Charles M Bair Family Trust
The Charles M Bair Family Trust is a private foundation established in 1993 in Montana to commemorate the legacy of the Bair family, one of Montana's most influential philanthropic families. The trust was created in accordance with the wishes of Alberta M. Bair, the last surviving member of the family, who passed away in May 1993. The foundation is based in Billings, Montana and operates with a staff of three employees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.9M
+1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+2.0% YoY
Grant Count
49
+6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-4.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles M Bair Family Trust reported a distributable amount of $802K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Charles M Bair Family Trust funds nonprofit organizations and governmental entities operating in the State of Montana. The foundation supports the following types of organizations:
- Educational institutions
- Hospitals and health-related organizations
- Cultural organizations
- Civic service organizations
- Human service providers
The foundation also administers the Charles M. Bair Memorial Scholarship program, which funds scholarships for high school graduates from Meagher County or Wheatland County, Montana.
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards range from $1,704 to $132,582. The foundation distributes approximately $1,029,721 annually in grants.
Review Cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Charles M Bair Family Trust focuses exclusively on funding organizations operating in the State of Montana. The Charles M. Bair Memorial Scholarship program specifically targets high school graduates who have lived in and attended school in Meagher County or Wheatland County, Montana. The foundation funds eight scholarships annually through this program.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving
- Total assets: $33,932,902 (as of 2025)
- Total annual giving: $1,029,721
- Total revenues: $2,204,697 (fiscal year 2025)
- Total expenses: $1,934,909 (fiscal year 2025)
Tax Status
- EIN: 81-6075761
- Tax-exempt since March 1994
- Classification: 501(c)(3) private foundation
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,932,902 | $33,313,114 | $33,030,616 |
| Revenue | $2,204,697 | $2,069,272 | $1,602,644 |
| Expenses | $1,934,909 | $1,786,774 | $2,067,593 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,851,765 | $2,101,295 | $2,013,882 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,079,539 | $935,387 | $521,103 |
| Distributable Amount | $801,522 | $731,274 | $723,463 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
214 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charles M Bair Family Trust
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Billings Clinic Foundation ($75,000), Rocky Mountain College ($75,000), Wheatland Memorial Healthcare ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Bair Theater Billings, MT | Grant for ABT educational programs and workshops. | $30,000 |
| Big Sky Science Education Enhancement Inc Billings, MT | Grant for Rocket Camp. | $2,000 |
| Billings Catholic Schools Billings, MT | Grant for teachers excellence programs. | $20,000 |
| Billings Clinic Foundation Billings, MT | Grant for seclusion room and psychiatric centre. | $75,000 |
| Billings Family YMCA Billings, MT | Grant for childcare sensory upgrades. | $40,000 |
| Billings Studio Theatre Billings, MT | Grant for epson laser project. | $3,149 |
| Billings Symphony Billings, MT | Grant for 2025-2026 music program. | $5,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Billings and Yellowstone County Billings, MT | Grant for transportation ca[acity expansion. | $30,000 |
| Cine Billings Billings, MT | Grant for live sound project. | $18,000 |
| City County Preservation Committee Harlowton, MT | Grant for enhancing community space. | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is administered by U.S. Bank as trustee, with John Jones serving as Vice Chairman.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerry Fagan Moulton Bellingham | Chairman | 15 | — |
| Bill Davies US Bank | Vice Chairman | 15 | — |
| James Day US Bank | Secretary | 15 | — |
| Kelly Coleman | At Large Member - Yellowstone County | 15 | — |
| Burt Hurwitz | At Large Member - Meagher County | 15 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 303 Broadwater Ave, Billings, MT 59101
Phone: 406-657-8139
Website: www.charlesmbairtrusts.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles M Bair Family Trust fund?
The Charles M Bair Family Trust funds nonprofit organizations and governmental entities operating in the State of Montana. The foundation supports the following types of organizations: • Educational institutions • Hospitals and health-related organizations • Cultural organizations • Civic service organizations • Human service providers The foundation also administers the Charles M. Bair Memorial Scholarship program, which funds scholarships for high school graduates from Meagher County or Wheat…
How do I apply for a grant from Charles M Bair Family Trust?
**Grant Amounts and Frequency** Typical grant awards range from $1,704 to $132,582. The foundation distributes approximately $1,029,721 annually in grants. **Application Deadlines** • Grant applications are due March 1 each year • Scholarship applications are due March 15 each year **Recent Grants** Recent grant recipients include: • Rocky Mountain College: $75,000 (for Bair Hall Improvements) • Billings Clinic Foundation: $75,000 (for Seclusion Room and Psychiatric Centre) • Wheatland Memorial…
Where does Charles M Bair Family Trust make grants?
The Charles M Bair Family Trust focuses exclusively on funding organizations operating in the State of Montana. The Charles M. Bair Memorial Scholarship program specifically targets high school graduates who have lived in and attended school in Meagher County or Wheatland County, Montana. The foundation funds eight scholarships annually through this program.
What size grants does Charles M Bair Family Trust award?
In 2025, Charles M Bair Family Trust awarded 49 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles M Bair Family Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Charles M Bair Family Trust reported a distributable amount of $802K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles M Bair Family Trust's EIN?
Charles M Bair Family Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6075761. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles M Bair Family Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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