Welcome to the Helena Area Community Foundation
We inspire and lead collaboration and investment for compassionate, safe, healthy, and resilient communities.
The Helena Area Community Foundation inspires people to make a difference by encouraging the spirit of giving to provide resources that benefit present and future generations in our communities. The Helena Area Community Foundation was created by current and former residents of the Helena area to support the projects of nonprofit organizations in Helena and surrounding area communities through annual grant-making. This is accomplished through private contributions, planned gifts and grants, which help maintain our permanent endowment and help facilitate the operation of our organization. The steady growth of HACF’s permanent endowment is attributable to the generosity of many individuals, families and businesses throughout the Helena Area and beyond.
GRANTS
The Helena Area Community Foundation awards annual grants to local nonprofits, as the one of the core elements of our programming.
Beginning in 2022, HACF is also granting funds from the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County in a new partnership designed to support local nonprofits.
Learn more on the Grants page.
The Helena Area Community Foundation is seeking volunteers for our Grant Review Committee for our 2025 Grant Cycle.
Please contact:
Emily Frazier, Executive Director, at [email protected] to apply.
2025 Grant Cycle Dates:
January 27,2025: Grant Application Opens on the HACF Website
February 20th, 2025: Grant Training for nonprofits, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Opportunity Bank Operations Center, 1550 Vandelay Ave, Helena, MT
March 7th, 2025: Grant Application Closes
Panel review period 3/14/2025-3/25/2025
Evaluation meeting (open to public): 4/8/2025
HACF Board ratification (open to public): 4/15/2025
Soon after April 15, 2025: Grant Awardees announced and contacted
Qualifications:
Committee members must be available for the following dates/times:
- 4/9/2025 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.,
- 4/15/2025, 4:30 p.m.
- Committee members should also have sufficient free time to evaluate applications in the period between 3/14 and 3/25.
Committee members must be interested in the greater Helena area community.
Committee members must be willing to disclose affiliations with nonprofit organizations and abstain from votes concerning such organization(s).
Persons currently employed by a nonprofit that has applied or is considering applying for grant funds are not eligible to evaluate.
Total time commitment may vary depending on the number of applicants, but is not expected to exceed 5 hours of meeting time and 8 hours of evaluation time.
DONORS
HACF is local. HACF awards grants to nonprofits in the Helena area for projects that provide a positive impact on residents of Helena and the surrounding communities.
HACF is permanent. HACF maintains a strong endowment for the future. While a portion of the endowment’s earnings are earmarked for grantmaking and operational costs, the endowment itself remains untouched and growing. HACF relies on the Montana Community Foundation to manage the assets of the fund. Regardless of the economy, changes in our population or the political environment, HACF is here today… and forever.
HACF develops partnerships to grow ideas. HACF pools resources and directs them to projects that make a big impact. This way, small nonprofits can spend the time on their mission and not on fundraising. Large nonprofits can see their ideas expand and prosper.
HACF is personal. HACF accepts a wide variety of assets and can facilitate more complex forms of giving. HACF receives donations of cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, interest in limited partnerships, life insurance policies, retirement fund accounts, and private foundation assets. HACF can also help you to plan a bequest, charitable remainder trust, and deferred gift annuity. Montana residents are lucky because the state legislature has recognized the benefit of endowment giving through the Montana Qualified Endowment Tax Credit up to $10,000.
Please contact our staff or board to learn the many ways you can donate to make a lasting impact on our communities.
