all about Montana’s future

Orientation to the Community Foundation Sector

Cathy Cooney, Program Director

Learning Objectives

What is a Community Foundation? 

What is a Community Foundation supposed to do?

What does the Community Foundation sector look like in Montana?

What are the resources you can connect your local community foundation with?

What is a Community Foundation?

Philanthropic savings account

Vehicle for donors to leave a legacy

A leadership organization

The Three Roles of a CF

Asset Development

Grantmaking & Project Funding

Leadership

#1 Asset Development

Intergenerational Transfer of Wealth

Biggest intergenerational transfer of wealth happening now!

Example:Jefferson County:10-year TOW=$135,990,0375%= $6,799,502 Annual grantmaking= $339,975

Recommended Fundraising Strategies

Attract gifts of income to build loyal donor base (through letters, visits, individual cultivation, etc)

Attract gifts of assets• Planned Gifts• Bequests

Build relationships with Financial Advisors

Avoid being dependent on fundraising events!!!

Success Stories

Sizable Bequests/Major Gifts: Beacon CF, Broadwater CF, Missoula CF, Roberts CF, Valley County CF

Future Bequests/Major Gifts: Greater Polson CF, Wibaux Endowment Foundation

Planned Gifts: Flathead CF, Lewis & Clark CF, Red Lodge Area CF, Seeley Lake CF, Whitefish CF

#2 Grant Making and Project Support

Grantmaking for CFs

The Biggest Questions:

What is the value-added for donors to give charitable support through us??

What is the difference between individuals giving a gift to charity and a CF giving a

grant to a charity?

Recommended Grantmaking Strategies

Investigate community needs. Look at the data!

Go beyond just responding to competitive grant proposals. Where are the needs, opportunities?

Experiment with new approaches.

Grant initiatives?

Long-term projects?

NP Capacity building?

Success Stories

Data-Driven grantmaking: Park County Community Foundation

Project Funding: Seeley Lake CF, CF for a Better Bigfork

#3 Leadership

Examples of Leadership

Nonprofit Capacity Building

Fiscal Sponsorships

Community visioning, planning sessions

Project work with multiple partners

Fundraising campaigns

Success Stories

Missoula CF/Seeley Lake CF-Norman McLean Trail

Greater Polson CF-Envision Polson Project

Red Lodge Area CF-Reviving the Red Lodge Area Economic Development Corporation, C3 nonprofit capacity building

What does the sector look like in Montana?

75 CFs

Many are affiliates with a “lead” foundation.

Statewide Council for marketing, training

CFs in Montana Google Group

Technical assistance through MCF

Does your community have a CF?

Questions?

Want a presentation in your community about starting a new CF (or reviving an existing CF)?

Cathy Cooney

441-4954

ccooney@mtcf.org