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Rural Grants

The Rural Grant program is split into two funding opportunities: Micro Grants, with awards between $100 and $500, and Impact Grants, with awards over $500 and up to $4,000. Micro Grants are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, while the Impact Grants are open once annually.

Micro Grant

Accepting applications

Missoula County is accepting competitive grant applications from 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations, schools, special districts, community councils, citizen groups, and individuals for community-driven projects that enhance the quality of life in the rural areas of Missoula County. The Micro Grant is designed to support community projects that can be completed within 90 days and are requesting between $100 and $500 in grant funds. Projects must meet a demonstrated need or demand, be a community benefit and have community support (see application guidelines for details).

  • Grant awards range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $500.
  • Project must be located in Missoula County, outside of the City of Missoula limits. 
  • Grant awards are dependent on available funds. No guarantees are made that applications will be funded.
  • Deadline: Applications are due on the last day of the month and will be accepted monthly, until all funds have been allocated. Applications will be evaluated and decisions made by the end of the following month. 

Interested in applying? Read the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to learn about eligible project costs, reporting requirements, and more! Then, login to the Grant Portal to start your application!

Documents

 

Impact Grant

Applications are now open for 2026!

The Impact Grant is open for applications from 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations, schools, special districts, community councils, citizen groups, and individuals for community-driven projects that enhance the quality of life in the rural areas of Missoula County.

The Impact Grant is designed to support community projects that can be completed by Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, and are requesting between $501 and $4,000 in grant funds. Projects must meet a demonstrated need or demand, be a community benefit, have community support and have a broad impact.   

  • Grant awards range from a minimum of $501 to a maximum of $4,000.
  • Project must be located in Missoula County, outside of the City of Missoula limits.
  • Grant awards are dependent on available funds. No guarantees are made that applications will be funded.
  • Deadline: The application period opens Monday, Jan. 5 and applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Interested in applying? Read the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to learn about eligible project costs, reporting requirements, and more! Then, login to the Grant Portal to start your application!

Bonner Native Plant Garden 2025 Rural Grant Project Winner

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.