MCF in the News

The Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF) is proud to announce a significant investment in the Big Sky community, awarding a total of $369,700 to 20 organizations committed to enhancing youth education, promoting conservation initiatives, and addressing the underserved needs of our community. This funding underscores MCF’s vision to bridge the Moonlight Community to causes that matter.

“This funding not only represents our commitment to supporting essential local initiatives but also highlights the collaborative spirit of our community,” said Anna Shipley, Executive Director of the Moonlight Community Foundation. “We believe that by investing in these organizations, we are investing in a brighter future for our youth and a healthier, more sustainable community.”

Read the Press Release here

Camp Moonlight has successfully concluded its summer season, celebrating a vibrant array of adventure-based learning events that help children discover the beauty in nature and their own strengths. With engaging themes like “Geology Rocks,” “Splish Splash,” “Branches and Blooms,” and the “Summer Olympics,” the campers foster lifelong friendships and memories while immersed in the great outdoors.

Founded in 2013 under the Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF), Camp Moonlight provides a unique opportunity for local youth, including Moonlight Basin members and students from BSSD-72 and Discovery Academy, to connect with each other and nature. “Camp is a great way for kids to unplug and get connected to the outside world,” says Rhian Alley, Moonlight Basin Kids Recreation Manager. “The increase in confidence, willingness to explore, and openness to try new things that we saw in campers day after day and week after week proves that we are offering something special and necessary.”

Read the Press Release here

This spring, Moonlight Community Foundation awarded its annual grants to 18 Big Sky nonprofits, totaling $400,000—MCF’s largest-ever grant cycle.

By category, MCF awarded $141,250 for youth education, $95,250 for conservation initiatives and $163,500 for underserved needs. Awards support programs and initiatives for youth education, conservation, and the underserved needs benefiting Big Sky, according to a May 6 press release.

“It’s always a pleasure to be able to give back to our Big Sky community in a meaningful way,” Bob Rhea, MCF board chair, stated in a follow-up email. “We give to causes that matter and nothing matters more than the residents of Big Sky who give so much to all of us.”

Since 2015, MCF has awarded a total of $3.3 million to local nonprofits, according to the release.

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Water-wise. Fire-safe. Ecosystem-friendly. What do these terms mean, and how do they define steps the community should be taking to ensure a more resilient and sustainable future for our water resources?

Introducing the theory behind Alpenscapes, a partnership among Big Sky organizations dedicated to a future that encompasses all of the practices and principles that point to smarter landscaping and thriving landscapes.

Alpenscapes is the collaboration between four community organization partners—Gallatin River Task Force, Big Sky SNO, Grow Wild and the Big Sky Fire Department. This program takes a proactive look at our landscapes and the fundamental impact they have on our ecosystems.

Water conservation and sustainability is the focus of Alpenscapes. The Gallatin River Task Force has identified water conservation as a priority for many years, launching the Big Sky Water Conservation Program in 2016 to address concerns for a growing Big Sky and its simultaneously diminishing water supply.

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Big Sky wouldn’t be where it is today without the tireless efforts of local nonprofit organizations.

Our community is home to a remarkable number of nonprofits offering programming and services in areas from healthcare and recreation to conservation and arts. These organizations provide essential services, create vibrant cultural events, enhance our local environment, and much more. At the time of publication, the Big Sky Resort Area District has 42 registered nonprofits doing business within district boundaries.

Grants are financial awards typically provided by a government agency, foundation or organization to support a specific project, research or initiative. Based on the data from financial statements, grants are responsible for the largest portion of fundraising in Big Sky. Local grants from community foundations awarded a total of $2,699,708 between  fall of 2022 and spring of 2023. These philanthropic organizations include:

• • Moonlight Community Foundation: focuses on community wellbeing by supporting initiatives for youth, education, conservation and under-served needs.
  • Spanish Peaks Community Foundation: supports programs that have the greatest impact in community services, education, conservation and recreation, and the arts.
  • Yellowstone Club Community Foundation: fosters philanthropy, volunteerism, and capacity building for organizations in the greater Big Sky region that are addressing the greatest needs in the areas of livability, healthy & wellness, environment, arts and education.

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With seven deed-restricted properties in the ‘Good Deeds’ program, the Big Sky Community Housing Trust aims for more after collaborative grant from Elevate Big Sky.

In Big Sky, no good deed goes unnoticed. After exhausting the Good Deeds program budget halfway through its inaugural fiscal year, the Big Sky Community Housing Trust knew that the local workforce is interested in owning affordable Big Sky homes.

Good Deeds started in the spring of 2022 and aims to preserve existing housing for working residents, provide grants for downpayments and place permanent deed restrictions on properties for people serving the Big Sky community. The program takes after efforts in similar towns, like Vail’s InDeed program.

On June 22, Elevate Big Sky provided Good Deeds with a collaborative grant totaling to $1.39 million: $800,000 from Resort Tax and $560,000 from Elevate Big Sky’s board.

Read the full EBS Article here »

Camp Moonlight successfully wrapped up their 8th season last month. The camp has continued to grow each year, with 2022 being the first year the extended summer program was offered under the leadership of Lex Hinchey. This adventure-oriented program emphasizes education, awareness, and conservation values while fostering a greater appreciation for the natural world.

Read the full EBS Article here »

Seventeen local nonprofit organizations received a total of $236,700 in funding through Moonlight Community Foundation’s annual spring grant cycle. The foundation reported that this is the largest spring grant cycle it’s had to date.

Each grant was awarded to an organization that supports initiatives for youth, education, conservation or underserved needs in the Big Sky community.

Read the full EBS Article here »

Elevate Big Sky launches with inaugural meeting

In an effort to mobilize resources and address community needs, Big Sky’s four major philanthropic organizations are teaming up to create a new funding collaborative known as Elevate Big Sky.

Intended to develop a funding mechanism and resource pool that will tackle complex challenges in the community, Elevate Big Sky will work to develop strategic solutions, invite grantee proposals and organize resources. These efforts will address three core focus areas the collaborative has identified: livability, health and wellness, and environment.

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HATCH awards $48,000 in scholarship funds to under-represented students around the United States thanks to our partners Kimberly-Clark, Steelcase, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation, the Gallatin River Task Force, and many individual contributions from the HATCH community.

HATCH is excited to announce our 2021-22 NextGen program in conjunction with our 25th HATCH Summit happening Sept 28-Oct 2, 2021.

This year’s cohort was curated around a passion for creating more equity and opportunities for minorities in STEM fields.

Read the full HATCH Article here »