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Town Pump Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M

Town Pump Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,281,806 (2024: $3,368,156)
  • Total Assets: $63,260,816
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000
  • Median Grant: $5,000
  • Annual Grants Awarded: 525-695 grants
  • Geographic Focus: Montana (primary), with limited giving in North Dakota and Arizona
  • Application Method: Rolling online applications with some fixed-deadline programs

Contact Details

Overview

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation was established in 1999 by Tom and Mary Kenneally, founders of the Town Pump convenience store chain. With assets exceeding $63 million and annual giving of approximately $3.3 million, the foundation has become one of Montana's most active philanthropic organizations, awarding between 525-695 grants annually. The foundation's mission is to provide financial support to Montana charitable or governmental organizations with a clear priority on supporting basic needs and education for Montana citizens. Over its 25+ year history, the foundation has demonstrated particularly strong commitment to food security, having provided over $12.2 million in grants to Montana food banks alone. The foundation is managed entirely by members of the Kenneally family, all serving without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers both rolling general grants and several targeted grant programs throughout the year:

General Grants: $1,000 - $200,000 (applications accepted year-round through online portal)

  • Median grant amount: $5,000
  • Grants awarded for projects aligned with basic needs, education, and community assistance priorities

Keep Kids Reading Program: $1,000 grants

  • Awarded annually to Montana public libraries
  • Supports summer youth-reading programs
  • Can be used for books, supplies, snacks, speakers, or other reading program items
  • Applications: March 1 - April 30; grants awarded in May
  • Recent impact: 116 libraries in 105 Montana communities funded in 2024

Meals for Backpacks Program: $2,500 - $10,000

  • Supports schools, food banks, and service organizations providing weekend meal programs for Montana school children
  • Applications: Early August - late September
  • Recent impact: 110 grants totaling $874,000 in 2025; 91 grants totaling $725,000 in 2024

Christmas/Adopt-a-Family Program: $500 grants

  • Approximately 200 grants awarded annually
  • Supports groups making Christmas brighter for Montana neighbors
  • Applications: October - December

Thriving Generations Grants: Variable amounts ($1,800 - $15,000+)

  • One-time funding for Montana Senior Citizen Centers
  • Can be used for repairs and maintenance, programming costs, equipment replacement
  • Examples: $1,800 for freezer room repairs (Alberton); $15,000 for programming support (Belgrade)
  • Applications open February (check website for current year availability)

Firefighter Equipment Grants: Variable amounts

  • Dedicated program for fire department equipment
  • Historical example: 90 grants totaling $500,000 awarded in 2017
  • Funds PPE, SCBA, hoses, thermal imaging cameras, radios, water pumps, gas monitors

EMT & Ambulance Service Grants: Up to $500,000 available statewide

  • For volunteer ambulance and EMT services
  • Historical example: 78 QRUs and volunteer services received $550,000
  • Funds defibrillators, tablets, radios, pagers, child restraints, emergency supplies

Annual Food Bank Campaign: Matching grants

  • Donations collected October 1 - November 30; grants awarded in December
  • Recent examples: $780,000 matching grants to 98 Montana food banks; $1 million emergency grants during crisis response

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three primary areas:

Basic Needs

  • Food insecurity and hunger relief (highest priority area)
  • Homelessness prevention and services
  • Veterans' needs and support services

Education

  • K-12 classroom activities and materials
  • Reading programs and literacy initiatives
  • Youth education programs

Community Assistance

  • First responder equipment and support (fire, EMT, ambulance)
  • Community projects benefiting Montana residents
  • Senior citizen centers and programs

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, eligibility requirements indicate:

  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt or governmental entities
  • Grants must be used for charitable purposes
  • Grants must primarily benefit Montana citizens
  • Organizations in North Dakota and Arizona may receive limited consideration

Governance and Leadership

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is managed by a board of directors composed entirely of members of the Kenneally family, all serving without compensation. The foundation was established by Tom Kenneally Sr. and Mary Kenneally, who started Town Pump as a small full-service gas station in Butte, Montana in 1953.

Key Leadership:

  • Tom Kenneally Sr. (Founder): Passed away in August 2024 at age 88, leaving a legacy of community philanthropy
  • Tom Kenneally Jr.: Now performing duties and responsibilities of company president
  • Michael Kenneally: Chief Executive Officer at Town Pump
  • Multiple family members serve as trustees

The family's hands-on involvement in the foundation reflects the same community-focused approach that built Town Pump into a successful Montana business over seven decades.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation accepts applications through an online grant portal at www.townpumpfoundation.com.

