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
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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