 Imagine an industry in Montana representing nearly 7,000 organizations with more than 45,000 employees paid over $1.7 billion in wages. This would represent more than 10 percent of all workers in the state and more than 10 percent of all wages. This industry would generate almost $4.8 billion of income each year. As the income is dispersed throughout the economy, it would add more than $2 billion in multiplier benefits to produce a total of $6.8 billion in gross economic output. Adding almost $13 billion in assets creates a total economic impact of almost $20 billion for our state. This industry, however, isn't imaginary. The industry is nonprofit organizations. These statistics come from 2013 information as reported by the Department of Labor & Industry and the Montana Nonprofit Association in their 2015 Nonprofit Economic Impact Report. Not only does the nonprofit industry have a powerful and tangible impact on Montana's economy, it has a powerful and tangible impact on our communities. If you read my article in last month's Infinity, you'll know that sustainability for nonprofit organizations is critical. Demographics suggest sustainability will become an even greater challenge as the huge Baby Boomer generation leaves its peak giving years and the much smaller Generation X enters them. What can we do as philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, communities and Montanans to counter this likelihood of declining regular support of those things we most care about? We can plan ahead. We can have an estate plan and ensure the nonprofits we support today are included in our plans for after we're gone. We can establish permanent endowments to provide regular income to charitable organizations. We can make the effort today that leads to sustainability for tomorrow. The one thing we do know about the future is that it's uncertain. As Montanans, we must recognize and cherish the nonprofit industry which provides a huge economic impact for our state on top of providing innumerable benefits and support for the communities we love. Sincerely, Mary K. Rutherford, MA, CFRE President & Chief Executive Officer
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Women's Foundation of Montana Celebrates $75,000+ in New Grants
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The Women's Foundation of Montana (WFM) announced their latest strategic investment in a brighter future for Montana women and girls at a Close the Gap Party on July 12th in Billings. The event celebrated and raised funds for their statewide efforts, working to close the gender pay gap and create economic opportunities for Montana women. Local grants supporting entrepreneurship, STEM programs, equalizing the pay gap, advocacy and financial education were revealed at the celebration.
Grantees included:
- Hopa Mountain, Bozeman, Statewide Grant Challenge - $7,500
- Montana Women Vote/Montana Budget and Policy Center, Missoula/Helena, Statewide - $12,000
- Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming, Billings, Statewide Grant Challenge - $5,000
- Girls Using Their Strengths (GUTS!), YWCA Missoula - $5,000
- AAUW Start Smart Trainings, Statewide - $4,000
- Montana Girls STEM Collaborative, Bozeman, Statewide - $5,000
- Montana GEMS, Butte - $4,000
- Montana Code School, Missoula/Bozeman - $4,000
- Montana NEW Leadership, Mansfield Center, University of Montana, Missoula - $7,500
- Montana Women's Business Center, Bozeman/Hamilton - $5,000
- YWCA Helena - $5,000
- Montana State University Northern, Non-Traditional Careers Project, Havre - $5,000
- Aluutaalaahu Many Arrows Community Development Corporation, Pryor - $7,500
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| | Operations & Grants Manager Jessica Stewart-Kuntz presents a $10,000 grant to Heroes and Horses. |
MCF made 70 grants totaling more than $165,000 dollars possible in June! Thank you to our amazing donors for their generosity and thank you to the outstanding charitable organizations for the work they do.
We've supported many veterans' causes over the years. One of the most prominent was the Big Sky Honor Flight which transported World War 2 veterans from Montana to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII memorial and connect with fellow vets. This month we had the opportunity to make a grant to another wonderful charitable organization supporting veterans. Heroes and Horses is a unique program that uses the remote wilderness and the horse/human connection to challenge and inspire personal growth in veterans suffering from mental and physical scars.
The Heroes and Horses program re-galvanizes our nation's veterans, challenging them to rediscover who they are and what they can be moving forward. Heroes and Horses' focus is not about what happened, but what can happen when one chooses to press on.
By "challenging what challenges them," Heroes and Horses provides veterans the chance to make peace with their past and replace devastating memories with positive ones.
Thank you to Heroes and Horses for the amazing work they're doing and a special thanks from them and us here at MCF to the anonymous donor who made this gift possible.
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.
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Are you a number cruncher?
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MCF is on the hunt for another great team member. This time we're in search of a Senior Accountant. If you're an experienced number cruncher with a strong desire to work for an organization dedicated to ensuring Montana's future (or know someone else who is!) check out and share this outstanding opportunity!
