The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation
The Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation is an independent foundation established in 2001 in Montana to honor the legacy of Bill and Rosemary Gallagher, lifelong supporters of charitable organizations in Missoula and Western Montana. The foundation continues their spirit of generosity and community service through strategic philanthropic support to nonprofit organizations serving the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
-5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$378K
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
41
+2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $298K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to improving the lives of residents in Western Montana through financial support for organizations addressing critical community needs. The foundation supports initiatives across the following program areas:
Education
- Expanding educational opportunities for citizens of Western Montana
Art and Culture
- Creative and cultural expression
- Theatrical, artistic, and educational programs for youth
- Art programs
Community Enrichment
- Civic responsibility and philanthropic engagement
- Parks and playgrounds
- Activities that enhance quality of life for families
- Programs and activities that improve the Missoula community
Health Care
- Improving access to quality health care
- Promoting healthy lifestyles through education and prevention programs
- Supporting hospitals and health care clinics providing charitable health care services
Assistance to Youth
- Encouraging, improving, and educating youth
- After-school programs
- Youth organizations
Assistance to the Aging
- Supporting assistance and relief of the aging
- Meals and other assistance to homebound individuals
- Programs to assist the aged with daily necessities
Assistance to Organizations Serving Those in Need
- Support for children in distress
- Programs serving abuse survivors
- Relief for single parents
- Assistance for individuals facing hardship
- Support for those with disabilities
- Educational opportunities for underserved populations
- Care and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence
Grantmaking
Applications must be postmarked by the deadline date.
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation defines Western Montana as the region west of the Continental Divide and Helena. All grants must benefit residents living in this geographic area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,537,783 | $4,816,455 | $5,145,868 |
| Revenue | $230,296 | $164,232 | $402,482 |
| Expenses | $509,088 | $493,091 | $395,173 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $484,540 | $466,533 | $363,680 |
| Net Investment Income | $204,680 | $139,976 | $378,709 |
| Distributable Amount | $298,249 | $280,294 | $290,918 |
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ywca of Missoula Mt ($55,000), Mountain Home Montana ($35,000), Montana Food Bank ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MONTANA FOOD BANK MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATRE MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| MONTANA NATURAL HIST CENT MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| YWCA OF MISSOULA MT MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $55,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| MISSOULA AGING SERVICES MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $7,500 |
| GARDEN CITY HARVEST MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| PROMISE 686 KALISPELL, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| U OF M SPECTRUM UM DISCOVERY AREA MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLYN MAIER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | $96,000 |
| RICK HART | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| LARRY GIANCHETTA | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| RICK BASKETT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated active grantmaking in response to community needs. In 2020, the foundation announced approximately $50,000 in emergency grant funding to several major Missoula organizations to support their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. The foundation postponed its normal grant cycle and instead provided immediate donations to a handful of prominent organizations to ensure local nonprofits were well-equipped to provide support to Missoulians during the crisis.
Missoula nonprofits get grant funding from Bill and Rosemary Gallagher FoundationRecent grant recipients have included organizations focused on youth services, equestrian programs, legal services, and community support organizations.
Montana Center for Horsemanship Receives Grant Award to Benefit Youth - EquestrianSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to improving the lives of residents in Western Montana through financial support for organizations addressing critical community needs. The foundation supports initiatives across the following program areas: **Education** • Expanding educational opportunities for citizens of Western Montana **Art and Culture** • Creative and cultural expression • Theatrical, artistic, and educational programs for youth • Art programs **Community Enrichment** • Civic responsibility an…
How do I apply for a grant from The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** • Small program grants: Average of $3,000 • Program grants: Average of $8,000–$10,000 • Capital campaign grants: Average of $50,000 • Range: $3,300–$25,000 **Application Deadlines:** • April 30 • October 31 Applications must be postmarked by the deadline date. **Funding Rate:** The foundation funds an average of 82% of applications received. **Multi-Year Funding:** The foundation generally does not fund multi-year applications. However, exceptions are made for capital campaigns.
Where does The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation make grants?
The foundation defines Western Montana as the region west of the Continental Divide and Helena. All grants must benefit residents living in this geographic area.
What size grants does The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $378K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $298K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation's EIN?
The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2138399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bill & Rosemary Gallagher 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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