Catalyst Montana
Catalyst Montana uplifts low-income and marginalized montanans through community organizing, policy advocacy, research, and leadership development. We work to build collective power and create meaningful change on issues that impact our communities.
Catalyst Montana at a glance
In short: Catalyst Montana gave $120K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $120K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $120,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- Average grant
- $120,000
- Median grant
- $120,000
- Total assets
- $1,703,872
- +20.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Montana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated November 2026.
Who Catalyst Montana funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Montana Budget & Policy ($120K).
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 2 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2020) to $120K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $120K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Budget & Policy Helena, MT | General Operating Support | $120,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,703,872 | $1,433,750 | $1,246,266 | $120,000 | 1 | $5,643 |
| 2023 | $1,409,437 | $578,779 | $1,037,764 | — | — | $19 |
| 2022 | $1,865,125 | $1,038,971 | $1,316,825 | $77,500 | 1 | $23 |
| 2021 | $2,147,959 | $2,009,449 | $1,047,458 | — | — | $20 |
| 2020 | $1,308,004 | $1,093,036 | $891,313 | $2,500 | Total only | $-56 |
| 2019 | $983,337 | $1,166,671 | $988,938 | — | — | $824 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Catalyst Montana
Based on IRS filings
Catalyst Montana is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Helena, MT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $120K. Net investment income was $6K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Catalyst Montana is led by Sj Howell, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sj Howell
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$59K (2023) → $84K (2024)
Amber Shaffer
Board Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Franklin
Board Member
Chair → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Niki Zupanic
Treasurer
C4 Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mona Schwartz
Vice Chair & Secretary
Board Member → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Weaver
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Johnson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Kelly McGuire (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Layna George (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tammy Miller (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dave Chadwick (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ashton McNair (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ryan Watin (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Sam Martin (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Carolyn Pease-Lopez (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Angelina Gonzalez-Aller (2021–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Chelsia Rice (2022) — Director
- Former: Eldena Bear Don't Walk (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Rachel Carroll Rivas (2019–2021) — Former Co-Director
- Former: Svein Newman (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Will Randall (2019–2021) — C4 Chair
- Former: Kimberly Abbott (2021) — Former Co-Director
- Former: Kim Abbott (2019–2020) — Co-Director
- Former: Debbie Brown (2019) — Director
- Former: Kedryn McElderry (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $84K, to SJ Howell (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Montana
How much does Catalyst Montana give each year?
Catalyst Montana gave $120K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990.
How large is Catalyst Montana?
Catalyst Montana reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What is Catalyst Montana?
Catalyst Montana is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Helena, MT. It holds $1.7M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Catalyst Montana operate?
Catalyst Montana has awarded grants in Montana.
What is Catalyst Montana's EIN?
Catalyst Montana's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0472423. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 9, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
Live grants for the work Catalyst Montana funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Catalyst Montana's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Catalyst Montana'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.
Catalyst Montana down — hundreds of funders to go?