Foundation Awards $382,000 to Montana Food Groups
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation's Holiday Giving Program directs funds to 97 basic needs organizations across the state.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has awarded $382,000 to 97 Montana basic needs organizations through its Holiday Giving Program. Recipients include food banks, food pantries, rescue missions, shelters and Salvation Army organizations.
Why it matters
Higher costs on nearly everything have increased demand for basic needs services in every part of Montana. The awards aim to get resources to staff and volunteers before the winter months.
The $382,000 award is distributed across 97 basic needs organizations statewide, against an estimated one in eight Montanans facing food insecurity. The exact allocation per organization has not been disclosed.
The players
Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
A Montana-based philanthropic foundation established in 1988 that has distributed over $636 million in grants.
The details
The Holiday Giving Program directs funds to food banks, food pantries, rescue missions, shelters and Salvation Army organizations, with recipients including the Livingston Food Resource Center, the Gardiner Food Pantry of Park County and the Big Timber Community Food Bank. The foundation has distributed more than $636 million in grants since its founding in 1988.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Awards announced for the holiday giving season.
Winter months: Organizations receive resources ahead of peak demand.
Season Trajectory
The awards arrive as Montana's food insecurity estimates, cited at one in eight residents and one in six children, continue to shape demand for private assistance. Private grants of this kind now operate alongside rising costs that have pushed more households toward basic needs organizations.
Montanans who rely on food banks, pantries and shelters may find more resources available through these partner organizations during the winter months. Residents in areas with limited grocery access can check with local recipients such as the Livingston Food Resource Center, the Gardiner Food Pantry or the Big Timber Community Food Bank.
The takeaway
Private foundation grants can reach small, rural food programs across Montana, from the Gardiner Food Pantry to the Big Timber Community Food Bank. Readers who want to help can look for local food banks and pantries that accept donations or volunteers.
Further reading
Explore more on Philanthropy to see how foundations like this one direct funds to community needs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Livingston Enterprise.
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