Rural Grant Program
These grants are available to support community-driven projects in the rural areas of Missoula County, outside City of Missoula limits.
The Rural Grant program is split into two funding opportunities: Micro Grants and Impact Grants.
Micro Grant
Applications accepted on a rolling basis!
Awards between $100 and $500. Applications are due on the last day of the month and will be accepted monthly, until all funds have been allocated. No matching funds are required.
Fund Description
The Micro Grant is designed to support community projects that can be completed within 90 days. Projects must meet a demonstrated need or demand, be a community benefit and have community support.
Eligible Applicants
- 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations
- Schools
- Special districts
- Community councils
- Citizen groups
- Individuals
*All projects must have a public benefit.
Total Amount Available
$5,000 each year. Grant awards are dependent on available funds. No guarantees are made that applications will be funded.
Tentative Timeline
Applications are due on the last day of each month and will be evaluated with decisions made by the end of the following month. Projects must be completed within 90 days of date on award letter.
Interested in Applying?
Read the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) below to learn about eligible project costs, reporting requirements, and more! Then, login to the Grant Portal to start your application!
Impact Grant
Applications close Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Awards between $501 and up to $4,000. The application period is open annually between the beginning of January and end of February. No matching funds are required.
Fund Description
The Impact Grant is designed to support community projects that can be completed by the end of the calendar year (Dec. 31). Projects must meet a demonstrated need or demand, be a community benefit, have community support and have a broad impact.
Eligible Applicants
- 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations
- Schools
- Special districts
- Community councils
- Citizen groups
- Individuals
*All projects must have a public benefit.
Total Amount Available
$24,465 of funding available in 2026. Grant awards are dependent on available funds. No guarantees are made that applications will be funded.
Tentative Timeline
- March: Applications will be read, evaluated and scored by a review committee.
- Early April: County staff will take funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. If recommended for funding, applicants are notified of tentative award amounts. Applicants may be requested to provide additional information and contracting process begins.
- End of April: Contracts are finalized and approved; projects can begin after contracts are approved.
- Projects must be completed by December 31.
Interested in Applying?
Read the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) below to learn about eligible project costs, reporting requirements and more.
preview application and apply
Previous Awardees
Micro Grants
- Bonner Milltown History Center received $488 to purchase interpretative signage for the Bonner Railroad exhibit.
- Clinton PTSA was awarded $500 to purchase bikes for the after-school bike club.
- Blackfoot River Youth Hockey Club received $500 to purchase hockey and figure skating gear.
- Place to Bee pollinator garden in Seeley Lake received $500 to repair and re-paint the garden bed structures.
- Seeley Lake Community Foundation received $500 to provide a centrally located public porta-potty during the summer months.
- Bonner School received $500 to purchase basic toiletries and snacks for the school’s Care Closet, supporting students in need.
- Swan-Mission Academic Art Athletic Resource Team was awarded $500 to purchase supplies for the Santa’s Workshop in Condon holiday club.
- Frenchtown community members received $500 to support the Frenchtown Community Christmas Tree Lighting and Celebration.
Impact Grants
- Bonner PTA received $4,000 for a portion of equipment costs for a new playground and community park located on Bonner school grounds, which includes an updated play structure, a volleyball court, new basketball backboards and new swings.
- Football Club Frenchtown received $3,600 for upgrades to Frenchtown’s soccer fields with new goals, nets, and line markings to meet the minimum standards needed to host home games.
- The Upper Swan Valley Historical Society received $4,000 to hire a contractor to power wash and seal the deteriorating exterior logs on the Rustics of Lindbergh Lake log cabin, home to the Swan Valley Museum collections and an important gathering space in the heart of Condon.
- The Bonner Milltown History Center received $2,500 to develop an exhibit featuring a 2,700-pound vintage safe from the Bonner Mill. Since the safe is too heavy to be featured at the history center, the exhibit will be housed at the KettleHouse Brewery in Bonner.
- Building A Better Society Community Outreach group received $3,740 to host a spring community clean up and flower distribution event for Seeley Lake residents to clean up trash and debris accumulated over the winter and beautify yards along the highway.
- Swan-Mission Academic Arts Athletics Resource Team received $960 to support Friday clubs for kids in Condon and will offer a new series focused on journalism and graphic design.
- Bonner-Milltown Community Council received $1,200 to provide a dumpster for residents of Bonner, Milltown, West Riverside, and Piltzville neighborhoods over a period of 4 days to help dispose of accumulated trash without overwhelming regular garbage services.
- Seeley Lake Elementary School received $4,000 to purchase and install climbing structures for their playground which will be used by students and the community after school and during the summer.
- Clearwater Resource Council Boat Motor received $3,559 to purchase an outboard motor and starting battery to power its boat for conducting water quality and aquatic invasive species monitoring of lakes in the Clearwater Valley.
- The Bonner Milltown Historical Center will work with a Bonner middle school teacher and his students to design and plant a native plant garden. The funding request is for interpretive signage, plants, soil and a set of books on indigenous history to be used in the classroom ($2,585 - pictured above).
- Travelers’ Rest Preservation and Historical Society will host local indigenous historians and artisans to provide interpretive demonstrations at Travelers’ Rest in Lolo from June to August ($2,600).
- Missoula Symphony received $4,000 to send musicians from the Missoula Symphony Orchestra to classrooms in Woodman School, Clinton, Lolo, Target Range and Bonner.
- The Target Range Foundation received $4,000 to install new basketball hoops at the outdoor basketball courts at Target Range School.