Big Sky Institute For The Advancement Of Nonprofits

Programs: 200 montana nonprofit sector development. Through bsi's montana nonprofit connections (mnc) program, bsi worked collaboratively with the missoula community foundation and other missoula-based funders to complete a pilot project to design and implement a community-centered approach to capacity building grantmaking. Known as the missoula project for nonprofit excellence (mpne), this program successfully transitioned from its pilot phase to an ongoing, sustainable grantmaking program during 2016. The transition process completed a gradual shift of the ongoing leadership of the program from bsi to the missoula community foundation. The third round of capacity building grants took place in early 2016, and the awardees were: home resource, blue mountain clinic, and the missoula community access television. In the fall of 2016, bsi began outreach to the billings community foundation, and community foundations in six additional counties to explore interest in working with bsi to replicate mpne in the yellowstone valley region, which includes very rural, low-population counties. The outreach was fruitful and interest was strong; the replication project got underway in early 2017. Also during 2016, bsi continued its work with bozeman-based child care connections (ccc) on the multi-year fund development assistance program (fdap) pilot project. Fdap is a new suite of capacity building services to enable nonprofits to diversify their sources of funding, expand non-government revenues, and become more sustainable. Ccc is a child care resource and referral agency, and like its peers across montana, is heavily dependent upon government funding. As a cost-saving measure, the montana early childhood services bureau implemented restructuring of the ccr&r regions, which caused a delay in the continued implementation of the fdap pilot. By fall, ccc's service area had doubled to six counties, and bsi resumed working with ccc to design and implement new fundraising activities that expanded support from individuals and businesses. During 2016, bsi continued to offer seminars, training and technical assistance on fundraising skills through the various component programs of bsi's helena development initiative (hdi). Monthly meetings of hdi's helena development roundtable had consistent attendance of 20 to 25 nonprofit staff and board members who participated in trainings and discussions on a diverse range of fundraising topics. Hdi's excellence in nonprofit communications grant award program chose alternative energy resource organization (aero) as the 2016 awardee. The six communications business partners contributed to aero over $20,000 in pro bono consulting services and products to enhance communication and outreach for successful membership expansion and fundraising.

300 promotion of philanthropy in montana. . As reported in bsi's 990 report for 2015, the community foundations of montana development initiative concluded in 2015. There were no activities in this arena of bsi's work during 2016.

800 institute activities. During 2016, bsi conducted research and outreach activities to sustain bsi's overall work in strengthening nonprofits and expanding philanthropic resources in montana.