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Chambers Family Fund partnered with the Montana Community Foundation to create a women’s fund in 1999. The Women’s Foundation of Montana promotes economic self-sufficiency for women and works to create a brighter future for girls and women in Montana. The advisory board of women from throughout the state successfully raised $500,000 that was matched by Chambers Family Fund to create a $1 million endowment.
For thousands of Montanans, the appeal of living among its mountains, rivers and plains fails to match the reality of what Montana has to offer in terms of economic security, employment opportunities and the promise of a better future. Montana has one of the highest rates of children living in poverty in the United States, most of whom are in single-parent households, headed primarily by women. Poverty, lack of education and job training, teen pregnancy and isolation all perpetuate the insecurities of women’s lives and girls’ futures in Montana. The Women’s Foundation of Montana is committed to overcoming these barriers and empowering women and girls to realize their potential. The Women’s Foundation of Montana believes a strong and effective state-wide network of organizations that serve women and girls can contribute significantly toward its mission. Acting on this belief, the Women’s Foundation of Montana convened 22 Montana organizations working to help women and girls achieve economic self-sufficiency in April 2002. The gathering created an opportunity for exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise in a state where the distance between communities hinders collaboration. In addition to convening organizations, the women's foundation has made 48 grants totaling more than $240,000, thereby significantly increasing the resources available to organizations supporting women and girls in Montana. |
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