Grant Recommendations will be ratified at the December 9th meeting of the HACF Board at 4 p.m. at 27 Neill Ave, Suite 102. This meeting will be open to the public and can also be accessed via Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83323780963?pwd=Fb1tWlECkBY3EDrgScuWGsLJEcPz3A.1

Meeting ID: 833 2378 0963
Passcode: 818347

Helena Area Community Foundation

Grant Review Committee Minutes

November 13, 2025

10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

HACF Meeting Space (27 Neill Ave Suite 102), or

Via Zoom at

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87199290173?pwd=KWSXu9B6RcHae3hXokzIxgvU2VLZ99.1

1. Welcome

• Introductions 

Attendees: Wes Feist, chair, John Moore, Billie Miller, Ellen Feaver, Collin Day, Meghan Rogers, Emily Frazier, facilitator.

Absent: Peter Strauss

Public Meeting Attendees via Zoom: Kim Patterson, Friendship Center, Jeff Muhr, Helena Youth Soccer Association, Lisa Peterson, Helena Area Friends of Pets, (unnamed attendee) Montana Discovery Center, Christina Barbachano, Holter Museum of Art

1. Procedural notes

• Purpose of meeting – review applications 2025 Grant Cycle (Session 2)
• Combined funds of City of Helena, Lewis & Clark County
• Total available to be granted: $42,750
• Committee members’ individual evaluations completed
• Public observation and comment
• Committee recommendations will go to HACF Board of Directors December 9^th Board meeting for ratification
• Board meeting will be open to the public

1. Review of grant applications

1. Angel Fund

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Purchase 16 TI-84 Plus calculators for advanced math students in Helena’s public high schools.
Impact: Reduces financial burden on low-income families and ensures equal access to essential academic tools.

Notes: How many are expected to be returned?

2. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana

Request: $1,400
Purpose: Create two new youth mentoring relationships in Helena.
Impact: Improves youth confidence, academic engagement, and resilience; supports long-term community health through mentorship.

Notes: How many kids on waitlist? Any adults waiting to be paired?

3. Big Sky Autism Project

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Expand Adaptive Fitness & Inclusion Program in Helena.
Impact: Funds instructor training, adaptive equipment, and scholarships for low-income families; promotes inclusion and physical health for people with special needs.

Notes: Unclear of program, location to provide resources, and what services are provided?

4. Catholic Social Services of Montana

Request: $500
Purpose: Replace aging shelving and display racks in the Baby Boutique.
Impact: Enhances efficiency and dignity for 825 families receiving free baby supplies.

Notes: Is there specific furniture or shelving? Should refer to State Surplus…

5. Cohesion Dance Project

Request: $1,875
Purpose: Powder-coat three large steel sculptures used in performances and residencies.
Impact: Preserves community art assets and supports interactive arts education for over 2,700 participants.

Notes: Immediate need in the community? There are benefits for all dancers?

6. ExplorationWorks

Request: $1,700
Purpose: Install air conditioning in preschool/summer camp classroom.
Impact: Provides comfortable learning conditions for young children and staff; supports 300 visitors annually.

Notes: One time project funding an adaptation for a better experience.

 

7. Family Promise of Greater Helena

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Fund door security and case management at a new homeless shelter.
Impact: Provides safe shelter and support services for nearly 30 monthly or 360 annually individuals.

Notes: Minimum information on grant application. Lowest score.

8. Florence Crittenton Family Services

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Furnish community classroom with tables and chairs in new Family Healing Center.
Impact: Expands parenting classes and training opportunities, serving over 200 local families annually.

Notes: One time cost. More data is helpful.

9. Friendship Center

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Support purchase of security hardware for upgraded safety system.
Impact: Improves safety and efficiency for staff and over 700 domestic violence survivors served yearly.

Notes: Security impact of staff… More focus on helping clients.

10. GFWC Helena Woman’s Club

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Purchase food, hygiene, and comfort kits for clients of the Friendship Center and St. Peter’s.
Impact: Provides essential items for domestic violence survivors and patients in crisis situations.

Notes: Project benefit not as clear as hoped. Budget is not specific.

11. Girls Thrive

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Support snacks, curriculum, staff, and facility costs for girls’ empowerment programs.
Impact: Promotes self-esteem, physical health, and confidence for 130 local girls ages 9–18.

Notes: Not specific for funding.

12. Grandstreet Theatre

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Preserve and organize 5,000+ piece costume collection.
Impact: Protects historic theatre assets and supports education and community arts access for 20,000 patrons and students.

