Community Grants Program

Known by guests for caring, attentive service, the staff at Mountain Sky is known by residents in the local community for the same thing. Throughout the year, our staff gives back to the communities in which they live and work — through their physical involvement and through grants made to non-profit organizations by the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund. Established in 2001, the Fund has exceeded $2.5 million in grants.

The mission of the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Park and Gallatin Counties in Montana. The Mountain Sky staff is especially interested in supporting projects in rural areas where resources and services are limited to address community challenges.

The Fund traditionally makes grants for a period of one year. The Mountain Sky staff will consider funding for additional years based on demonstrated growth in three areas: new and diversified funding sources; increased impact on the community; and innovative leadership in collaborations.

2013 Priorities:

Preference will be given to innovations that expand opportunities for participation beyond current levels in Park and Gallatin counties. The Fund seeks creative approaches to expanding opportunity and does not intend to fund existing programs at their current levels of participation. The Fund is interested in opportunities that incorporate two or more nonprofit organizations working together in service of a common goal. Preference will be given to approaches that serve the rural areas of Park and Gallatin counties.

The Fund will only consider organizations that can demonstrate that they foster creative community cooperation and collaboration.

Youth Empowerment and Development

The Fund seeks creative nonprofit efforts to improve youth development in Park and Gallatin counties. The Fund is especially interested in programs that empower youth through the challenges of physical activity and outdoor adventure, including innovations that introduce youth and their families to area natural resources. Proposals that incorporate innovations that involve youth in service projects as part of their work will receive more merit.

Early Childhood Development

The fund will award grants to organizations providing children, birth to five, with quality opportunities that will prepare them for successful lifelong learning.

Online applications must be submitted by Thursday, January 31, 2013.