First Interstate Bank Foundation Grants

First Interstate Bank Foundation Grants is sponsored by First Interstate Bank Foundation. The First Interstate Bank Foundation provides grants to various community initiatives. Dawn's House, a sober living facility for women in Oregon, has been a grantee.

The first step in the application process is to mail a letter of inquiry to a local branch.

Grants | First Interstate Bank Grants, Donations, and Sponsorships First Interstate and its Foundation are driven by a vested interest in the health and strength of our communities, working to make them better places to live, work, and raise families. To help meet the unique needs across our footprint, local branch leadership is empowered to recommend and provide funding based on the needs of their respective communities.

Each Market has a designated Philanthropy Champion . This person will assist in reviewing incoming requests for support for their assigned area . All requests are traditionally reviewed monthly and must be submitted online through the appropriate link below.

You will receive an email with a decision upon review. Please apply only once. Grants and donations are evaluated based on the community partner’s organizational background, community benefit and support, the strength of the organization’s leadership, and the organization’s financial stability.

Grants and donations are awarded after careful consideration by the local Market, Foundation staff, and the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Recipients of philanthropic gifts include civic and community, arts and culture, K-12 and higher education, health, human services, and sustainability-related organizations.

Donations and Sponsorships Donations and sponsorships are used to help our communities by investing in important initiatives, activities, and projects. Donations are defined as support of an organization where promotional benefit is not expected. Organizations do not have to be a 501(c)(3) to apply for a donation or sponsorship.

There is no minimum award amount. Every community has hundreds of worthy organizations and causes; requests are reviewed with a lens on our values, and funding priorities.

Donation and Sponsorship Request The Foundation only awards grants to organizations with a tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, organizations that qualify as publicly supported in Section 509 (a) of the Code, or applicants that can present evidence they are a legally established unit of government. The Foundation only grants to organizations recommended by local First Interstate branches.

The minimum grant amount is $2,500. You may view your saved applications, the status of your request, and any electronic forms within your dedicated applicant portal.

The Foundation only awards grants to organizations with a tax-exempt status from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, qualifies as a publicly supported organization as described in Section 509 (a) of the Code, or can present evidence that the applicant is a legally established unit of government.

The Foundation only considers projects that have significant impact within the communities First Interstate serves.

Areas deemed to be less appropriate to receive funding are: individuals, projects that do not have a significant impact within communities First Interstate serves, projects designed to influence legislation or elect candidates to public office, projects of sectarian or religious organizations whose services are limited to members of any one religious group, projects which clearly represent a duplication of effort, any project that in any manner implies restriction of services based on sex, race, age, and religious affiliation and endowments.

$7. 2 million awarded in grants and donations in 2025 Percent of grants helping to eliminate hunger and homelessness, provide affordable housing, and improve the economics of individuals. Number of community organizations supported through Bank and Foundation partnerships in 2025.

First Interstate BancSystem Foundation