Board increases budget to $175K for FY 2026, exhausts full amount
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
Nearly three years ago, the Big Sky Resort Area District board created an “Opportunity Fund” to streamline small nonprofit grant requests for $25,000 or less, especially unexpected and time-sensitive opportunities. The board later renamed the program to “microgrant” to encourage small grants that aren’t necessarily new opportunities, but still don’t fit into the regular allocations process.
The program has become increasingly popular. This year, requests exceeded the maximum budget for the first time in its short history. Questions remain about how to best conserve the funds in future years so that urgent microgrant requests aren’t stuck waiting when the budget is exhausted.
On Nov. 13, the board reviewed five applications and exhausted the remainder of its fiscal year 2026 microgrant budget of $150,000. Entering Nov. 13 with $45,727 remaining, the board faced $102,790 in requests.
“We have spent a lot… We are getting tapped out… So there was a thought of potentially increasing [the budget], a bit,” said board chair Sarah Blechta.
Projects previously awarded for FY 26 were: $24,550 to support the inaugural Lone Peak Film Festival; $5,073 to Jack Creek Preserve Foundation for adult education; $25,000 to help launch the Firelight Meadows County Water and Sewer District; $25,000 to support Visit Big Sky’s creation of a Tourism Business Improvement District; and $24,650 to the Big Sky Transportation District for an “active transportation plan” study.
BSRAD Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale suggested moving the annual amount to $200,000. Blechta said the one-time addition of $50,000 might be fine, and that $200,000 would allow for up to eight maximum-amount awards, which felt reasonable. However, she cautioned against making live adjustments to the budget in future years. “I don’t want to keep going up, and up, and up, and up.”
Grace Young, board treasurer and secretary, also hesitated. “We had a budget in place of $150,000, do we just keep adding? I mean, at some point we have to say no,” she said.
Ultimately, the board decided to add $25,000 to bring the total to $175,000 for FY 2026. The entire budget has now been granted, meaning an unprecedented close to the FY 2026 microgrant cycle.
Offering public comment, Be Well Big Sky director Shannon Steele said microgrants provide security for when certain grants fall through with other organizations.
Community member Mariel Butan said small projects are more likely than ever to emerge under BSRAD’s new October allocations schedule. “So if there is this set budget at the beginning of the year… it has the potential to disadvantage something that comes up eight months from that date,” Butan said.
In response, Young suggested a quarterly limit of $50,000 to spread the funds more evenly across a year. The board’s community investment subcommittee will bring a recommendation for potential re-structuring, among other proposed improvements to the microgrant program.
“I think consistency matters… what we do owe everybody is clarity,” said board member John Zirkle.
Zirkle also emphasized that many applicants are requesting the maximum amount of $25,000, with some seeming to need the full amount more than others, and the board may need to tighten its criteria to preserve funds.
Board member Kevin Germain stated his opinion that microgrants should only fund specific types of projects.
“I look at it as seed money, as startup money—it’s a great idea, let’s get them going. It’s not an annuity, something to come back every year. If it is, then it should go through our allocation process,” Germain said.
Zirkle added his excitement that community partners are seeking microgrants.
“I think it’s good that when people have an idea for a project, they can look to Resort Tax as something that’s relatively quick, like a two-month turnaround… It creates more incentive and opportunity for new lightning-strike ideas,” Zirkle said.
Board funds five projects for $70,727 total
Facing a scarce budget of $45,727—with the option to increase as needed—the board awarded partial amounts to three of the five grants requested (page 90) on Nov. 13.
The first fully funded microgrant was $15,750 to the Big Sky Community Housing Trust to support Montana Department of Transportation staff housing. The grant will “ensure a snowplow, maintenance truck and staff based in Big Sky for 12 months” to help with maintenance on Montana Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 191, according to BSCHT’s application.
The other fully funded grant was $25,000 to Beehive Basin Access Alliance, to support the group’s $40,000 exploration of collaborative solutions, funding mechanisms, and governance options—including a potential rural improvement district—to ensure safe, sustainable access to Beehive Basin, according to the application.
In partial awards, the Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District requested $19,700 for updates to a 2022 child care study. The board granted $10,000 to match a grant from the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation.
The MT 64 Hockey Association requested $17,340 to help keep the “very expensive” sport affordable to all local families, citing costs including insurance, ice time, coaching and clinics. A season’s tuition is $200 for kids aged 12 to 19 years, $150 for kids aged eight to 12, and free for kids under eight—largely made possible through grants and philanthropy. Already over budget, the board voted to grant $8,340.
Finally, Be Well Big Sky requested $25,000 for Navigator Network trainings and resources. The board funded the grant at $11,637, a number chosen to bring the total overage to exactly $25,000.
