Montana Community Foundation Scholarship Directory

The Montana Community Foundation maintains a donor-funded scholarship directory for students in communities across the state. Its search tool filters by student status and location because the funds do not share one set of eligibility rules. Listings range from students at a particular high school to college, technical training, or study elsewhere; reading each listing is essential before spending time on an application.

Requirements may include county residency, a minimum GPA, field of study, financial need, family connection, or community service. One 2026 example, the Avista Community Scholarship, was limited to students or residents of Sanders County, Montana, and Clark Fork, Idaho, with specific routes for graduates and GED holders. That example shows why its criteria cannot be generalized to every scholarship in the directory.

The directory says the next cycle will open January 1, 2027. The 2026 season closed March 31, and reported awards ranged from $500 to $40,000 depending on the scholarship; averages differed between one-time and multiyear funds. Before applying, use the filters, note any access codes for matching programs, and confirm the documents each fund requests in the new cycle.

Before applying, confirm that the cycle and academic program match your circumstances and that the window is still open. Start at the administrator’s link, save the rules, and prepare transcripts, FAFSA information, essays, and recommendations in the requested format. Track the application and reference deadlines separately: some portals close different components on different days. After submitting, monitor email and your dashboard until the file is marked complete. Ask your campus financial-aid office how the award will coordinate with FAFSA, other scholarships, and benefits, and request a written estimate of remaining charges. Do not budget funds that have not been awarded.

To compare this benefit with other options, ask financial aid for an estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, and excluded expenses. Confirm whether it renews annually, what GPA or course load it requires, and whom to contact if the student account does not show the payment. Keep award letters and receipts until the school confirms disbursement.

Official program information and application