February 2016

From Mary's Desk

One of the most important things we do here at MCF is scholarships. Last year we awarded more than 50 scholarships to worthy students representing over $365,000. Our current scholarship cycle is once again in full swing. We're currently taking applications for the 2016-17 academic year. Most scholarship applications are due March 18.

This year we're happy to celebrate a special scholarship that offers an incredible opportunity for students and Montana. The T. Eugene Young Montana's Promise Scholarship is designed to provide an incentive for Montana high school students to prepare for and enter into post-secondary fields that are important to Montana's future. The goal of this scholarship is to support Montana's high school seniors who have decided to study in areas where Montana employers are looking for great talent. There is a strong need for people to fill STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) positions including computer science, bioscience and healthcare.

Our hope and goal for the T. Eugene Young Montana's Promise Scholarship is to respond to the needs of Montana. Starting in the 2016-17 academic year, we're very excited to offer 20 scholarships of $2,500 each to deserving Montana students. Applications for this scholarship will be live on the MCF website the first week of March. Please encourage any graduating high school senior to consider applying for this great opportunity.

Scholarships are just one way we're working hand in glove with people who care about Montana's future. We are honored to be your partner in this process.

Sincerely,

Mary K. Rutherford, MA, CFRE

President & Chief Executive Officer

A BIG Year for Montana Philanthropy

We are always thrilled to report how much money we've been able to reinvest in Montana through philanthropy. Our annual distribution (charitable distributions made as an annual payment to designated nonprofit beneficiaries) was the largest in MCF's history at more than $2.5 million! Our total grants and distributions for calendar year 2015 were more than $4.8 million, an increase of more than $800,000 from 2014.

Thank you to the amazing donors for their generosity and the equally amazing nonprofit organizations for the good work they do to make Montana the place we love to call home!

Tom Ahern Montana Tour - Training Opportunity

Fundraising ace, communications whiz, and beloved author Tom Ahern is coming to Montana! Tom will lead three, day-long workshops focusing on improving your donor communications and refining your fundraising strategy. Mark your calendar for the workshop nearest you.

Missoula, Monday, March 28
Bozeman, Tuesday, March 29
Billings, Wednesday, March 30

Workshop Description:

Profitable donor communications all have a few things in common. These secrets to success originate in many fields: marketing, psychology, eye-motion studies, journalism, and of course fundraising's own vast body of knowledge. In this full-day workshop, you'll learn what the world's top communicators know about the subtle science of persuading people to give and stay loyal.

Thank you to the Montana Nonprofit Association and Montana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for bringing this great opportunity to Montana!

Generosity at Work

January was an exceptional month! MCF made 25 grants totaling $133,000+!

A great grantee story we'd like to share comes to us from Tyann at Shakti Soul Yoga & Movement. A recent grant helped provide equipment used for the Healthy Mind and Body Program at Morrison Elementary School. Students learn about movement, breath and sound and get to enjoy this wonderful experience two days a month on their new yoga mats.

You too can help us put generosity to work. If you're interested in finding out more about establishing a fund or supporting an existing fund, visit the Giving section of our website.

Nonprofit organization? Register for MTGives today!

Nonprofits do great things for Montana and the big day for Montana to give back to nonprofits is coming soon. Now is the time for nonprofits to register and begin planning for MTGives. Why should your nonprofit organization participate in MTGives? It will help you grow your online donations, reach a new group of donors and raise awareness about your organization. Participating organizations are also eligible to receive prize and matching dollars. Hundreds of nonprofits participated last year and were rewarded with a total of more than $640,000 raised in just 24-hours!

MCF is excited to organize this statewide effort and we're here to help! MTGives is May 3rd, so now is the time to register and begin planning your giving-day strategy to get people excited about donating to your worthy organization. Learn more about MTGives today!

We're Hiring Again!

One of our amazing team members is leaving us for graduate school and we now have an available position for a part-time Office Assistant in the Helena office. The Office Assistant will help support all departments in a variety of administrative duties. This position is approximately 20-25 hours per week. For details on how to apply and a complete job description, click here. If you are someone who is passionate about Montana and philanthropy and wants to join a great team, apply today! We hope if this opportunity isn't for you that you'll share it with others who may be interested.

10 Questions for the Staff - Daphne Kurtz

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 in Billings, but raised in Spokane, WA.

2. What's your position at MCF and what do you do?

I started at MCF as the Administrative Assistant and then was promoted to Executive Assistant. My job is to make sure the office is running smoothly and projects are moving forward. I work very closely with the CEO.

3. What's your favorite hobby/what do you do with your free time?

I am a spur of the moment person, so I like not having plans. One of my favorite things in the summer is to go on weekend adventures with my husband in our convertible. In the winter nothing beats a hot cup of coffee and a good book.

Executive Assistant Daphne Kurtz

4. If you had to choose a different profession, what would it be and why?

Oh that's easy! I would be a motivational speaker. Now to come up with something motivational to say....yeah that's why I'm an Executive Assistant! (Daphne motivates and inspires us every day! - MCF Staff)

5. What's something not very many people know about you?

I was a "Pampered Chef Lady" for 5 years. It was a great job when I was doing my best to be able to stay home with our small children.

6. What are three things you can't live without?

Laughing - it's what makes us know everything will be ok. We aren't in this alone.

My family - every single one of them.

My pillow - I love it!

7. How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?

I had lost a job I loved and wasn't sure I would be able to find anything like it again. Turns out I was wrong. This was the first interview I went on that I didn't cry through the whole thing! I think it was meant to be.

8. If there was one thing you wanted people to know about MCF, what would it be?

We do wonderful work here. The people who work here truly care about what they are doing and the effect they are having on the lives of Montana residents and their favorite state.

9. What's your favorite place in Montana?

We have a family cabin on Elbow Lake, not too far from Seeley Lake. It's truly the best place on earth. Beautiful and serene.

10. What's your favorite thing about Montana/Montanans?

We have a sense of place and our place is this beautiful state we live in. I believe we know how lucky we are here. Things move just a little slower than in the "Big City" and we appreciate that. I think we take time to "stop and smell the roses."

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www.mtcf.org | (406) 443-8313