The Montana 4-H Foundation supports 4-H initiatives that focus on healthy living, citizenship, leadership, science, engineering, and technology.  The mission of the Montana 4-H Foundation is to "help 4-H youth by raising private funds, managing financial resources and partnering with the MSU Extension Service to fund educational opportunities for Montana 4-H youth, volunteer leaders, and staff."

Montana 4-H grants provide opportunities for youth and adults to strengthen their skills and maximize their positive impacts on the communities in which they live.

People Partner Grants

Grant Purpose
These grants provide incentives and financial support to groups and individuals for programs that enhance the quality of living for people in their communities.

Application Deadline: Postmarked by February 1st
Each application is eligible for up to $500.

Eligibility
4-H groups and individual members may apply.  Grants are also open to non-4-H youth groups and individuals.  Applications should meet the following criteria:

• Youth should be involved in determining, planning, conducting, and evaluating the project.
• Project will make it possible for people to accomplish something educational and worthwhile that helps them reach a higher quality of life.
• There is community support and acceptance of the project, as evidence by "partners" listed in the grant application, additional funding sources, and resource persons and agencies involved.
• The project has lasting benefits.

See grant application for more details.

Application Process
Download the application by clicking here.
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Submit a completed People Partner grant application postmarked by the February 1st deadline.  Submit completed applications by February 1st to the address below, or via email at [email protected].
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If grant funds are not used for program purpose, group agrees to return them by September 1st of the grant year.  Groups are also required to submit the evaluation form by September 1st of the grant year. Online Evaluation form.

2022 Recipients

Club Name	County	Description
Dawson County 4-H Small Animals Program	Dawson	Trailer for small animal projects and community use
Rowdy Ropers 4-H Club	Flathead	blankets and items for homeless teens in the community
Longview 4-H Club	Glacier	US & 4-H at the Marias Fair fairgrounds
Pondera 4-H	Pondera	Sidewalks on fairgrounds
Daniels County 4-H	Daniels	Safety signs and panels for Livestock Show area
Glacier 4-H	Glacier	Redesigning Marias Fair show ring
Northern Lights 4-H Club	Valley	Plant grass and install shade structures at the Blaine County Fairgrounds
Northern Lights 4-H Club	Valley	Restoring public park
Red Rock 4-H Club	Rosebud	Community bench along new walking path
Tampico Boys 4-H Club	Valley	Folding chairs for 4-H and community center
Teton County Old Agency 4-H Club	Teton	Blankets and supplies to CASA, an advocate for abused and neglected children during court proceedings
BHC Cloverbuds	Big Horn	Teaching young children the importance of community and giving to others
Kremlin Hawks 4-H Club	Hill	Install electrical hookups for 4-H family campers at Great Northern Fairgrounds

2023 Recipients

County	Club Name	Description
Valley	Valley County 4-H	Installing new drain system and concrete wash bays for horse arena at fairgrounds.
Lake	Lake County 4-H/Ronan FCCLA	School and community powow with culture workshops and school group vendors. Earth Day project- clean up campus- garden cleanup/revival- more recycling options. ​Remodel school closet for donated items.
Deer Lodge	Tail Wag 4-H Dog Agility	Dog agility equipment for 4-H youth in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.
Flathead	Country Cousins 4-H Club	Birch Grove Community Center exterior refresh.
Prairie	Cougar Creek 4-H Club	Cleaning and painting for the county grand stands.
Rosebud	Red Rock 4-H	Paint a 4-H style barn quilt on the grocery store in Colstrip.
Deer Lodge	Antelope Gulch Wranglers 4-H Club	Make tie blankets for seniors and the homeless.
Lake	Mission Valley Rangers 4-H	Buy fabric to make receiving blankets to donate to the hospital.
Stillwater	Stillwater County 4-H	Collaboration with Stillwater County library to build Free Little Library nooks for Stillwater County communities.
Valley	Valley County 4-H Horse Program	Purchasing helmets for members in the Valley County Horse Project.
Stillwater	Beartooth Ramblers	Create a tangible expression of encouragement to cancer patients in Stillwater County.