Notes: Organization is open to partial funding. Not an immediate need, but has long-term impact.

 

13. Hands On Global / HARRT

Request: $1,200
Purpose: Purchase embroidery machine for refugee women’s sewing project.
Impact: Empowers 10+ refugee women through skill-building, income generation, and local tailoring services.

Notes: A lot more than sewing machines… Long term benefit.

14. Helena Area Friends of Pets

Request: $1,000
Purpose: Provide rabies vaccines for 66 unowned or feral cats.
Impact: Protects public health and reduces stray cat overpopulation.

Notes: Is this a need? Not clear on intent or process.

15. Helena Education Foundation

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Expand “BisonFest,” an Indigenous cultural and educational event for Helena Public Schools.
Impact: Promotes hands-on, cross-cultural learning and Indigenous education for 40-80 of students.

Notes: Cool idea. Great program for Indian Education for All. ?

16. Helena Food Share

Request: $1,000

Purpose: Purchase food containers for its rescued food meal program producing 6,000 to-go meals in 2025.

Impact: Supports efficient distribution of healthy, ready-to-eat meals to 6,000 low-income individuals (99% low/moderate income).

Notes: Expanded food rescue program.

17. Helena Symphony

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Fund “Symphony Kids,” a free educational concert series for children, covering artist fees, sound, and materials.

Impact: Reaches ~30,000 children; introduces symphonic music and expands programming into local schools.

Notes: More expansive to schools.

18. Helena Village Collective

Request: $500

Purpose: Advertising and promotion for the free annual Birth and Baby Expo connecting families with perinatal resources.

Impact: Supports outreach to increase attendance beyond 100 families, improving awareness of family resources.

Notes: Low cost, low priority. Hard to measure.

 

19. Helena Youth Soccer Association

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Purchase training equipment such as portable goals and cones for 1,100 youth players.

Impact: Enhances training quality and ensures equitable access to necessary coaching tools.

Notes: Not enough detail. Low priority. Portable goals will be helpful.

20. Holter Museum of Art

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Expand the Courage to Create art program for veterans by funding teaching artists for 25 new sessions.

Impact: Reaches 20-50 people; provides therapeutic, community-building art classes for veterans and caregivers.

Notes: Acronyms… $1,875, not $2,000…? Good outreach.

21. Ironhorse Consortium for Young Musicians (Ironhorse Youth Music)

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Support educator stipends for Helena’s MET Live in Schools opera education program.

Impact: Expands participation in free opera education for Helena students; aims to double engagement this season.

Notes: Costs are not specific.

22. Last Chance Curling Club

Request: $1,400

Purpose: Purchase two portable floor curling sets to expand inclusive curling outreach to seniors and people with disabilities.

Impact: Serves ~150 people with disabilities and elderly residents; promotes accessible recreation and adaptive sports.

Notes: Expanding and broadening reach.

23. Lewis & Clark Humane Society

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Expand the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program by funding 20–25 cat surgeries, vaccines, and supplies.

Impact: Reduces stray cat populations, shelter intake, and nuisance issues—improving community health and safety.

Notes: More specific. Returning wild cats may be counterproductive.

24. Lewis and Clark Literacy Council

Request: $675

Purpose: Purchase new and used resource books for ESL, GED/HiSET, and citizenship tutoring programs.

Impact: Provides timely materials for 25 adult learners, improving literacy and job readiness.

Notes: Input now for long-term outcomes. Small grant for specific purpose.

25. Merlin CCC

Request: $1,850

Purpose: Fund “Building Community through Laughter,” a comedy-philosophy event featuring Rodney Norman, paired with an art program.

Impact: Serves 400 – 1,000 people; promotes community connection, well-being, and civic dialogue.

Notes: Good for community discord. Selling tickets? Revenue?

26. Montana Discovery Foundation

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Purchase computer, tablet, software, and internet hotspot to maintain operations after loss of federal funding.

Impact: Supports continued outdoor education programs reaching 11,980 participants annually, half from low-income families.

Notes: Become more independent. Loss of Federal support.

27. Montana Free Press

Request: $1,365

Purpose: Purchase video and livestream equipment to improve accessibility of civic engagement journalism events.

Impact: Enhances participation for 4,175 Montanans statewide through accessible news and public forums.

Notes: Specific budget. One time project.

28. Montana Living History Program

Request: $500

Purpose: Host a flintknapping workshop to teach and preserve the traditional frontier skill.

Impact: Engages ~150 people; promotes historical education and cultural preservation.

