The Montana State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 20-5815274

The High Stakes Foundation

A private foundation in Missoula, MT. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 62 grants and $1.1 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Mary Stranahan
129 W Alder
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 726-2030
Form and materials
Completed application form and grant proposal request. See https://highstakesfoundation.wordpress.com/how-to-apply/ for grant application procedures.
Deadlines
April 1 and September 1
Restrictions
None

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $1,125,337

    Grants listed
    62
    Assets, end of year
    $2,450,128
  • Tax year 2024

    $1,944,938

    Grants listed
    84
    Assets, end of year
    $1,107,272
  • Tax year 2023

    $944,220

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $3,195,820
  • Tax year 2022

    $1,155,300

    Grants listed
    63
    Assets, end of year
    $1,930,030
  • Tax year 2021

    $733,533

    Grants listed
    53
    Assets, end of year
    $2,498,459
  • Tax year 2020

    $1,032,850

    Grants listed
    59
    Assets, end of year
    $1,682,618

Grants paid in 2025

62 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Missoula Interfaith CollaborativeMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $40,000
  2. Common Good MontanaMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  3. MAPS Media InstituteHamilton, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  4. Montana Free PressHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  5. Northern Plains Resource CouncilBillings, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  6. Prickly Pear Land TrustHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  7. Seeley Lake Community FoundationSeeley Lake, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  8. Upper Seven LawHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  9. Western Landowners AllianceDenver, CO

    General Operations

    $30,000
  10. Montana Wilderness Association dba Wild MontanaHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $30,000
  11. Code Girls UnitedKalispell, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  12. Community Food and Agriculture CoalitionMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  13. Continental Divide Trail CoalitionGolden, CO

    General Operations

    $25,000
  14. Mainstreet Uptown ButteButte, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  15. Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation (MIST)Missoula, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  16. Montana Budget and Policy CenterHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  17. Montana Freshwater PartnersLivingston, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  18. Montana Watershed Coordination CouncilHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  19. Neighborworks MontanaGreat Falls, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  20. Our Childrens TrustEugene, OR

    General Operations

    $25,000
  21. Producers Partnership IncLivingston, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  22. Nature ConservancyArlington, VA

    General Operations

    $25,000
  23. The PulpMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  24. Western Organization of Resource Councils EducationBillings, MT

    General Operations

    $25,000
  25. ACLU MontanaMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  26. Big Hole Watershed CommitteeDivide, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  27. Montana Conservation CorpsBozeman, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  28. Montana Two Spirit SocietyMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  29. Park County Community FoundationLivingston, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  30. Red Lodge Area Community FoundationRed Lodge, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  31. Theodore Roosevelt Conservation PartnershipWashington, DC

    General Operations

    $20,000
  32. Western Enviromental Law CenterEugene, OR

    General Operations

    $20,000
  33. Winnett ACESWinnett, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  34. Women in RanchingCohagen, MT

    General Operations

    $20,000
  35. Friends of Montana PBS IncBozeman, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  36. Friends of Scotchman PeaksSandpoint, ID

    General Operations

    $15,000
  37. Glacier-Two Medicine AllianceE Glacier PK, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  38. Home ResourceMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  39. Missoula Urban Demonstration ProjectMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  40. Montana Conservation Voters Education FundHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  41. Red Ants Pants FoundationWHT SPHR SPGS, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  42. Trust MontanaMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  43. Vibrant Lives of MontanaDillon, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  44. Yaak Valley Forest CouncilTroy, MT

    General Operations

    $15,000
  45. Families for a Livable ClimateMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $13,500
  46. Glacier Queer AllianceKalispell, MT

    General Operations

    $12,000
  47. Blackfoot ChallengeOvando, MT

    General Operations

    $10,000
  48. Great Burn Study Group dba Great Burn Conservation AllianceMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $10,000
  49. Quivira CoalitionSanta Fe, NM

    General Operations

    $10,000
  50. The Paradise CenterParadise, MT

    General Operations

    $10,000
  51. Bee GirlAshland, OR

    General Operations

    $8,000
  52. Citizens for a Better FlatheadKalispell, MT

    General Operations

    $8,000
  53. Missoula Transportation and RestorationMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $6,000
  54. Friends of the ClearwaterMoscow, ID

    General Operations

    $5,000
  55. Montana Environmental Information CenterHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $5,000
  56. Montana Wilderness Association dba Wild MontanaHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $5,000
  57. MTB MissoulaMissoula, MT

    General Operations

    $3,337
  58. Montana Trails CoalitionClancy, MT

    General Operations

    $3,000
  59. Montana Nonprofit AssociationHelena, MT

    General Operations

    $2,500
  60. Cut Bank TrailsCut Bank, MT

    General Operations

    $2,000
  61. Badrock Farmers FellowshipColumbia FLS, MT

    General Operations

    $1,000
  62. Troy Farmers MarketTroy, MT

    General Operations

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Environment18 grants $306,50034% of the total
  2. Arts and culture5 grants $110,00012% of the total
  3. Community development5 grants $87,50010% of the total
  4. Civil rights4 grants $82,0009% of the total
  5. Philanthropy and grantmaking3 grants $70,0008% of the total
  6. Food and agriculture4 grants $47,0005% of the total
  7. 8 other causes11 grants $186,33721% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Montana52 grants $942,337
  2. Colorado2 grants $55,000
  3. Oregon3 grants $53,000
  4. Virginia1 grant $25,000
  5. District of Columbia1 grant $20,000
  6. Idaho2 grants $20,000
  7. New Mexico1 grant $10,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Mary StranahanChair Hours 1Pay $0
  • Molly StranahanSecretary/Treasurer Hours 1Pay $0
  • Martha NewellDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Page ArmstrongDirector Hours 1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (environment), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. The William H & Margaret M Wallace FoundationMissoula, MT 31 grants Preselected only $534,000 giving
  2. Jane S Heman Foundation IncStevensville, MT 30 grants Accepts applications $910,038 giving
  3. Sheana R FoundationCorvallis, MT 13 grants Preselected only $540,000 giving
  4. Cross Charitable FoundationBozeman, MT 110 grants Accepts applications $2,572,000 giving
  5. Tordik Wildlife FoundationCarter, MT 16 grants Preselected only $442,000 giving