Montana History Foundation logo

Montana History Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Helena, MT EIN: 81-0435459 Website

Provide development and advisory leadership for organizations dedicated to the preservation of Montana's history and culture.

Key facts about Montana History Foundation

In short: Montana History Foundation gave $87K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
81-0435459
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$86,500
Grants made (2025)
9
Average grant
$9,611
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$10,059,853
Primary geography
Montana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$10.1M

+5.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$87K

-60.8% YoY

Grant Count

9

-62.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

+4.6% YoY

How Montana History Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Montana History Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Montana History Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Helena, MT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $10.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $87K. Net investment income was $207K.

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1 open opportunity from Montana History Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

HelenaMissoulaBillingsButteCharloFort BentonBozemanEkalakaRed LodgeBynumDillonGreat FallsHavreHyshamLewistownLibbyLivingstonPabloPolsonVirginia City

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K3 grants2019 12 grants2020 16 grants2021 20 grants2022 21 grants2023 24 grants2024 9 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2019) to $221K (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $87K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2025

Carter County Geological Society: $10KCarter County GeologicalSociety$10KCity of Shelby: $10KCity of Shelby$10KConrad Public Library: $10KConrad Public Library$10KHeritage & Cultural Foundation of Garfield County: $10KHeritage & Cultural Foundationof Garfield County$10KNinepipes Museum of Early Montana: $10KNinepipes Museum of EarlyMontana$10KTreasure County 89ER'S Museum: $10KTreasure County 89ER'S Museum$10KWolf Point Area Museum: $10KWolf Point Area Museum$10KGeorge McCone County Library: $9KGeorge McCone County Library$9KPowder River Historical Society: $8KPowder River HistoricalSociety$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was Carter County Geological Society ($10K). Together the top 9 received $87K.

Grant Size Distribution

90 grants across all recorded years

90<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Carter County Geological Society Ekalaka, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
City of Shelby Shelby, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
Conrad Public Library Conrad, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
Heritage & Cultural Foundation of Garfield County Jordan, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana Charlo, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
Treasure County 89ER'S Museum Hysham, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
Wolf Point Area Museum Wolf Point, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$10,000
George McCone County Library Circle, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$9,000
Powder River Historical Society Broadus, MTPromote and Preserve Montana History$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$10,059,853$9,546,645$9,398,884
Revenue$991,871$1,572,915$1,576,959
Expenses$990,435$2,108,316$1,436,158
Net Investment Income$207,296$187,226$156,957

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 14, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 17, 2020)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 12, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 21, 2022)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 15, 2023)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 17, 2025)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Montana History Foundation is led by Charlene Porsild, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Charlene Porsild

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $105K (2019) → $137K (2025)

  • Chase Hibbard

    Chairman

    Director → Vice Chair, 2023

    Vice Chair → Chairman, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Debora Brown

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike O'Neill

    Director

    Director → Chair, 2021

    Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Monty Lesh

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tim Gordon

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda Peterson

    Director

    Vice Chair → Chairman, 2023

    Chairman → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carmine Mowbray

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chantelle Nash

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Owen Robinson

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beth McFadden

    Vice Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Helena Maclay

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Grant Zahajko

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (13)
  • Former: Bruce Parker (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Mike Dalton (2021–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Llane Carroll (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Beth McFarland (2023) — Director
  • Former: Thomas E. Donnelley II (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tom Lund (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Timothy Gordon (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Montgomery Lesh (2022) — Director
  • Former: Bill Jones (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
  • Former: Debbry McClenahan (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Emily Hibbard (2019–2020) — Vice Chairman
  • Former: Nancy Nicholson (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Chris Warden (2019) — Immediate Past Chair

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Charlene Porsild — President/CEO: $137KCharlene PorsildPresident/CEO$137K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $137K, to Charlene Porsild (President/CEO).

Frequently asked questions about Montana History Foundation

How much does Montana History Foundation give each year?

Montana History Foundation gave $87K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $221K across 24 grants.

What is Montana History Foundation's typical grant size?

Montana History Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,611, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Montana History Foundation give grants?

Montana History Foundation gives mostly in Montana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does Montana History Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Montana History Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote and Preserve Montana History" (9 grants).

Who are Montana History Foundation's largest grantees?

Montana History Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Carter County Geological Society ($10,000), City of Shelby ($10,000) and Conrad Public Library ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Montana History Foundation?

Montana History Foundation reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $992K.

What is Montana History Foundation?

Montana History Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Helena, MT. It holds $10.1M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Montana History Foundation's EIN?

Montana History Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0435459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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