First-Time Applicants:

  • Complete a short registration form on the website
  • Select a password for your account
  • Once registered, you can complete and submit applications

General Grant Applications:

  • Accepted year-round on a rolling basis
  • Typical application window: January through mid-December (e.g., January 7 - December 19, 2025)

Special Program Applications:

  • Keep Kids Reading: March 1 - April 30
  • Meals for Backpacks: Early August - late September
  • Christmas/Adopt-a-Family: October - December
  • Thriving Generations: February (varies by year)
  • Check website for current program availability and deadlines

Application Requirements:

  • Organizations must provide a copy of IRS determination letter showing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status OR evidence of governmental status
  • Grant request must demonstrate charitable purpose
  • Grant must primarily benefit Montana citizens
  • All applications should be completed through the online portal to ensure efficient processing and communication

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented, though the foundation's high volume of grants (525-695 annually) suggests relatively efficient processing. Timeline varies by program:

  • Keep Kids Reading: Grants awarded in May (applications close April 30)
  • Annual Food Bank Campaign: Grants awarded in December
  • General grants: Processed on a rolling basis

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not published, the foundation's grant activity demonstrates strong accessibility:

  • 2024: 695 grants awarded totaling $3,368,156
  • 2023: 665 grants awarded
  • High volume of smaller grants ($5,000 median) suggests willingness to support diverse organizations
  • Targeted programs often fund 75-110+ organizations per cycle

Reapplication Policy

The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis and offers multiple grant programs throughout the year, suggesting organizations can reapply. No specific restrictions on reapplication are documented. The existence of annual recurring programs (Keep Kids Reading, Meals for Backpacks, Christmas grants) indicates organizations can apply year after year.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and grant-making patterns, successful applications typically demonstrate:

Alignment with Core Focus Areas The foundation's clearest priority is basic needs, particularly food insecurity. Organizations addressing hunger, homelessness, and veterans' needs receive substantial support. Education programs, especially those promoting literacy and youth development, are also strongly favored. Community assistance projects supporting first responders demonstrate consistent funding success.

Montana Connection The grant "must be used for charitable purposes and primarily for the benefit of Montana citizens." Applications should clearly demonstrate how Montana residents will benefit. Both large urban communities and small rural communities receive funding—geographic diversity across Montana is evident in grant awards.

Specific, Practical Requests The foundation funds concrete, tangible needs. Successful grant examples include:

  • Specific equipment for firefighters (thermal imaging cameras, PPE, radios)
  • Defined programs (weekend meal backpacks for specific number of children)
  • Facility improvements (freezer room repairs for $1,800; programming support for $15,000)
  • Materials and supplies (books and snacks for summer reading programs)

Size Appropriateness With a median grant of $5,000, most awards are modest. Large requests ($100,000+) are rare. Organizations should request amounts appropriate to project scope—the foundation's willingness to fund smaller organizations suggests they value breadth of impact over concentration of resources.

Use of Online Portal The foundation explicitly states: "All grant applications should be completed in the grant application portal to ensure efficient facilitation of the grant process, accurate record maintenance, and smooth communication with applicants." Using the proper application channel is essential.

Targeted Program Opportunities Organizations fitting specific program criteria should apply through those channels rather than general grants. These programs often have larger pools of dedicated funding and may offer better odds of success for aligned organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Food security is the strongest priority: With over $12.2 million granted to food banks over 23 years, plus dedicated Meals for Backpacks funding exceeding $700,000 annually, hunger relief projects have exceptional alignment
  • Don't overlook small grants: The $5,000 median grant means the foundation values supporting many organizations rather than concentrating funds—modest requests are appropriate and welcomed
  • Multiple chances to apply: Rolling general grants plus 5-6 targeted programs annually mean organizations can strategically time applications or apply to multiple programs
  • Rural communities receive equal consideration: Grant examples span from small towns like Alberton to larger communities like Belgrade—being in a rural area is not a disadvantage
  • Equipment and tangible needs succeed: Rather than general operating support, requests for specific equipment, supplies, or program materials show strong success patterns
  • Montana governmental entities are eligible: Cities, towns, and governmental fire/EMT services can apply, not just 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Family foundation with deep Montana roots: The Kenneally family's 70+ year Montana presence means they understand local community needs—applications should reflect authentic Montana community priorities

References

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