NorthWestern Energy to Host 2026 Integrated Resource Plan Meetings in Great Falls, Missoula, Helena and Bozeman, Montana

The IRP is a long-term planning study that evaluates how NorthWestern Energy can meet Montana customers’ electricity needs over the next 20 years under a variety of future scenarios, while balancing reliability, affordability, and risk. It provides a transparent analysis of potential scenarios to guide future decisions.

Sharks! in Montana? Sharktana is coming.

In what can only be described as cinema bravely asking “why not?”, a local award-winning filmmaker is unleashing Sharktana, a Bitterroot-based movie where a cozy ski town’s cheerful holiday festival is rudely interrupted by sharks exploding out of snowy mountain slopes.

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Bureau of Land Management revokes Montanan’s American Prairie bison leases – Governor Gianforte Praises BLM Decision

In its 2022 record of decision approving American Prairie’s Montana bison grazing plan, the BLM noted that bison grazing is permitted on leases it administers in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Montana Nonprofits by the Numbers – We’re hitting the road in February!

We’ll break down the data, highlight what’s changing for services, fundraising, and employment, and offer clear takeaways you can use with your board, donors, and community. Following the one-hour presentation, we’ll have an opportunity for discussion with fellow nonprofit attendees, AND a chance for meeting with staffers from Montana’s congressional delegation.

The 51st Annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminar Coming to 9 Cities January – March 2026

Sales Tax in Montana.  Is It Time?

The Montana Nonprofit Association Announces A New Fundraising Hub To Help Members

Thanks to a generous three-year grant, MNA is leaning in and bringing new resources to support members’ abilities to raise money from individual donors across Montana.

Why Is Montana’s Gov. Gianforte  So Opposed to The American Prairie Reserve?

Why are Montana’s Republican leaders so opposed to saving a huge natural resource that is an economic boon to an economically depressed part of the state?  Its 600,000 acres are freely open to the public for recreation, camping and hunting along with 900 certified brucellosis-free bison.   Just like the irrational opposition to Glacier park in the early 1900’s, the American Prairie Reserve will be seen as a cherished asset for the state and nation.  As the author states: “the current madness was utterly ridiculous.”

Montana’s fight to keep our public lands public – CBS 60 Minutes

Montana’s leaders killed a congressional proposal sell off our public land. It’s important to keep up the fight. 

Saving the Montana prairie for all people and wildlife: Sean Gerrity and the amazing American Prairie 

The American Prairie Reserve is creating one of the largest connected prairie ecosystems in North America for all to enjoy.  It’s doing so while ensuring that the land is cared for and that the economy of the region is improved.   Their success will ensure a legacy of open prairie not seen anywhere else in the U.S. which I believe could become our next National Park.  

American Prairie Takes Legal Action Against Montana DNRC

“I have repeatedly seen the good folks at American Prairie look for ways to collaborate and help their fellow neighbors, not to mention the ways the organization has created opportunities for agriculture, recreation, tourism, and local jobs,” said Randy Gray, a longtime Great Falls attorney and former mayor. “The constant attacks against them are counterproductive and not in keeping with Montana’s long tradition of working together to resolve problems.”

Wild bison were not responsible for a single transmission, not one! Elk, not wild bison, have passed brucellosis to cattle

With 2.1 million cattle in Montana, one might expect Governor Gianforte and our congressional delegation to know where cattle actually get brucellosis. But unfortunately, the governor and delegation appear locked into outdated, unscientific, and unsupported false assumptions that wild Yellowstone bison have transmitted brucellosis to cattle. They have not.

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Montana Governor Gianforte, Senator Daines, Senator Sheehy, Rep. Zinke, and Rep. Downey send letter to Interior targeting American Prairie – 60 Minutes American Prairie: Creating a huge new nature reserve in Montana

“We got a feeling that the APR, when they moved in here, they were at war with our culture, I guess, our communities and our cultures,” Stockton said. “But the fact of the matter is that in terms of actual impact, say, for me, personally, I’ve got more trouble with my billionaire neighbors.”

The Trump Administration Is Coming for Nonprofits. They’re Getting Ready

As the Trump administration threatens them, liberal nonprofits have been quietly preparing to do everything from surrendering 501(c)(3) status to relocating outside the US.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, joined by Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and Congressman Troy Downing Urge Interior to Block American Prairie Grazing Permits

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the officials emphasized their support for production agriculture and warned that APR’s efforts would undermine Montana’s rural economy and way of life.

