Gianforte Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 30-6089834 · since 2004gianfortefoundation.org·Montana·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$12.1M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$1,500 to $85,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$10,000

Typical grant (median)

256 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Gianforte Family Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organisations working in Montana, or with projects that directly impact Montanans, in education and career pathways, faith-based family support, or holistic healing from substance abuse, trafficking and incarceration.
Most grants to organisations are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $1,500 and $85,000, the median grant is $10,000, and half of all grants are $10,000 or less, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant made was $2,000,000.
The foundation does not generally fund more than 50% of a project's cost, and in most cases funds less, so applicants should limit a first request to a specific project and expect a smaller grant if they haven't worked with the foundation before.
It operates on fixed quarterly deadlines of January 20, April 20, July 20 and October 20, and expects applicants to first use its Contact Us form to arrange a consultation before submitting an online application; approved grantees must reapply each year and are expected to keep the foundation updated throughout the project.
With 77% of grant dollars going to organisations also funded in the previous two filings, relationships matter, so first-time applicants should be patient and build a track record over time.

Overview

Gianforte Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bozeman, MT.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Gianforte Family Foundation supports organisations that equip Montanans to sustainably improve their lives, strengthen their relationships and find hope. Its focus areas are education that helps young people and disadvantaged individuals develop job skills and career paths; faith-based work that strengthens families; and holistic healing for people struggling with substance abuse, trafficking and incarceration. Partners must be non-profit organisations with 501(c)(3) status, working in Montana or with projects that directly impact Montanans, and fit one or more of the focus areas. The foundation values accountability and strong leadership, seeks long-term relationships with grantee leaders, and prefers proactive or preventative solutions that address the root of a problem.

Themes

Education and career pathways
Faith-based family support
Holistic restoration

Geographic Focus

Montana.

How to apply

Applicants should first fill out the Contact Us form to arrange a consultation, then complete and submit an online application. Applications are considered at quarterly board meetings; the foundation may request further information. Approved requests must reapply each year.

Deadlines: Quarterly grant-cycle deadlines are January 20, April 20, July 20 and October 20.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 687 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation prioritises strong leadership at board and operating level and seeks long-term relationships with grantee leaders.
It prefers proactive or preventative solutions, or those that reach the root of the problem.
Applicants should limit requests to a specific project, especially if the foundation has not funded their organisation before.
The foundation does not generally fund more than 50% of a project, and in most cases funds less.
It prefers to start with smaller grants for organisations it has not worked with before.
Grantees are expected to keep the foundation updated throughout the project, especially if events are unanticipated.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Montana81%

Colorado4%

Virginia2%

Florida2%

Oregon2%

Maryland1%

6 other states: 5%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%

The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations Gianforte Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

256 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $10,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 256 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k2%

$1k–$2.5k13%

$2.5k–$5k13%

$5k–$10k17%

$10k–$25k24%

$25k–$50k14%

$50k–$100k10%

$100k–$250k2%

$250k–$500k3%

$500k–$1M2%

$1M and over<1%

Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Montana State University Alumni Foundation · Charitable purpose
$1,014,0592024 tax year
Family Promise of Gallatin Valley · Charitable purpose
$759,3212024 tax year
Greater Impact · Charitable purpose
$715,3242024 tax year
Saint Andrew School · Charitable purpose
$710,1602024 tax year
Options Women's Clinic · Charitable purpose
$509,3352024 tax year
Hope Center Ministries - Butte · Charitable purpose
$506,8562024 tax year
Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corporation · Charitable purpose
$492,0002024 tax year
Child Bridge · Charitable purpose
$444,2502024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Susan Gianforte — Trustee
Greg Gianforte — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$12,238,712	$10,959,005	$183,634,841	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,972,211	$10,843,900	$210,923,558	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$13,384,288	$12,086,864	$231,143,426	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.