Letter of Agreement for the Montana Nonprofit Connections Progr

Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits Building Montana’s Communities Through Strengthening Nonprofits and Expanding Philanthropy

MEDIA RELEASE For Release on January 9, 2015 For Additional Information: Mike Schechtman <> 406/443-5860

BSI announces grant opportunity: Orientation meeting for the 2015 Excellence in Nonprofit Communications Grant Award to be held on January 23, 2015.

The Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits (BSI) and the Excellence in Nonprofit Communications (ENC) Grant Award Partners announce that a 4th round of the ENC Grant Award Program will be held in 2015. The award will provide up to $30,000 in pro-bono consulting and production services for a Helena-area nonprofit organization.

“ ENC has demonstrated the significant impact six businesses working together can have to enhance a local nonprofit’s communications, audience development, community visibility and fundraising,” said Kyle Spencer, owner of Allegra Marketing/Print/Mail of Helena. “I very much enjoy collaborating with the other ENC partners and look forward to providing this service to another Helena-area nonprofit in 2015.”

An orientation meeting about the 2015 Excellence in Nonprofit Communications (ENC) Grant Award, will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon in the large conference room of the Lewis and Clark Library at 120 South Last Chance Gulch in Helena. Please RSVP by Friday January 16, 2015 to: 443-5860 or [email protected].

ENC showcases the positive impact that targeted communications, strategic printed materials, and electronic presentations have on furthering a nonprofit’s mission, capacity and fundraising success. The grant provides a comprehensive set of services to assist Helena-area nonprofits using proven communication techniques to enhance their reach, messaging and their ultimate goal: helping people. The 2014 ENC Grant Award went to Family Promise® of Greater Helena, and previous awardees include Helena Food Share and the Holter Museum of Art.

Interested nonprofit organizations are encouraged to attend the orientation to meet the ENC partners and learn about the 2015 ENC Grant Award program, how it might benefit their organization, and how to apply for the grant award.

The ENC Partners that are providing pro-bono services for the grant award include: Allegra Marketing/Print/Mail of Helena; Articulink Services; Cinch Design and Communications; John MacDonald Consulting, LLC; Johnson & Associates, Inc.; and Signs Now of Helena.

ENC is a program of BSI’s Helena Development Initiative, a comprehensive series of training and assistance to improve the fundraising effectiveness of nonprofits in the greater Helena area and to expand local philanthropic resources.

Founded in 1999, BSI builds Montana’s communities through strengthening nonprofits and expanding philanthropy. We collaborate with nonprofits, public agencies and family, corporate and community foundations to develop programs and resources that support organizational and network capacity building and expands philanthropic resources. Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits <> P.O. Box 1514 <> Helena, MT 59624 406-443- 5860 <> FAX: 406-443-4046 <> www.bigskyinstitute.org