Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
The Gianforte Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Bozeman, Montana. The Gianforte Family Foundation says it supports organizations that help Montanans improve their lives sustainably, strengthen relationships, and find hope.
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Gianforte Family Charitable Trust gave $12.1M across 256 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Montana. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,086,864
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 256
- +8.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,214
- +3.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $231,143,426
- +9.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (81 of 256, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Montana (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its guidelines ask prospective applicants to contact the foundation to schedule a consultation before submitting an online application. Applications are reviewed quarterly at board meetings, and the foundation says applicants can expect a response within eight weeks of the submission due date.
- Review Cycle
- The guidelines list quarterly deadlines of January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20, with decisions expected by mid-March, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December, respectively.
- Deadline
- The guidelines list quarterly deadlines of January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20, with decisions expected by…
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 11253, Bozeman, MT 59719
Phone: (406) 585-0604
Website: https://gianfortefoundation.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 Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
Church & School Outreach Grants
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
Amount
Up to US $3,300
Deadline
Deadline not published
Gianforte Family Foundation Grant
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Robotics Club Sponsorship Grant
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Gianforte Family Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Montana State University Alumni Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 920 grants of 1,135 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines say eligible nonprofit work must take place in Montana or directly affect Montanans. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana; the remaining reported shares were Maryland 2%, New York 2%, Colorado 1%, and the District of Columbia 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 256 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gianforte Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 81 of 256 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.5M (2021) to $12.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 256 grants totaling $12.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana State University Alumni Foundation Bozeman, MT | Charitable Purpose | $1,014,059 |
| Family Promise of Gallatin Valley Bozeman, MT | Charitable Purpose | $759,321 |
| Greater Impact Inc Bozeman, MT | Charitable Purpose | $715,324 |
| St Andrew School Helena, MT | Charitable Purpose | $710,160 |
| Options Women's Clinic Helena, MT | Charitable Purpose | $509,335 |
| Hope Center Ministries - Butte Divide, MT | Charitable Purpose | $506,856 |
| Montana Higher Ed Stud Assis Corp Helena, MT | Charitable Purpose | $492,000 |
| Child Bridge Inc Bigfork, MT | Charitable Purpose | $444,250 |
| Mission Valley Christian Academy Polson, MT | Charitable Purpose | $398,391 |
| Pacific NW Adult and Teen Challenge Missoula, MT | Charitable Purpose | $358,412 |
Ready to take the next step with Gianforte Family Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $231,143,426 | $8,776,480 | $13,384,288 | $12,086,864 | 256 | $12,608,218 | $7,935,498 | $10,995,421 |
| 2023 | $210,923,558 | $5,621,630 | $11,972,211 | $10,843,900 | 237 | $11,226,422 | $4,932,617 | $9,658,987 |
| 2022 | $183,634,841 | $6,227,233 | $12,238,712 | $10,959,005 | 194 | $11,318,318 | $5,397,987 | $9,877,369 |
| 2021 | $232,267,609 | $12,872,148 | $10,636,521 | $9,481,584 | 180 | $9,699,364 | $11,857,922 | $10,656,893 |
| 2020 | $207,863,952 | $10,520,359 | $11,049,360 | $9,977,042 | 268 | — | $9,554,908 | $8,794,001 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gianforte Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $11.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations that equip Montanans to sustainably improve their lives, strengthen their relationships, and find hope. Its focus areas are education for youth and disadvantaged individuals, faith-based work strengthening families, and faith-based efforts to help people affected by substance abuse, trafficking, and incarceration.
The foundation’s guidelines identify 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in Montana or on projects that directly affect Montanans as potential partners. Its grant recipients illustrate a range of supported work. Family Promise of Gallatin Valley describes its mission as developing holistic solutions for families facing homelessness, including prevention, shelter, case management, and stabilization. Greater Impact says it works to empower neighbors, with a focus on addiction recovery and sober living residences. St. Andrew School describes its mission as providing a classical education built on Catholic faith, academic excellence, and community. Child Bridge says it finds and equips families for children who have suffered abuse and neglect and supports foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the trust reported 256 grants totaling $12,086,864. Grant amounts ranged from $450 to $1,014,059, with a median grant of $10,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $1,014,059 to Montana State University Alumni Foundation, $759,321 to Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, $715,324 to Greater Impact, $710,160 to St. Andrew School, and $509,335 to Options Women’s Clinic. The filing lists each grant purpose as “charitable purpose.”
The foundation’s website describes a Church & School Outreach program offering grants of up to $3,300 for new or expanding community-building programs. Eligible applicants for that program must be Christian churches or schools operating in Montana, choose a pre-packaged grant option, and promote the program to the wider community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Greg Gianforte and Susan Gianforte as trustees. The foundation’s website also identifies both as trustees.
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan Gianforte
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Greg Gianforte
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Richard Gianforte (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $12K, to Susan Gianforte (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Gianforte Family Charitable Trust
How much does Gianforte Family Charitable Trust give each year?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust gave $12.1M across 256 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.8M across 237 grants.
What is Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $47,214, across 256 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gianforte Family Charitable Trust that year got $14K on average.
Where does Gianforte Family Charitable Trust give grants?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Montana: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Billings, MT (35 grants), Bozeman, MT (32 grants), Missoula, MT (27 grants) and Helena, MT (22 grants).
Who are Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Montana State University Alumni Foundation ($1,014,059), Family Promise of Gallatin Valley ($759,321) and Greater Impact Inc ($715,324), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gianforte Family Charitable Trust?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust reported $231.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gianforte Family Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations that equip Montanans to sustainably improve their lives, strengthen their relationships, and find hope. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gianforte Family Charitable Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6089834. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gianforte Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gianforte Family Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gianforte Family Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gianforte-family-charitable-trust-morg_729c91a262bd43c8981965eb9bbc7965
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_306089834_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gianforte Family Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gianforte-family-charitable-trust-morg_729c91a262bd43c8981965eb9bbc7965},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Gianforte Family Charitable Trust'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.
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