnight respite care (VORC) program to provide temporary, safe care for children aged 0-14 whose families have limited resources. VORC is an evidence-based model that allows caregivers to voluntarily place their child(ren) in Watson Children Shelter's care for a temporary period without involving Child and Family Services. Grant funds will be used to cover a portion of personnel salaries for the pilot's implementation.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2026

Adult Resource Alliance of Yellowstone County 2025

The Merger for a Mission Project

The Adult Resource Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has served seniors in Yellowstone County since 1975. Their mission is to provide effective services and lead collaborative efforts to ensure seniors remain independent with the highest possible quality of life. This grant will support planning for a merger between Adult Resource Alliance and Big Sky Senior Services (which also serves seniors in Yellowstone County), with the goal of providing more comprehensive and efficient services to address the needs of seniors in the community. The boards of both organizations have agreed to partner to complete this merger. The merger project requires a thorough due diligence process, legal compliance work, human resources integration, and operational strategy development to build a foundation for successful implementation. Grant funds will be used for consulting services and staff time to plan for a successful merger.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Aware Inc. 2025

Nature-Based Occupations for Increased Quality of Life for Rural Dwelling Brain Injury Survivors

Liberty Place Inc. is a residential rehabilitation facility in Whitehall, offering services to help individuals with brain injuries reach their highest level of independence and enhance their quality of life by giving them the freedom to try. The goal of this project is to implement low-cost interventions that require fewer materials and are accessible to all ability levels to improve the health and well-being of brain injury survivors. This project will provide participants with an opportunity to engage in outdoor nature-based activities, including gardening, river rafting, fishing, animal-assisted therapy, sensory processing, functional movement, and nature-based crafts, that offer cognitive, sensory, physical, and emotional benefits. Grant funds will support travel costs, materials and resources, and staff time to develop and implement the program. This project will happen in partnership with Danielle Menter, a doctoral student in Rocky Mountain College's Occupational Therapy program.

Grant Amount

$2,500

Term

12 month

2025

Aware, Inc. 2025

Strategic Communications Development and Support

AWARE (a statewide mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities provider) is in the process of acquiring and merging with Western Montana Mental Health Center (a mental health and substance use provider). This grant will support public-facing and internal communications throughout the planning and implementation of this transition. Clear, accurate, and effective communications about the reasons for this merger and any changes in services and providers that may occur will be essential to retaining staff and maintaining and building trust with the communities served by these large mental health providers. Grant funds will be used to secure the services of an experienced, respected, Montana-based communications firm.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2025

Benefis Health System Foundation 2025

Psych on Peds: Program Development

The Benefis Health System Foundation provides resources to support and enhance care for patients and families throughout north central Montana and beyond. Through this grant, Benefis will develop and pilot Psych on Peds, a new service at Benefis Health System that will provide case management and psychotherapy services to children with acute psychiatric needs who are admitted to the inpatient medical unit (including children in psychiatric boarding). The goal of this program is to increase continuity of care across medical and psychiatric service systems, thereby shortening hospitalization stays. Grant funds will be used for staff time on the project, clinical training and consultation, and incentives to support stakeholder engagement in needs assessment and quality improvement tasks. The primary partner is Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Big Horn County 2025

Big Horn County Housing Workgroup

This grant will help Big Horn County establish a county-wide housing work group to address needs identified in the county's recently completed housing needs assessment. Big Horn County recently hired a full-time economic development and housing manager to lead this work. Partners include Big Horn County, the City of Hardin, Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority, and Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority. Funds from MTHF will support the travel costs of workgroup members for participation in community engagement events, outreach, and a community housing summit. Big Horn County staff also participates in MTHF's Rural Housing cohort, which provides a forum for communities addressing housing needs to share challenges and solutions.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Billings OBGYN Associates 2025

