Billings Community Foundation
Billings Community Foundation is a public charity based in Billings, Montana, serving the Greater Yellowstone Region. It connects donors with charitable organizations and supports regional nonprofits through grantmaking, endowments, donor-advised funds, community giving initiatives, and fiscal sponsorship.
Billings Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Billings Community Foundation gave $320K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Montana. 52% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $319,722
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,225
- -28.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $11,446,232
- +10.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (11 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Montana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Billings Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For its annual grants, the foundation works with fund advisors to match their interests with grant proposals, and its grant committee selects recipients. Organizations receiving grants are required to report how funds were used; the filing says failure to report may be considered in a subsequent annual-grant decision. Grants requested by donor-advised-fund advisors outside the annual cycle do not require that report. The sources do not specify application materials or eligibility requirements.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 annual-grant cycle is suspended; the website says it will return in 2027. No 2027 deadline is stated.
- Deadline
- The 2026 annual-grant cycle is suspended; the website says it will return in 2027.
- Contact
Mailing address: 404 N 30Th St, Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 839-5552
Website: https://billingscommunityfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Billings Community Foundation
BCF Annual Grants
Billings Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Community Response Funds
Billings Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Yellowstone Valley Gives
Billings Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Billings Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Riverstone Health ($78K). Together the top 10 received $239K.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 80 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its service area as the Greater Yellowstone Region, including rural communities in Yellowstone, Musselshell, Rosebud, Custer, Treasure, Bighorn, Carbon, Stillwater, and Fergus counties in Montana. Its annual-grant program lists Yellowstone County and the regional area of Montana as its geographic scope. All grant dollars in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Billings Community Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 21 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $9K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $168K (2023) to $380K (2020). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $320K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Riverstone Health Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $78,387 |
| Naturopathic Education & Research Consortium Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $32,108 |
| Yellowstone Ice Foundation Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $24,375 |
| Montana Audubon Helena, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $18,872 |
| Tumbleweed Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $17,000 |
| Yellowstone River Parks Association Inc Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $16,118 |
| Family Service Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $16,000 |
| Veterans Navigation Network Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $15,500 |
| Apostle Lutheran Church Billings, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $10,800 |
| University of Montana Foundation Missoula, MT | Philanthropic Purpose | $10,303 |
Ready to take the next step with Billings Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization’s filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,446,232 | $1,959,035 | $1,202,999 | $319,722 | 21 | $536,768 |
| 2024 | $10,409,121 | $1,297,674 | $1,096,635 | $320,095 | 15 | $289,355 |
| 2023 | $9,235,183 | $2,138,765 | $1,027,071 | $167,810 | 14 | $238,486 |
| 2022 | $7,484,223 | $1,876,209 | $895,325 | $210,758 | 9 | $371,921 |
| 2021 | $8,014,677 | $1,894,985 | $1,047,565 | $288,627 | 21 | $328,163 |
| 2020 | $6,203,833 | $1,247,634 | $864,946 | $380,310 | 16 | $266,120 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to help individual donors and charitable organizations meet the needs of the Greater Yellowstone Region.” Its listed annual-grant focus areas include educational efforts, capacity building, collaborative projects, endowment growth, and regional and community impact.
Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Yellowstone Ice Foundation says it aims to establish a multifunctional indoor ice facility, while Montana Audubon works to safeguard wildlife and natural ecosystems. Yellowstone River Parks Association says it manages natural park land for public use; Family Service says it works to prevent hunger, homelessness, and poverty; and New Day says it provides services for at-risk youth and adults.
The foundation also manages endowments and donor-advised funds, offers nonprofit training and capacity-building support, and provides fiscal sponsorship to charitable projects. Its 2024 filing says it manages more than 370 endowment funds. The filing states that endowment funds are held according to donor instructions and that disbursements are made to 501(c)(3) organizations and exempt governmental units.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $319,722. Grant amounts ranged from $5,200 to $78,387, with a median of $10,000.
The largest reported grants included $78,387 to Riverstone Health, $32,108 to Naturopathic Education & Research Consortium, $24,375 to Yellowstone Ice Foundation, $18,872 to Montana Audubon, and $17,000 to Tumbleweed. Other notable awards included $16,118 to Yellowstone River Parks Association, $16,000 to Family Service, and $15,500 to Veterans Navigation Network. The filing lists the stated purpose of these grants as “philanthropic purpose.”
