Past Grant Recipients

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

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.