MCF is committed to being the go-to place for philanthropy in Montana. Whether it is donors, nonprofit organizations, local community foundations, financial advisors, or any one of the many other constituents we work with, our goal is to provide the best service possible. One way we do that is by continual improvement. We know no matter how good an organization, company or team is, there is always room to progress and enhance.
That's why we're excited to share some of our most recent steps to improve MCF and more importantly, improve the service we provide you. The first is an incredible new hire we've made to fill our Local Community Foundation Program Director position. We listened to the local community foundations and are responding to their need for dedicated support. Jen is a dynamo. She comes to us from Helena Food Share where she accomplished amazing things as their Development Director. We are more than confident that Jen has the ability and drive to help LCFs across the state ensure their communities flourish.
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The next improvement we'd like to share is our new online donor portal. We were keenly aware the donor portal MCF had in place wasn't meeting the needs of our constituents. At the time of its implementation, it was one of the best products on the market. But like our aging website, it was in need of a serious upgrade. We've partnered with DonorFirst to provide our fund representatives a comprehensive online tool to make grants, check their account information, receive and review financial statements and much, much more. Staying on the topic of technology, we've also launched a new Planned Giving section of our website. It offers videos, gift illustrations, example scenarios, brochures and all the information you need to get started diving into planned giving. Finally, we're excited to announce the opening of our new office location in Missoula. Over the last year and a half, we have seen tremendous growth in philanthropy in Montana and the need for our services. As a statewide organization, this is another major step toward better serving our constituents by having a physical location in another community. Like our office in Helena, the Missoula office gives you a place to meet with our staff in person to discover how we can best help you and in turn, help Montana. We'll be hosting an open house in conjunction with First Friday in Missoula from 5-8pm on November 6th, so we hope you'll join us.
You can learn more about Jen Gursky, our new donor portal, planned giving website and the new Missoula office below. While that's all for now, let me assure you we're not done! Our team is growing, our services are expanding and improving, and our commitment to philanthropy in Montana is stronger than ever.
Sincerely,
Mary K. Rutherford, MA, CFRE
President & Chief Executive Officer
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New Online Donor Portal Delivers Convenience and Efficiency
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MCF has partnered with DonorFirst to offer fund representatives one of the most robust online donor portals available. The new portal allows secure access to account information including online financial statements. The new portal is also a convenient and efficient way to submit and process grants.
If you're a fund representative and we have your email address on file, watch for a registration invitation email very soon. If we do not have your email address on file or you don't receive a registration email and would like an online account, please contact us!
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MCF Welcomes New Local Community Foundation Program Director Jen Gursky!
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Jen joins us as our new Local Community Foundation Program Director. A Montana native, she will be working directly with local community foundations across the state to help them ensure their communities thrive for many years to come. Jen has 10 years of experience in grassroots fundraising, raising money for community initiatives, political campaigns, faith-based projects and community nonprofits. Before joining MCF, she was asking people to join a vision of a hunger-free community as the Development Director for Helena Food Share. Please join us in welcoming Jen!
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Like our office in Helena, the Missoula office gives donors, charitable organizations, professional advisors and others a place to meet with our staff to discover how we can help them.
The work accomplished, relationships and presence MCF has in Missoula County are significant. Over the past 20 years, MCF has made approximately 1,500 grants and scholarship awards in the area totaling more than $3.2 million. MCF has worked with more than 800 individual and organizational donors representing approximately $8.8 million in donations. There are currently a total of 47 charitable funds at MCF with a combined balance of more than $4.5 million represented by interests in Missoula County.
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Get Started with Planned Giving
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Planned giving can be a daunting topic, but we've added another tool to help you understand it and find the best fit for your philanthropic and financial goals. Our new planned giving section on the MCF website delivers TONS of great content and information on planned giving. You'll find videos, brochures, scenarios, a gift illustrator and so much more to help you begin your planned giving journey. And don't forget, we also have the incredible Montana Office of Gift Planning to guide you to make the most of your money for you AND Montana!
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2015 MNA Conference - The Power of Story
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The conference will be held September 30 through October 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings. We hope to see you there!
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What does an awesome month of generosity look like in Montana? How about 44 grants totaling more than $360,000! August was an amazing month of generosity by and for Montanans. Thank you for letting us be a part of it!
If you're interested in finding out more about how you can help by investing in Montana's future, visit the GIVING section of our website.
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10 Questions for the Staff - Riley Meredith
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Who are the people that spend their days working for Montana's future? Let's find out!
1. Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in Helena.
2. What's your position at MCF and what do you do?
I'm the Marketing & Communications Director. I handle things like advertising, print materials, the website, our newsletter and annual report, public relations and a whole lot more.
3. What's your favorite hobby/what do you do with your free time?
I spend nearly all my free time chasing after my nine-month-old son Finn. I also pretend to be a novelist from time to time.
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| Marketing & Communications
Director Riley Meredith |
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4. If you had to choose a different profession, what would it be and why?
I would be a World Rally Championship driver or a travel writer. I love to drive fast on twisty backroads and have always loved the challenge those drivers must face blasting through different terrains. As far as travel writing, I've been lucky enough to travel all over the world and found it to be one of the most amazing and perception altering experiences of my life. I'd love to try and capture that for other people and inspire them to get out of their comfort zone and see what the world has to offer.
5. What's something not very many people know about you?
I speak enough Welsh to get by in polite pub conversation. I lived in Wales for two years and learned there was no easier way to earn yourself a free beer than speaking the local language as an American.
6. What are three things you can't live without?
Friends, family and having fun.
7. How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
My job here at MCF is my first major involvement in the nonprofit sector. I spent 10 years in Las Vegas working for a publicly traded company and finally decided that I needed to get back to Montana and do something for the benefit of the people and place I love.
8. If there was one thing you wanted people to know about MCF, what would it be?
The MCF staff and board truly care about Montana. It's incredibly refreshing to work in an environment where people are motivated by doing good in the world, not just earning a paycheck.
9. What's your favorite place in Montana?
There are so many places I love here, but if I had to choose one I'd say the North Fork of the Blackfoot. I spent time working for a fly fishing outfitter near Ovando and it's just one of those places that feels like it's part of the heart and soul of our state.
10. What's your favorite thing about Montana/Montanans?
I think my favorite thing about Montana is the kindness and common courtesy. I love that we smile and wave at strangers, offer a helping hand and do simple things like putting our carts away at the grocery store. You don't realize how much you miss those things and how important they are until you don't have them.
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