Improving Perinatal Mental Health in Southeastern Montana

Billings OB/GYN Associates (BOBGYN) will implement The Meadowlark Initiative in Billings and surrounding communities in Southeastern Montana. BOBGYN delivers an average of 150 babies per month at St. Vincent Regional Hospital, which constitutes roughly 75% of the Billings market. The project will improve perinatal outcomes by adopting the Meadowlark model of care, including routine screening and prompt treatment for mental health and substance use issues. BOBGYN has hired a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who is already seeing patients. BOBGYN will use grant funds to hire a care coordinator to work with Meadowlark patients and intends to build a larger behavioral health team during the grant term. St. Vincent Regional Hospital is the main partner in this project.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

Billings School District 2025

Biomed Career Pathways Expansion in Billings Public Schools

Billings Public Schools (BPS) is located in Billings, Montana and serves 16,675 students in grades pre-k through 12th grade across 21 elementary, 6 middle, 3 comprehensive high, 1 Career Center, and 3 public charter schools. BPS educates 11% of all K-12 public school students in the state. This grant will supporte BPS in expanding its healthcare career pathway. BPS will hire a new healthcare pathways expansion coordinator to lead strategic planning, coordinate cross-sector collaboration, and oversee phased implementation of expanded courses, certifications, and dual credit offerings. Grant funds will be used towards the salary of the coordinator's salary. Partners for this project include Billings Clinic, Intermountain Health, RiverStone HEalth, Billings Urban Indian Health & Wellness Center, MSU Billings and other post-secondary institutions, Big Sky Economic Development Authority, and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

24 month

2025

Blackfeet Community College Department of Nursing 2025

National Accreditation for a Tribal College Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

The Blackfeet Community College provides higher education opportunities for the Blackfeet Nation. Blackfeet Community College has created a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and is now preparing to seek national accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accreditation will involve a site visit by peers and an in-depth evaluation of the curriculum and training to ensure the program meets national standards for content and quality. The Montana Board of Nursing conducted a site visit in March 2025 and provisionally approved the program through 2025. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education's process will specify any additional requirements and recommendations that must be met and implemented for national accreditation. Grant funds will be used to hire a nursing education accreditation consultant and implement any specific requirements identified through the national accreditation process.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Blackfeet Tobacco Prevention Program 2025

Blackfeet Tobacco Prevention helping teach about Traditional Tobacco

The Blackfeet Tobacco Prevention Program is housed under the Blackfeet Tribal Health Department and serves the Blackfeet community. Tobacco Prevention provides education on the harmful effects of commercialized tobacco and encourages the use of traditional tobacco in a traditional/ceremonial way. The goal of this project is to support smoking cessation in a program that honors and builds on the cultural importance of traditional tobacco. The program will offer smudge kits that include a wooden box, sage, and sweet grass, education on the harmful effects of commercial tobacco, and resources to help patients quit smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco. Elders will be present at events to provide words of wisdom and guidance. Partners include Blackfeet Community Elders and community members who want to quit commercial tobacco.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Butte Native Wellness Center 2025

Integrated Behavioral Health Expansion at Butte Native Wellness Center

Butte Native Wellness Center (BNWC) is the Urban Indian Organization providing primary care, behavioral health, nutrition, and cultural services in Butte-Silver Bow, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Madison, Beaverhead, and Powell counties since 2022. This grant will support BNWC in implementing culturally responsive team-based primary care that integrates behavioral health services. BNWC will expand its behavioral health team by hiring a second licensed addiction counselor (LAC), an IBH clinician, and an IBH care manager. Through this project, BNWC will offer brief, same-day, and short-term behavioral health interventions, longer-term therapy, and care coordination that bridges medical, behavioral, and cultural care. Grant funds will support a portion of salaries and fringe benefits for three new positions. The multidisciplinary team will bring a strong foundation of collaboration, cultural expertise, and clinical experience to ensure the timely and effective implementation of IBH services. Project partners include Montana universities, Billings Area IHS, local psychiatric providers, Southwest Montana Community Health Center, the local pre-release program, Montana Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, Butte Rescue Mission, Butte-Silver Bow City-County, and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health (MCUIH).

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025