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For thousands of Montanans, the appeal of living among our 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. Statistics indicate that nationally, Montana ranks among the very bottom states for both per capita income and wages. As disturbing as these statistics are, they fail to take into account that Montana, along with other rural western states, ranks among the bottom nationally for gender equity in wages. Not only do Montana men make less than their counterparts across the country, but the women make considerably less than men.
The Women's Foundation of Montana was established in 1999 with a $500,000 challenge grant from Chambers Family Fund to the Montana Community Foundation. The Chambers Family Fund sought to build a permanent resource for women and girls in Montana, where the family's oil business previously operated.
The challenge was met in January 2005 when the $500,0000 from the Chambers Family Fund was matched dollar-for-dollar to establish the initial $1 million permanent endowment for the Women's Foundation of Montana. The endowment continues to grow and the proceeds from the endowment provides some annual support for the Women's Foundation's granting programs.
In addition to grantmaking activities, the Women's Foundation has researched the needs of women's organizations in Montana and worked to build a more efficient network of organizations that serve women and girls. In 2001, the Women's Foundation conducted a needs assessment of women's organizations which indicated that, in addition to increased levels of financial resources, the greatest needs were for attitudinal shifts regarding the role of women in society and the workplace, and for more sharing of information and expertise among organizations.
As a result of its research, the Women's Foundation hosted a convening of women's organizations in which representatives of twenty-four Montana women's groups participated. The convening laid the groundwork for a strong network by increasing awareness of the mission and services of women's organizations state-wide, as well as providing opportunities for exchanges of knowledge, experience and expertise, particularly between larger, urban-based organizations and those operating with far fewer resources in isolated rural Montana.
Today, the Women's Foundation of Montana continues to build its endowment to create a permanent source of capital to support programs that enhance women's economic self-sufficiency and a brighter future for girls. The Foundation is currently planning its next grant cycle for the Spring.
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