EBS STAFF
The Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in Big Sky, announced on Jan. 13 that it provided 43 grants, totaling $1,048,500 and distributed to 27 local nonprofits, across two funding cycles in 2024. Grant awards prioritized services to those who live and work in Big Sky.
According to a SPCF press release, the foundation has awarded over $4 million in grants to nonprofits since its creation in 2011—roughly a quarter of that impact came in 2024 alone.
“Through our grants and partnerships with local organizations, SPCF is dedicated to making a lasting difference in Big Sky,” Hannah Waterbury, executive director of SPCF, stated in the release. She credited club members for their “steadfast support of the Big Sky community.”
The release explained that SPCF’s mission is centered around supporting projects and organizations that directly serve Big Sky’s residents and workers, with a long-term vision to foster a thriving, sustainable community in Big Sky.
The foundation gives preference to applications for local projects in the following categories: direct community services, such as affordable housing initiatives, behavioral health resources, and social services; educational support to help families access quality education and child care; conservation and recreation, including local trails and recreational opportunities; and cultural opportunities, including arts programs and community events that enhance quality of life.
SPCF also prioritizes projects that serve the greatest number of people and address identified community needs.
The following organizations earned grants in 2024: Arts Council of Big Sky, Be Well Big Sky, Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country, Big Opportunities—Big Sky Broadway, Big Sky Bandage, Big Sky Biggie, Big Sky Community Food Bank and Resource Center, Big Sky Community Housing Trust, Big Sky Community Organization, Big Sky Discovery Academy, Big Sky School District, Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, Bridgercare, Cancer Support Community Montana, Child Care Connections—GAP Scholarship Program, Eagle Mount Bozeman, Friends of the Big Sky Community Library, Friends of Big Sky Education, Grow Wild, Gallatin River Task Force, Greater Gallatin United Way, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Morningstar Learning Center, Thrive, Warren Miller Performing Arts Center and Wellness in Action.
