Signal Peak Community Foundation
Signal Peak Community Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2011 and based in Helena, Montana. The foundation is funded exclusively by Signal Peak Energy, an underground coal mining operation located in Roundup, Montana. The foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Signal Peak Energy's commitment to community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$236K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-6.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of Signal Peak Community Foundation is to provide funding for projects aimed at building a stronger community in Musselshell County. The foundation welcomes applications from charitable and non-profit organizations for both one-time and ongoing projects.
The foundation's grantmaking emphasizes:
- Infrastructure-related projects
- Projects where the sponsoring organization covers part of the project costs
- Locally-focused spending
- Avoidance of operating costs or personnel funding
Recent grant activity demonstrates support across diverse areas including scholarships, fire department equipment, sports field improvements, wildfire response, and meal programs for low-income children.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two funding rounds annually with application deadlines of April 15 and September 15. Applicants are expected to attend board meetings to answer questions about their applications. Grant awards are announced following the application deadlines.
Review Cycle
of April 15 and September 15. Applicants are expected to attend board meetings to answer questions about their applications. Grant awards are announced following the application deadlines.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Signal Peak Community Foundation exclusively funds projects in Musselshell County, Montana. The foundation prioritizes grant funds to be spent locally when possible.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,746,170
- Total Revenue: $476,954
- Total Expenses: $237,590
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $236,168
The foundation maintains no employees and operates with volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Musselshell County ($60,573), City of Roundup ($34,519), Town of Melstone ($26,469).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHESTNUT HILL, MA | DONAHUE SCHOLARSHIP | $2,000 |
| CITY OF ROUNDUP ROUNDUP, MT | SECURITY CAMERAS, MURAL AND LIGHTS | $34,519 |
| MARKETPLACE FOR KIDS MANTADOR, ND | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| MELSTONE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MELSTONE, MT | TECHNOLOGY GRANT | $17,842 |
| MELSTONE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MELSTONE, MT | FURNACE PURCHASE | $14,722 |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY - BILLINGS BILLINGS, MT | GRIFFITH AND RAE SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,500 |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY - NORTHERN HAVRE, MT | BILDEN SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BOZEMAN, MT | SCHOLARSHIPS PAID DIRECTLY TO COLLEGE. | $1,000 |
| MONTANA TECH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA BUTTE, MT | KOMBOL, KOMBOL AND OLSON SCHOLARSHIPS | $15,500 |
| MONTANA TREASURED PIECEMAKERS QUILTS SHEPHERD, MT | GRANTS FOR MATERIALS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Charles Denowh serves in an administration role with the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALAN OLSON | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| CHAD SEALEY | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| SUE OLSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| SANDRA JONES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TOM HOUGEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PARKER PHIPPS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: (406) 323-4500
Email: [email protected]
Website: signalpeakfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Signal Peak Community Foundation fund?
The mission of Signal Peak Community Foundation is to provide funding for projects aimed at building a stronger community in Musselshell County. The foundation welcomes applications from charitable and non-profit organizations for both one-time and ongoing projects. The foundation's grantmaking emphasizes: • Infrastructure-related projects • Projects where the sponsoring organization covers part of the project costs • Locally-focused spending • Avoidance of operating costs or personnel funding …
How do I apply for a grant from Signal Peak Community Foundation?
**Application Process:** The foundation operates two funding rounds annually with application deadlines of April 15 and September 15. Applicants are expected to attend board meetings to answer questions about their applications. Grant awards are announced following the application deadlines. **Grant Activity:** Recent grants include: • Melstone Volunteer Fire Department: $14,722 (furnace purchase) • Roundup Baseball: $5,456 (field equipment) • Montana State University Billings Foundation: $2,50…
Where does Signal Peak Community Foundation make grants?
Signal Peak Community Foundation exclusively funds projects in Musselshell County, Montana. The foundation prioritizes grant funds to be spent locally when possible.
What size grants does Signal Peak Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Signal Peak Community Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $236K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Signal Peak Community Foundation's EIN?
Signal Peak Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2708352. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Signal Peak Community Foundation'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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