The website lists 2025 Community and Regional Impact and Endowment Challenge grant recipients. It says the 2026 annual-grant cycle is suspended and will return in 2027; 2026 grant efforts are being captured in the Yellowstone Valley Gives event. The foundation also describes Community Response Funds, a collaboration with United Way of Yellowstone County for quick-turnaround support of immediate needs arising from unexpected circumstances.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tyson Dye as president, Alex Roman as vice president, Matthew Schafer as treasurer, and Mike Phillips as secretary. It also lists Joy Culver as planned giving officer, Carolyn Sevier as past president, and Jack Nickels, Amber Ruff, Lori Byron, and Lisa Olmsted as directors.
Billings Community Foundation is led by Zachary Terakedis, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Zachary Terakedis
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$22K (2024) → $60K (2025)
Tyson Dye
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Nickels
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Olmsted
Director
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Byron
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Walks Over Ice
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Lehman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amber Ruff
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joy Culver
Planned Giving Officer
Treasurer → Planned Giving Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Phillips
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Sevier
Past President
Vice President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Schafer
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Roman
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Lauren Wright (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Bernard Rose (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: David Redmon (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Leif Welhaven (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ralph Spence (2020–2021) — Emeritus
- Former: Teresa Darnielle-Morse (2020–2021) — Emeritus
- Former: Jim Foley (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $60K, to Zachary Terakedis (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Billings Community Foundation
How much does Billings Community Foundation give each year?
Billings Community Foundation gave $320K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $320K across 15 grants.
What is Billings Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Billings Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,225, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Billings Community Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Billings Community Foundation give grants?
Billings Community Foundation gives mostly in Montana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Billings, MT (17 grants).
Does Billings Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Billings Community Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Philanthropic Purpose" (21 grants).
Who are Billings Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Billings Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Riverstone Health ($78,387), Naturopathic Education & Research Consortium ($32,108) and Yellowstone Ice Foundation ($24,375), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Billings Community Foundation?
Billings Community Foundation reported $11.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Billings Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to help individual donors and charitable organizations meet the needs of the Greater Yellowstone Region.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Billings Community Foundation?
For its annual grants, the foundation works with fund advisors to match their interests with grant proposals, and its grant committee selects recipients. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Billings Community Foundation's EIN?
Billings Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4286919. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Billings Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Montana Community Foundation Inc
Helena, MT
Montana Community Foundation funds nonprofits and community projects in education, culture, economic vitality, land, resilience, and health, primarily benefiting Montana communities. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $12,500; amounts ranged from about $5,000 to $442,000, while its Community Investment Program offers grants up to $50,000 for eligible projects in three counties. Applicants can apply through listed opportunities, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$215.5M
Grants
316
Total Given
$7.7M
MKM Foundation Inc
Billings, MT
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$9K
Johnson Family Foundation
Billings, MT
The Johnson Family Foundation supports organizations working in areas such as cultural preservation, community programs, recreation, social services, health, housing, and animal care. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $1,200; nearly all funding went to Montana. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$517K
Grants
53
Total Given
$84K
First Interstate Bank Centennial Youth Foundation
Billings, MT
The foundation’s final 2024 filing limits support to youth-oriented groups serving people 18 or younger and organizations or activities in Yellowstone County, Montana. Its 2023 grants totaled $25,000 across 14 awards, typically ranging from $500 to $5,000. The filing directs applicants to First Interstate Bank for information and forms, but it is a final return and does not establish that unsolicited requests are currently accepted.
Assets
$7
Grants
14
Total Given
$25K
The Louvin Foundation
Billings, MT
The Louvin Foundation supports Montana charities working in areas such as education, housing and homelessness, family services, youth, animal care, and parks and trails. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,500. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
15
Total Given
$169K
GE McDonald Foundation
Billings, MT
The GE McDonald Foundation supports religious, educational, environmental, and other charitable purposes, with grants spanning a range of programs. In 2025, it awarded 16 grants of $50 to $80,110, with a median grant of $5,174; it has no geographic restrictions, and recent grants went to organizations in Montana and Ohio. It accepts applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$906K
Grants
16
Total Given
$172K
More similar funders
More Funders in Montana
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Billings Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/billings-community-foundation-morg_033df4d74455438291f48a53bce04db9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204286919_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Billings Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/billings-community-foundation-morg_033df4d74455438291f48a53bce04db9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
} The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Billings Community Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Billings Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?