MCF in the News

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.

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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.

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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 »

With tourism season approaching, three Big Sky nonprofits have partnered with local health officials to offer a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program that includes free beverages and the chance to win big-ticket items like season passes at Big Sky Resort.

The incentive program is made possible through a partnership between the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation as well as the Gallatin City-County Health Department and Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.

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The Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF) semi annual grant cycles and commitments to the Big Sky Relief Collaboration has generated over $365,000 that has been awarded to local nonprofits this year.

That includes the recent $129,000 that has been allocated to 14 local organizations in grants and scholarships “to support programs and initiatives for youth, education, conservation, and the underserved needs benefiting Big Sky,” a press release said.

MCF aims to bridge the Moonlight Basin Community to “Causes that Matter,” executive director Anna Shipley explained.

The organization informally started in 2011 and became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2014.

“Since 2015, MC has awarded over $1 million to local nonprofits who are working tirelessly to make Big Sky better for all of us. MCF holds two annual fundraisers – the Spring Social and Summer Bridge event,” Shipley said.

Read the full Lone Peak Lookout Article here »

The surveillance testing program is made possible through the efforts of Big Sky Relief partners including Moonlight Community Foundation.

A new COVID-19 surveillance testing program will officially launch in Big Sky on Dec. 7.

In the midst of a spike in cases in Big Sky and greater Gallatin County, and on the heels of Big Sky Resort opening for the season, stakeholders pointed to the importance of making efforts to keep the community healthy.

Tests will be free and self-administered, and made available to the Big Sky School District, individual community members, small businesses, healthcare and public safety employees, and large employers, according to a Nov. 25 press release from Big Sky Relief.

The surveillance testing program is made possible through the efforts of Big Sky Relief partners including the Big Sky philanthropic community, and Big Sky Resort Area District, as well as community employers, and Visit Big Sky.

Big Sky Relief is a partnership between BSRAD, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation, and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, formed in March of 2020 to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Big Sky.

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10 Local Nonprofits Awarded Grants

Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF) extended its commitment to the region’s nonprofit sector through the organization’s annual spring grant cycle. Just over $30,000 was recently awarded to 10 Big Sky nonprofits.

Reinforcing a focus on Arts and youth education, community development, land, conservation, and trails, the Foundation’s latest grants support the following organization…

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On March 20, the Big Sky Resort Area District tax board met in a call-in format for an impromptu open board meeting to discuss several financial initiatives designed to take aim at growing community pressures as a result of the pandemic.

Most notably, the BSRAD committed $1 million to help “assist the Big Sky Medical Center manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Big Sky and mitigate social and economic impacts,” according to a press release.

The commitment was swiftly met with a combined $1 million pledge from the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, the Moonlight Community Foundation and the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, bringing total relief funds to $2 million.

Read the full EBS Article here »