About Us

In 1983, a group of businessmen held an organizational meeting with the purpose of creating a foundation that would serve as a "clearinghouse" to grant funds to improve the quality of life in Central Montana. The Central Montana Foundation (CMF) was officially founded in May 1984 and is the oldest community foundation in Montana. Visionaries who organized the new foundation included Don Pfau, Al McRae, Don Davison, Jim Wilkins, Leonard McKinney, Fred Schell and Don Romo, all of Lewistown.

CMF provides area residents with a means to give back to the Central Montana community. The first substantial gift to CMF was $3,500 from Col. Joe Montgomery in 1984. Since then, thousands of generous donors have grown CMF into one of the largest community foundations in the State of Montana. Total assets surpass $29 million, including CMF's 10 unrestricted endowments, scholarship funds, 11 rural community endowments, and a variety of endowments and pass through funds for eligible non-profits and tax-exempt organizations in Central Montana. CMF supports healthcare, essential services, educational, civic, cultural and recreational projects in Central Montana and millions of grant funds have been awarded since its founding - all thanks to the generosity of its donors.

The Foundation is managed by a 13-member Board of Directors, assisted by an executive director, accountant and financial manager. For more information, contact CMF Executive Director Carrie Mantooth at (406) 538-6130, email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..