Gallatin County Nonprofit Vitality Grant - Final Impact Report

In early 2022, the Gallatin County Commission granted $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding through One Valley Community Foundation to area nonprofits to bolster organizational resiliency and revitalization from the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Nonprofits perpetually struggle to raise unrestricted funds for operational expenses. With staffing shortages, programmatic closures, and increased operational needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for unrestricted funding to revitalize and sustain Gallatin County nonprofits became critical. The Gallatin County Nonprofit Vitality Grant has served to address some of those needs. 

One Valley opened the Nonprofit Vitality Grant Fund to all Gallatin County nonprofits that had experienced negative economic impacts resulting from the pandemic.  

The total number of grant applications submitted by eligible Gallatin County nonprofits was 70. The total number of funding requests across those applications was $2.66 million. Of those eligible applications, 18 were awarded funds. 

Yellowstone Community Club Foundation partnered with One Valley to further leverage funding by providing matching dollars granted to organizations primarily serving Big Sky. 

Gallatin County Nonprofit Vitality Funds were used by grantees in a variety of ways, including retaining and hiring critical staff, engaging in sustainability planning, and maintaining or expanding programming or service delivery.  

  • 94% of grantees reported that grant funds were used to cover salaries, pay higher wages, offer additional benefits like increased paid leave, and offer housing assistance to employees.  

  • 72% of grantees paid a portion of staff salary for the grant period.  

  • Eleven grantees (61%) hired new staff over the grant period 

  • 100% grantee organizations maintained or expanded critical community programming.  

With these funds, 18 Nonprofit Vitality Fund grantees were able to fully staff programs which allowed them to rise to meet increased community demand and adapt to new and/or more urgent needs that arose from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Thank you to Gallatin County for its partnership and active investment in nonprofits!  

Anna Burkholder