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What can the Montana Office of Gift Planning do for you?
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 You've likely heard us talk about the Montana Office of Gift Planning (MOGP) before, but what you may not realize is all the different services the MOGP offers to donors, charitable organizations, businesses, professional advisors and others. Established in 2014, MOGP is a department of Montana Community Foundation focused on the intergenerational transfer of wealth occurring in Montana, and the need to capture a portion of that wealth for the permanent benefit of the Montana communities that helped create it. But how do we "capture" this wealth? That's where MOGP comes in - by helping Montanans achieve their own financial goals while simultaneously benefiting philanthropy in Montana through planned giving.
Here's a rundown of the many ways the MOGP can help you:
- A customized and highly-personal approach to gift planning exploring a donor's unique financial and philanthropic goals
- The ability to offer the Montana Endowment Tax Credit, lowering Montana state income tax liability for donors when making a planned gift to a permanent qualified charitable endowment
- The ability to handle a broad array of gift types, including annuities, charitable trusts, bequests, life insurance, gifts of real estate, crops and livestock, art and other real property
- Help identifying organizations and community services a donor may wish to support based on their charitable interests and causes they care about
- Assistance to help businesses establish a charitable giving program, utilize the Montana Endowment Tax Credit, and create community impact through endowment building and grantmaking
- Endowment building, including working with donors and nonprofits to establish charitable endowment funds to meet their long-term goals
- Personalized grantmaking assistance for donor-advised fund holders including an easy-to-use online portal, opportunities for competitive grant cycles, invitations to networking events with other funders, and help setting up site visits to nonprofits
- Guidance and hands-on help for nonprofits in developing planned giving programs and building endowments
- Expertise and assistance for professional advisors in identifying clients' charitable interests and matching those goals with the best giving solution
- The option for financial advisors to retain full advisory capacity over assets through our Partners for Montana's Future program
*This information is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.
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Community Foundation Convening
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 Join community foundation colleagues for the 7th Annual Community Foundation Convening. We will explore community leadership, learn about legacy giving, and discover how to share our community foundations' stories, all while focusing on raising philanthropic interest for our communities. Network and experience with your colleagues around the state!
Plan to attend Monday evening's celebration honoring the rich legacy of those who have built community foundations in Montana. From Helena to Havre, Wibaux to West Yellowstone, community foundations are making a difference in Montana!
September 26-27, 2016 Radisson Colonial Hotel Helena, MT
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10 Questions for the Staff - Emily Kovarik
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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 on our family farm north of Fort Benton, MT, where my great-grandparents homesteaded the land we have.
2. What's your position at MCF and what do you do?
I am the Chief Financial Officer. I am a licensed CPA in Montana, and member of the AICPA and MSCPA. In my work I oversee the financial and business operations of the organization, and ensure that we meet regulatory and financial reporting requirements, as well meet the informational needs of our constituents.
3. What's your favorite hobby/what do you do with your free time?
I truly enjoy running, singing, movies, hiking, listening to live music and spending time with my family and friends.
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4. If you had to choose a different profession, what would it be and why?
I would become a financial planner so that I could work with individuals and encourage them to properly plan for their financial future, while leaving a bit behind for the improvement of Montana.
5. What's something not very many people know about you?
I am a trained singer, and was a member of the performing choir at Gonzaga University. While at GU, I often sang the national anthem at the men's basketball games. Also, I have two different colored eyes, a brown and a blue - one from each parent.
6. What are three things you can't live without?
My family, my faith and espresso!
7. How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector?
While I was an auditor with KPMG for six years, I served many nonprofit clients, and learned of the wonderful world of charitable organizations. When I decided to return to Montana after KPMG, I had the chance to start my now 13 year Montana career in nonprofit financial management with Boone and Crockett Club, and then with Montana Food Bank Network. For the last six years, I have enjoyed "crunching numbers for a great cause" at Montana Community Foundation.
8. If there was one thing you wanted people to know about MCF, what would it be?
We are here, forever, to serve the needs of Montana. It is immensely rewarding, and close to my heart, to work at this place that is dedicated to improve Montana through the generosity of donors who love this state as much as I do.
9. What's your favorite place in Montana?
On our family's farm, watching the sun set over Goose Bill Butte.
10. What's your favorite thing about Montana/Montanans?
I feel that Montanans truly realize the value of honesty and hard work, and have an appreciation for the quality aspects of life, such as family and our Montana environment.
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