Past Grant Recipients
We are proud to have supported many organizations working to better our Big Sky community.
Spring 2023, $308,975
- Arts Council of Big Sky – Contribute-What-You-Can Arts Education Program Support
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Sky Youth Programming – Mental Health Through Mentorship
- Big Opportunities – Wireless Microphones for Big Sky’s Children and Teen Musicals
- Big Sky Community Foodbank – Emergency Food and Social Services
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Good Deeds Program
- Big Sky Community Organization – Community Connection through Recreation
- Big Sky Futbol Club – Scholarships
- Big Sky Landscaping Partnership – Formalize Partnership & Preliminary Content Development
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – BSSEF Scholarship Fund
- Big Sky SNO – Climate Action Plan (CAP) Speaker Series
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation – Developing an Action Plan to Achieve the Vision of the US-191/MT-64 Wildlife & Transportation Assessment
- Crosscut Mountain Sports Center – Camp Lightning Creek: Supporting underserved Big Sky middle school students and families through immersive, undistracted residential camp experiences
- FOBSE – Big Sky School District Local Food and Sustainability Project
- Friends of Big Sky Library – Page to Screen Summer Movie Program
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Youth and Landowner Education & Outreach
- Gallatin River Task Force – Middle Fork Restoration, Project 5 Construction
- Morningstar Learning Center – Sustainable Childcare Operations
- Shakespeare in the Parks – Montana Shakespeare in the Parks 2023 Big Sky Parks Performance
- THRIVE -Big Sky Child Advancement Project (CAP)
- Wellness In Action – Behavioral Health Prevention & Care
Fall 2022, $300,010
- Big Sky Community Food Bank – Emergency Food and Social Services
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Rent Local Incentive Program
- Big Sky Community Library & BSCO -Storybook Trail
- Big Sky Community Organization – Big Sky Community Park Improvements
- Big Sky Futbol Club – Financial Aid Support for Youth Soccer Participants
- Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO) – Climate Action Plan (CAP) Data Procurement and Monitoring
- Crosscut – Camp Lightning Creek: Supporting underserved Big Sky middle school students and families through immersive, undistracted residential camp experiences
- Eagle Mount – Big Sky Ski and Snowboard
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Lee Poole Memorial Scholarship
- Friends of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – Montana Shakes! and Montana Shakespeare in the Schools in Big Sky
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Increasing GISA’s Capacity with Big Sky Watershed Corps
- Gallatin River Task Force – Water Conservation & Drought Management Implementation
- HATCH – HATCH SMART PROGRAM || NextGen
- Jack Creek Preserve – 2023 Winter Outdoor Skills Camp
- Lone Peak High School – School and Community Greenhouse Project
- Montana State University- Health & Human Development in Big Sky High School Community: Exploratory Needs Assessment
- Rimrock Foundation – Peer Support Services in Big Sky
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – Celebrating a Decade of Creativity: Season 10 at WMPAC
- Wellness In Action – Scholarships for Big Sky Youth
Spring 2022, $236,717
- Arts Council of Big Sky – 2022 ARTventure Activity Tent
- Big Sky Community Food Bank – Emergency Food and Social Services
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Rent Local
- Big Sky Community Library – Summer Page to Screen Movie Series and Intergenerational playgroup
- Big Sky Community Organization – BSCO Parks, Trails & Programming
- Big Sky Parent Teacher Organization – Lone Peak High School Expeditions Fall 2022
- Big Sky Skating & Hockey Association, Inc. – Tankless Water Heater Project
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – BSSEF Scholarship Fund
- Big Sky SNO – Climate Action Plan Implementation Launch
- FOBSE for Big Sky School District Wellness Committee/Lunch Program – Local Foods and Sustainability Project
- Montana Land Reliance – Landscape Conservation in Big Sky
- Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – 2022 Big Sky Community Performances
