Annual Grants (Helena Area Community Foundation)

Annual Grants (Helena Area Community Foundation) is sponsored by Helena Area Community Foundation. Awards annual grants to local nonprofits for projects that provide a positive impact on residents of Helena and the surrounding communities. HACF also grants funds from the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County.

Helena Area Community Foundation Welcome to the Helena Area Community Foundation We inspire and lead collaboration and investment for compassionate, safe, healthy, and resilient communities. The Helena Area Community Foundation inspires people to make a difference by encouraging the spirit of giving to provide resources that benefit present and future generations in our communities.

The steady growth of HACF’s permanent endowment is attributable to the generosity of many individuals, families and businesses throughout the Helena Area and beyond. Collective Capacity Cohort The Collective Capacity Cohort strengthens Helena’s housing nonprofits through shared learning, collaboration, and capacity building.

Supported by the City of Helena and led by HACF, this initiative helps organizations move from crisis response to coordinated, long-term solutions—building a stronger, more resilient community for all. Click Here to Get Involved The Helena Area Community Foundation awards annual grants to local nonprofits, as the one of the core elements of our programming.

Beginning in 2022, HACF is also granting funds from the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County in a new partnership designed to support local nonprofits. Learn more on the Grants page. What makes the Helena Area Community Foundation different from other charitable organizations?

HACF is local . HACF awards grants to nonprofits in the Helena area for projects that provide a positive impact on residents of Helena and the surrounding communities. HACF is permanent.

HACF maintains a strong endowment for the future. While a portion of the endowment’s earnings are earmarked for grantmaking and operational costs, the endowment itself remains untouched and growing. HACF relies on the Montana Community Foundation to manage the assets of the fund.

Regardless of the economy, changes in our population or the political environment, HACF is here today… and forever. HACF develops partnerships to grow ideas. HACF pools resources and directs them to projects that make a big impact.

This way, small nonprofits can spend the time on their mission and not on fundraising. Large nonprofits can see their ideas expand and prosper. HACF is personal.

HACF accepts a wide variety of assets and can facilitate more complex forms of giving. HACF receives donations of cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, interest in limited partnerships, life insurance policies, retirement fund accounts, and private foundation assets. HACF can also help you to plan a bequest, charitable remainder trust, and deferred gift annuity.

Montana residents are lucky because the state legislature has recognized the benefit of endowment giving through the Montana Qualified Endowment Tax Credit up to $15,000 for individuals, $30,000 for couples, or a 20% tax credit for direct gifts by qualified businesses (up to $15,000 annually). Please contact our staff or board to learn the many ways you can donate to make a lasting impact on our communities.