Notes: Not immediate need, but interesting.

29. Montana Outfitters & Guides Education Institute – Big Hearts under the Big Sky

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Support outreach and technology improvements for fundraising events benefiting veterans and families of ill children.

Impact: Expands program delivery and awareness for no-cost outdoor adventures for veterans and medically challenged children.

Notes: Some confusing items on application. Budget tough to consider for advertising.

30. Mountain Health Gives — Little Peeps Vision Program

Request: $2,000

Purpose: To fund ~11 comprehensive eye exams and glasses for children who cannot afford vision care.

Impact: Improves children’s ability to learn, socialize, and develop by quickly providing essential vision correction; measured through provider invoices and program referrals.

Notes: Impact is not clear. Maybe helping with exams in general…?

31. The Myrna Loy — Juneteenth Celebration

Request: $2,000

Purpose: To help cover artist fees and production costs for a Juneteenth performance featuring African American blues/jazz artists.

Impact: Expands cultural representation, supports Black artists, and strengthens community understanding of African American heritage; event expected to serve nearly 220 – 500+ community members annually.

Notes: Less specific for far in the future event. Unsure of HACF impact with funding. Hard to measure…

32. Options Clinic — Internet Infrastructure Upgrade

Request: $1,700

Purpose: Purchase and install a commercial-grade wireless access point to improve clinic-wide internet reliability.

Impact: Enhances patient experience, streamlines medical record access, reduces IT downtime, and improves service delivery; measured through surveys and reduced tech issues.

Notes: Partial funding…? Unable to fund with City of Helena funds…

33. Preserve Montana — Office Computer Replacement

Request: $2,000

Purpose: Replace a failing 10-year-old office computer and monitor for the new office coordinator.

Impact: Increases organizational capacity, allowing program staff to focus more on preservation projects benefiting Helena and Lewis & Clark County.

Notes: Costs are not reasonable. Refer to State Surplus…

34. St. Peter’s Health Foundation — Pediatric-ready Ambulance Splints

Request: $1,944
Purpose: Purchase 8 adjustable Slishman Traction Splints for all ambulances, replacing outdated adult-only equipment.
Impact: Improves trauma response for children and adults, reduces on-scene delays, and enhances emergency preparedness across the county.

Notes: Specific need. Cannot believe this isn’t happening already…

35. Treasure State Runners — Race Safety & Enhancement

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Buy custom pop-up course flags for the “Just for the Helena of It” race.
Impact: Improves runner safety, visibility, and route clarity; supports growth of the event, increasing funds donated to local nonprofits (Friendship Center & Girls Thrive).

Notes: Not specific need. Not immediate need.

 

36. Tri-County Firesafe Working Group — Wildfire Awareness Event

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Host a free community event at The Myrna Loy featuring wildfire education materials, activities, and a film.
Impact: Expands public wildfire risk awareness and increases sign-ups for free home wildfire risk assessments, improving community safety.

Notes: Specific Need. Greater reach. Program to drive participation.

37. United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area — Home-Sharing Pilot Program

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Develop tools and resources to launch a structured roommate/home-sharing program, including contract templates, background checks, and platform setup.
Impact: Increases affordable housing options, supports seniors aging in place, reduces housing insecurity, and builds intergenerational connections.

Notes: Tech budget is not specific. Big project based on assumptions…

38. West Mont — Community Garden at Flower Shop

Request: $1,200
Purpose: Build ten 4’x8’ raised garden beds with soil, irrigation supplies, and materials.
Impact: Provides community garden access in an underserved area, enhances inclusion of adults with disabilities, and strengthens neighborhood connections.

Notes: Finishes project. Integration for people with disabilities.

39. YWCA Helena — Utility Support for Shelter

Request: $2,000
Purpose: Cover one month of winter utility costs (energy + water), which average ~$2,090.
Impact: Frees funds for essential client services such as transportation to medical, legal, and support appointments; supports stability for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Notes: Concern for operating costs. Prefer to fund programs and projects for progress, not operational.

• Review applications and amalgamate scoring
• Comparison of scoring

1. Public comment accepted

• No public comment, Zoom comments posted during evaluation read aloud.

1. Action needed

• Committee discussion
• Committee recommendation for approved grants
• As listed on scoring sheets
• Public comment accepted
• No public Comment
• Move to recommend ratification with recommended funding to HACF board meeting on December 8
• Motion made by John Moore
• Seconded by Billie Miller

1. Adjourned at 1:10 p.m.