- Morningstar Learning Center – Sustainable Operations through Teacher Support
- Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA) – Big Sky Chapter- Big Sky Community Pump Track Phase 2
- The Michener Cabin Project at the Big Sky School – 2022 Project
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – Our Place in the Mountains: WMPAC 2.0
- Wellness in Action – Scholarships & Educational Enrichment Opportunities for Big Sky Children and Youth
Fall 2021, $160,500
- Big Sky Food Bank and Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Emergency Shelter for Victims of Violence
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Rent Local Program
- Gallatin River Task Force – Middle Fork Restoration – Project 5
- Big Sky SNO – Water Filling Station at Softball Fields
- Women In Action – Providing Affordable and Accessible Behavioral Healthcare & a Spanish Language Resource Liaison
- Montana State University Foundation on behalf of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – Montana Shakespeare in the Parks Educational Outreach
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation – US-191 & Lone Mountain Trail Wildlife and Transportation Assessment: Preparing for Continuing Growth
- Big Sky Community Organization – BSCO Parks, Trails & Programming
- Morningstar Learning Center – Sustainable Operations through Equitable Wages
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Education Trailer & Crail Gardens Project
- Big Sky Futbol Club – BSFC Equipment and Maintenance Costs, General Programming
- Friends of the Big Sky Community Library – “One Book Big Sky” Community Read
- HAVEN – Promoting healthy relationships through teen education in Big Sky
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country – Big Brothers Big Sisters Programs in Big Sky
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Lee Poole Memorial Scholarship
Spring 2021, $167,500
- Big Sky Community Organization – BSCO Parks, Trails, and Programming
- Big Sky Skating and Hockey Association – Storage Upgrade Project
- Big Sky SNO – Capacity Building and Membership Launch
- Bozeman Health Foundation – Big Sky Medical Center Central Monitoring System
- Center for Large Landscape Conservation – US-191 Wildlife and Transportation Conflict Assessment: Preparing for Continuing Growth
- Crosscut Mountain Sports Center – Purchase of Trapper’s Creek Cabin
- Eagle Mount – Big Sky Ski Program and EMBLEM Camps for Veterans
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Big Sky School District Local Foods and Sustainability Project
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – The Gardens at Crail Ranch
- Gallatin River Task Force – Advancing Project 3 of the Middle Fork of the West Fork Gallatin River Restoration Plan
- HATCH – HATCH Summit – NextGen Program
- Montana Land Reliance – Landscape Conservation in Big Sky
- THRIVE – Big Sky Child Advancement Project
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – From Resilience to Access: WMPAC FY22
Fall 2020, $128,867
- Arts Council of Big Sky – 2020-21 ARTventure Education Outreach
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country – Keeping Kids Connected, BBBS Big Sky Programs
- Big Sky Community Organization – BSCO Parks, Trails, and Programming
- Big Sky Futbol Club – Goals, Equipment, and Coaching Project
- Big Sky Housing Trust – Down Payment Assistance Program
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – Athlete Equipment
- Big Sky Rotary on behalf of SNO – Big Sky Sustainability, Capacity Building, Growth, Education, and Awareness Project
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Lee Poole Memorial Scholarship
- Gallatin River Task Force – Middle Fork Restoration Project Design
- Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley – Big Sky School District Triplex Project
- HATCH – The Global Classroom Project
- Montana Land Reliance – Landscape Conservation in Big Sky
- Morningstar Learning Center – Building Maintenance: Interior Flooring and Painting
- The Community Learning Center at Big Sky Discovery School – Community Resource Liaison
Spring 2020, $30,500
- Arts Council of Big Sky – Supplemental Summer ARTventure Programming
- The Community Learning Center at Big Sky Discovery School – Big Sky Broadway Jr.