2024 Recipients

County	Club Name	Description
Montana Clovers Swine	Anaconda-Deer Lodge	.4-H swine project equipment for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.
Beaverhead 4-H Dog Project	Beaverhead	Building agility equipment and brings expert trainers to Dillon, MT.
Community Hustlers 4-H Club	Big Horn	Partner with H.O.P.E. Center to provide essential hygiene kits for people in need.
Carbon County Livestock Judging Team	Carbon	Host a livestock judging camp and contest in Carbon county.
Ulm Pishkun 4-H Club	Cascade	Purchase an upright freezer for the Ulm Volunteer Fire Department.
Chouteau County 4-H	Chouteau	Upcycling t-shirts into book bags for summer reading program at Chouteau County Library branches.
Glacier View 4-H Club	Flathead	Provide resources for youth and leaders doing community service in the back country.
Country Cousins 4-H Club	Flathead	Add new carpet, fire ring, and 2 picnic tables to the Birch Grove Community Center.
Ronan Middle School 7th Grade	Glacier	7th grade student led mental health initiative.
Clever Clovers 4-H Club and Olivia Bradley	Glacier	Make 4 tie blankets for the residents of the Glacier Care Center.
Janae Roberts (Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Committee)	​Glacier	More wash racks at the Marias Fairgrounds with possibly more plumbing and concrete.
Open Range Club	Glacier	Herdsmanship banner and notice board in the Rabbit and Poultry Barn
Granite County 4-H Council	Granite	Fans for the small animal barn at the Tri-County Fair.
Hill County 4-H Livestock Committee	Hill	Gate for public access to fair animal exhibits.
Kremlin Hawks	Hill	Greenhouse supplies for North Star Schools greenhouse.
Sedan Cow Camp and Show	Park	Two day camp teaching Beef Project kids across the state how to fit and show beef animals.
Pondera County 4-H Ambassadors	Pondera	Hosting a street dance with a live band during Conrad's Whoop Trail Days as a fun/safe activity for youth in the community.
Tri-County 4-H Working Ranch Horse Club	Powell	Host a horsemanship, ranch roping and cattle sorting clinic for Working Ranch Horse members.
Cougar Creek 4-H Club	Prairie	Paint a mural on a wall welcoming people into our town.
Clara Blonde (Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Committee)	Toole	Fans for the 4-H pig barn.
Tampico Boys 4-H Club	Valley	Buy garden supplies for a group home and food preservation equipment for the local food bank.
Lockwood Humble B's 4-H Club	Yellowstone	Two permanent picnic tables at the county fairgrounds by the 4-H Building.

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Staff Development Grants

Grant Purpose
Staff Development Grants provide financial support to MSU Extension staff seeking professional development opportunities.

Application Deadline: November 1 (main Deadline) and April 1 (if funds remain)

Eligibility
Montana State University Extension agents or support staff wanting to attend a particular educational conference, training session, event, or program.  Grant criteria:

• Program or event must provide beneficial programming ideas that can be incorporated into the participant's 4-H program.
• Regional Department Heads of Extension must support participation in the event.
• Program and evaluation must be completed within one year from submission deadline.
• If you have received a staff development grant from the Montana 4-H Foundation in the past, you may apply again, but not for the same professional development opportunity as your previous award.
  

Application Process
Complete the online application form by clicking here.  The application asks for the following information:

• An outline of the program or event the participant wishes to attend which includes: a description of the program, a summary of costs and other sources of funding, personal gain by participating in the program/event, and expected impacts on your 4-H program.
• A letter of support for requesting funds from your state Extension supervisor (submitted at the time of your application, see the application for details).
• Name and mailing address of group to which funds are to be awarded.
• Agreement to return funds if planning process to implement program has not begun within eleven months from submission date.
• Agreement to submit an evaluation of the program and how it has or will benefit your community.

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Innovative Programming Grants

Grant Purpose
This grant opportunity provides financial support to new programs with innovative efforts and specific outcomes that can be duplicated from one county to another.  There are $2,000 total grant dollars available.

Application Deadline:  November 1 (main deadline) and April 1 (if funds remain)

Eligibility
Any Montana county 4-H youth program.  A joint application between several counties is acceptable.  Grant criteria:

• Innovative youth or adult volunteer leader educational programs.  Program efforts that are currently conducted are not eligible.
• Programs currently being conducted in other states qualify.
• Project must have potential to be replicated in other Montana counties.
• Project can reach existing or new audiences.
• Application team and teaching team (can be different) must include an Extension staff person, an adult volunteer, and a teen volunteer.
• Project and evaluation must be completed within one year of submission deadline.

Application Process
Complete the online application by clicking here.  The application asks for the following information.

• Target audience, educational objectives, resources - available and to be developed, source of curriculum, and outline of curriculum.
• Program timeline, including start, end and length of components
• Evaluation procedure to determine of educational objectives have been met.

Also required:

• Names of team members submitting the application.
• Name and mailing address of group to which funds are to be awarded.
• Agreement to return funds if planning process to implement program has not begun within eleven months of submission deadline.
• Submit letter of evaluation when project is completed.

Other Grant Opportunities

Below are links to some grant opportunities that Montana 4-H'ers might be interested in.  The Montana 4-H Foundation does not sponsor these grants, but is happy to provide this information.

The Association of Montana Turf, Ornamental and Pest Professionals AMTOPP
Montana Farmers Union Grant
Global Youth Service Day mini grants
Youth Services America
Youth Serve Montana
MFBF Mini Grants

The Montana Farm Bureau Foundation has established a program to provide grants of up to $200.00 for use in educational forums or activities promoting agriculture.

Proposals will be judged on the project’s ability to address the following:

• Enhances participants’ knowledge of agriculture and/or its contributions as an industry.
• Analyzes current agriculture issues/problems.
• Strengthens critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Scope of audience reached.

Mini-Grant applications can be downloaded at www.mfbf.org/foundation.