2026 Call for Proposals

2026 Call for Proposals is sponsored by Montana Healthcare Foundation. An annual grant opportunity supporting Montana-based organizations to design and pilot innovative, Montana-grown solutions to critical health challenges. The program funds both planning projects (to support strategic, business, and sustainability planning) and implementation projects (for those with existing strong business and sustainability plans).

Geographic focus: Montana

Call for Proposals - Montana Healthcare Foundation Initiatives Toggle sub-menu Integrated Behavioral Health Strengthening American Indian Health Services School-Based Health Initiative Strengthening Public Health Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Toggle sub-menu The Meadowlark Initiative® Reducing American Indian Health Disparities Medicaid and Health Policy Grant Application Assistance The Mignon Waterman Award Through our annual call for proposals, we offer Montana-based organizations a chance to apply for funding to design and pilot innovative Montana-grown solutions to critical health challenges.

The applications we receive also help us understand the evolving needs and priorities in communities around the state. To be considered for funding, applicant organizations must meet our eligibility criteria. Project proposals must address each of our selection criteria, which applicants should read in-depth before applying.

The strongest applications will demonstrate the importance of the health issue being addressed, the effectiveness of the program you seek to design or implement, strong partnerships with organizations that can contribute to success, and sustainability beyond the grant term. Our 2026 Call for Proposals opens on January 15. We hosted an overview webinar to provide a detailed review of the 2026 Call for Proposals.

Please watch the recording if you intend to submit a grant application. For questions about the 2026 Call for Proposals, please visit our Grant FAQ page for initial guidance. Please contact us if you require further assistance.

Watch the webinar recording Download the presentation slides Download a PDF of the 2026 Call for Proposals Download the 2026 Call for Proposals application questions We provide grants between $10,000 and $50,000 for one-year (12-month) projects and up to $100,000 for two-year (24-month) projects.

Planning Projects: For projects in the planning phase, we provide grants of up to $50,000 to support strategic, business, and sustainability planning. Do not apply for over $50,000 if your project is currently in the planning phase. Implementation Projects: We provide up to $100,000 for implementation for projects with strong business and sustainability plans.

Please note that the larger implementation awards are very competitive, and we receive many more applications than we can fund. We award grants through a one-step application process. Each organization may submit up to three different applications per year.

We make every effort to adhere to our grant application review and decision-making timeline. Sometimes, the review process requires more time. If that is the case, we will notify applicants of the review’s status by the “funding decision” date and provide an updated estimate of the timeline for reaching a funding decision.

Organizations eligible to apply for funding must be organized, incorporated, and have an office in Montana. Organizations that meet these criteria AND are controlled by a Montana board but are part of a national chain of related nonprofits may be eligible for funding that is restricted to the Montana-based chapter.

Eligible organizations include: Tax-exempt charitable organizations described in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code (excluding those classified as private foundations or any type III non-functionally integrated supporting organization under section 509(a) of the Code) Tax-exempt educational institutions State, tribal, or local government agencies Organizations with fiscal sponsors are eligible for funding, provided the fiscal sponsor is one of the above eligible organization types.

Please read the “Eligibility” section of our Grant FAQ page for more information on the types of organizations eligible to apply for funding. We recognize that each proposal reflects a unique set of needs and challenges. Proposal reviewers apply our selection criteria holistically as a lens to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and potential challenges with every proposal.

The MTHF Board of Trustees reserves the discretion to consider factors not explicitly described when approving or rejecting proposals. The project addresses an important health issue or health-related need. The project fills a need that other available resources in the community have not met.

The benefits from the project continue after the funding has run out. When funding establishes or supports new programming, the strongest proposals will demonstrate a clear and feasible plan to sustain the programming through reliable revenue sources beyond grants and fundraising.

The project will create or advance new partnerships among organizations that may not have worked together before, resulting in more efficient use of community resources. Proposals should detail specific contributions the identified partners will make to the project.

Focus on at-risk populations The project will serve a region or population of high need, as measured by limited access to health services, staffing shortages, geographic distance from services, higher rates of specific health issues, or unmet health and health-related needs. Our investments are intended to improve health, well-being, and resilience among those at greatest risk for poor health outcomes.

Effective interventions for the identified health issue or health-related need exist, but they are not currently being implemented. The funding will not be used to support the maintenance or expansion of an existing program. Workable in Montana and culturally appropriate The project is designed to fit the culture, strengths, infrastructure, and resource constraints of the community that will be served.

There is a high probability that the project will be successful. The strongest proposals will demonstrate potential for successful replication in other communities. We aim to support projects in both large and small communities across the state.

Preparing a high-quality proposal can be more challenging for smaller communities with limited staff and resources. We may, therefore, give preference to projects from organizations based in and serving rural and frontier communities. Involving stakeholders and community members The project includes a strong plan to ensure that community members and other stakeholders are engaged and included in the work.

Collaboration with tribal leadership Projects that involve a substantial focus on American Indian populations must demonstrate collaboration with the appropriate tribal health authorities, such as the relevant tribal council(s), the health directors of the relevant tribes, or the relevant urban Indian health centers.

Funding restrictions for all proposals: Activities that do not qualify as a charitable contribution as described in section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Activities that may supplant government funding of existing programs. All applicants must read our guidelines on supplanting .

Lobbying as defined by the U.S. IRC, section 4945(d)(1) Activities supporting political candidates or voter registration drives as defined in IRC section 4945(d)(2) Organizations that discriminate by reason of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or political orientation Additional funding restrictions for the call for proposals: Medical research or research lacking a direct, targeted, and practical benefit to Montanans’ health Capital campaigns, endowments, or fundraising events Operating deficits or retirement of debt Construction projects, real estate acquisitions Large equipment purchases (for example: medical equipment, vans) Organizations or foundations for the redistribution of funds via sub-grants Please visit our grantee database for examples of projects we have funded through our call for proposals.