- Big Sky Community Organization – BSCO Parks, Trails, and Programming
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – Clubhouse Funding
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Local Foods and Sustainability Project
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Conserve Our Canyon Project
- Madison River Foundation – Storey Ditch Riparian Project
- Morningstar Learning Center – Playground Safety Project
- Big Sky Rotary on behalf of SNO – Town Center and Community Park Recycling Bins
- THRIVE – Child Advancement Project (CAP) in Big Sky
Fall 2019, $130,564
- Big Sky Futbol Club – Coach and Referee Certification and equipment
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure
- Big Sky Community Organization – Work Hard, Play Hard Summer Camp
- Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – Shakespeare in the Schools
- Big Sky Discovery Academy: Community Learning Center – Adult and Youth English Language Learner Program
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – Team Clubhouse Funding
- Gallatin River Task Force – Upper Deer Creek Riparian Habitat and Access Restoration Project
- The Montana Land Reliance – Big Sky Land Conservation
- Big Sky Skating and Hockey Association – Children’s Equipment Program
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – The Gardens at Crail Creek
- Morningstar Learning Center – Educational Technology
- Friends of Big Sky Education / Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – 2020 Winter Season
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County – Dream Big, Big Sky
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Down Payment Assistance
- American Rivers – Wild Rivers Film Tour
- Montana Wilderness School – Youth Wilderness Scholarship Fund for Big Sky Students
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Lee Poole Memorial Scholarship
- Camp Moonlight – Scholarship and Big Sky Works Program Funding
Spring 2019, $113,003
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure Kids Activity Tent
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Down Payment Assistance Program
- Friends of Big Sky Education/Wellness Committee – Locally sourced produce for the school lunch program and sustainability initiative
- Big Sky School District #72 – Cultural and Art Education
- Big Sky Discovery Academy – Community Learning Center
- Adult English Language Learner Program
- Big Sky Community Food Bank – Emergency Food and Nutrition Program
- Gallatin River Task Force – Funding for two water bottle refilling stations in the Meadow
- The Montana Land Reliance – Big Sky Land Conservation
- Thrive – K-12 CAP Mentor Programming in Big Sky
- Gallatin River Task Force – Wild and Scenic Education and Support
- The Wilderness Society Protecting the Custer-Gallatin National Forest
- Friends of Big Sky Education/Warren Miller Performing Arts – Center Big Sky Conservatory 2019
- HATCH – Montana Summit
Fall 2018, $107,304
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure
- American Rivers – Conservation Outreach
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County – Big Sky Match Program
- Big Sky Community Organization – Upper Beehive and Ousel Falls Trailhead Project
- Big Sky Discovery Academy – Big Sky Broadway Program
- Big Sky School District #72 – Cultural and Art Education
- Friends of Big Sky Education Wellness Committee – Locally sourced produce for the school lunch program
- Big Sky Ski Education Foundation – Nordic Program Support
- Big Sky Discovery Academy – Community Learning Center English Language Learner Program
- Big Sky Futbol – Club Equipment funding along with Coach and Referee Certification
- Gallatin River Task Force – Aquatic Invasive Species initiative
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Native Garden at Crail Ranch
- Big Sky Community Housing Trust – Down Payment Assistance
- Ophir Elementary School Library – MakerSpace
- The Montana Land Reliance – Big Sky Land Conservation
- Morningstar Learning Center – Facility Improvements
- Montana State University – Alumni Foundation
- Montana Shakespeare in the Parks Program – Big Sky
- Wildlife Conservation Society Bear Smart – Big Sky
- Women In Action – Mental and Behavioral Health Counselor Initiative
- Friends of Big Sky Education/Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – Winter Season 2019
Spring 2018, $91,882
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure
- Big Sky School District #72 – Cultural and Art Education
- Big Sky Transportation District – Skyline
- Big Sky Community Organization – Kircher Park Improvements
- Big Sky Discovery Academy: Community Learning Center – Mind the Gap Summer Education Program
- Friends of Big Sky Education – Wellness Committee – Locally sourced produce for the school lunch program
- Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance – Kid CLEANPLAYGO in Big Sky
- Gallatin River Task Force – Long-term protection for the Gallatin and Madison Rivers
- HATCH – Big Sky Summit
- The Montana Land Reliance – Conservation in Big Sky
- Montana Wilderness School Scholarship – Support for the Youth Wilderness Program
- Morningstar Learning Center – Infant Playground
- The Wilderness Society – Gallatin Range Conservation and Forest Planning
- Friends of Big Sky Education / Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – Summer Conservatory 2018
Fall 2017, $61,510
- American Rivers – Wild and Scenic Rivers Program
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure Program
- Big Sky Community Food Bank – Community Food Rescue
- Big Sky Community Organization – Camp Big Sky Gardening Beds
- Big Sky Community Organization – Community Center Planning
- Big Sky Rotary and LPHS Interact Club – LPHS Nepal Trip
- HATCH, Next Gen Lab – Experience Lab for Middle School/High
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – Big Sky Winter Season
- Wildlife Conservation Society – Bear Smart Program in Big Sky
Spring 2017,$89,864
- Montana Land Reliance
- HATCH – Ostinato Music Project and NextGen Lab
- Gallatin River Task Force – “Hooked on the Gallatin: Youth Fly Fishing Camp”
- BSSD – Ophir Elementary School Music – 20 xylophones
- Warren Miller Performaning Arts Center – Big Sky Conservatory Summer 2017
- BSSD – Ophir Elementary Art Program – Monthly and weekly art classes
- Big Sky Discovery Academy – English Language Learner Classes for youth and adults
- Morningstar Learning Center – Program enrichment/ new cribs and mattresses
- Montana Raptor Conservation Center – Building educational MEWS/Raptor Housing
- Big Sky Community Organization – Kircher Discovery Park Tree Fort
- Arts Council of Big Sky – “Music in the Mountains” sponsorship
Fall 2016, $46,000
- Arts Council of Big Sky – ARTventure program in BSSD
- Big Sky Community Organization – Funding for a new yurt to expand Camp Big Sky
- Big Sky Discovery Academy/ Community Learning Center – Homework Help, College Prep and ESL
- Big Sky School District – ARTSplot/ Art education funding
- Gallatin River Task Force/Gallatin/Big Sky Weed Committee – Clean Drain Dry project
- Jack Creek Preserve Foundation – Funding for the MSU/Jack Creek Research and Outreach Partnership
- Montana Land Reliance – Funding for community outreach and education
Other initiatives:
- MCF sponsored a “Music in the Mountains” concert – Arts Council of Big Sky
- MCF funded interpretive signs for the Hummocks and Uplands trails with Big Sky Community Organization
- MCF established (through Friends of Big Sky Education) Lee Poole Memorial Scholarship for a graduating LPHS senior – preferably going to a student attending a trade or vocational school
Spring 2016, $62,500
- HATCH – Hatch Experience Scholarships, Hatch NEXTGen Lab, Hatch Ostinato Music Project
- Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
- Big Sky Conservancy
- Gallatin-Big Sky Weed Committee
- Play Clean Go Initiative
- Gallatin River Task Force – Moose Creek Interpretive Sign
- Big Sky School District – TV/Film/Photography equipment
- Camp Moonlight – Camp Moonlight Scholarships
Our History and Initial Projects
We began informally in 2011, and in July 2014, the IRS determined that we are exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)3. We are qualified to receive tax deductible gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.
Thanks to the support of our generous donors, we have two continuing projects. The first is to add educational signs to public hiking trails (similar to the sign above). Currently, five signs are installed on the Ulery’s Loop Trail in Big Sky. In 2015, we are partnering with Big Sky Community Corporation to design, purchase and install 3 new trail signs on their Hummocks and Uplands Trails in Big Sky.
The second, more significant project, is to support an educational and nature-based camp that Moonlight Basin launched as a pilot in the summer of 2013 and continued in the summers of 2014 & 2015. Camp Moonlight is a summer camp for children ages 3-15, and the Moonlight Community Foundation sponsors campers from the greater Big Sky area to attend camp. The Foundation also provides educational staffing/programs and camp equipment to ensure an educational experience for the campers. Look for photos of last year’s happy campers on the “Camp Moonlight-2014” page of this website.
In 2015, we have also provided donations to the elementary school library, the high school football program, and we are planning to support a “Reach Out and Read” program at the new Big Sky Medical Center. We are also an Event Sponsor for the 2015 Women in Action Golf Tournament.