American Prairie acquires Anchor Ranch, opens Bullwhacker Road

The acquisition of these properties, particularly Anchor Ranch, ensures the permanent protection of critical wildlife habitat and public access in this portion of the Upper Missouri River Breaks. It also represents a powerful win for public access, as American Prairie plans to reopen access to nearly 50,000 acres of public land after years of closure and controversy.

Restoring Bison to Yellowstone Has ‘Reawakened’ the Ecosystem as the Large Animals Migrate, Study Suggests

An analysis of plant diversity and soil health across the bison migration corridor suggests free-roaming bison lead to more nutrient-rich plants

Bison eradication stripped western grasslands of nutrients, Yellowstone research shows

“There are spots that bison hit hard, and places they don’t touch at all — and that can change over the years,” he said. “The cool thing is that allowing these bison to freely move across the landscape at a big scale, creates the heterogeneity.”

American Prairie Grows in Size, Expands Missouri River Access

American Prairie is pleased to announce it has added just over 1,400 acres of land, which includes scenic habitat situated both near and along the Missouri River, improving public access for boaters, floaters, anglers, and other river recreationalists.

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom – Returning Bison to the Great Plains – The American Prairie Foundation

“Bison are maybe the most important species in this ecosystem in terms of being an ecosystem engineer,” said Dr. Daniel Kinka, director of rewilding at the American Prairie Foundation. “And even though there are a lot of bison in this country, they’re all behind fences. They take up a very, very small fragment of their historic range and this is a significant loss.”

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Why stories still matter in a fast-moving world

The world needs stories. And stories need us.

Harvard Business Review – The Best Leaders Encourage “Spacious Thinking”

They recommend talking with your team about their ideas instead of their tasks, making conversation the focus of some meetings instead of goals and rewarding team members who spend more time in a spacious mode.

Montana Career Opportunities – The American Prairie

Join one of the most exciting and ambitious conservation projects in the world while directly supporting our mission to create a vast refuge for people and wildlife preserved forever as part of America’s heritage.

Escape to the Wild with a Trip to Montana’s American Prairie – Careers at the American Prairie

Whether camping under expansive skies, cycling along quiet trails, or experiencing wildlife up close, a trip to American Prairie promises a truly unforgettable, uncrowded, and completely wild adventure.

Brad Feld on ‘Give First’ and the art of mentorship (at any age)

How should mentors protect themselves while still giving generously?

How to Craft a Memorable Employee Experience to Keep Good Workers From Quitting

The way to fix low employee engagement is to create the right experience for your workers.

American Prairie Public Bison Harvest Drawing Now Open

Free online drawing includes 5 “any age” bison opportunities

15 lessons in leadership from the All Blacks

New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, are the most successful professional sports franchise in history. They are undefeated in over 75% of their international matches over the last 100 years.

SBA Honors Montana’s Eventgroove with Exporter of the Year Award – Big Ideas, Global Reach

This award is a milestone for the company, but more than that, as Lance Trebesch, CEO of Eventgroove said, “It’s a celebration of what’s possible when a small, focused team in the wilds of Montana builds solutions that truly support customer goals for impactful events and fundraisers. We have now served over 1,000,000 unique customers. Equally as important, it’s a celebration of our team and our culture. The average tenure at Eventgroove is now over 16 years.”

How to Start a Successful Podcast

Topics covered include defining your podcast’s purpose, recommended recording gear, podcast hosting, show formatting, and creative elements like artwork and music.

American Prairie Sets New Visitation Record, Opens 2025 Reservations

Online booking for huts, cabins, and campgrounds opens to public March 15

Montana Career Opportunity – Chief Operating Officer – American Prairie Reserve

This executive level position will oversee day-to-day organization operations and interface directly with the National Board of Directors. Reporting directly to and working closely with the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for…

Update on Federal funding freeze for Montana’s Nonprofits

“This reckless action by the administration would be catastrophic for nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve. From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to halting housing and food assistance, shuttering domestic violence and homeless shelters, and closing suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives. This order must be halted immediately before such avoidable harm is done.”  NCN CEO Diane Yentel

Video: Tracy Stone-Manning talks about her time at the BLM

Tracy Stone-Manning, the director of the Bureau of Land Management, discusses her time at the agency.

Montana Nonprofits by the Numbers – Multiple Communities and Dates – Register Today

Coming to a community near you! If you can’t make our annual Nonprofit Day at the Capitol on January 30th, swing by in Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, or Billings for a roundup of nonprofit trends, impact, and needs in 2025.

The Art of Storytelling – Guy Kawasaki

Remember, a well-crafted narrative is not just about conveying information, but about taking your audience on a journey that enlightens, inspires, or moves them in some way.

The Power of Service: How Volunteering Transforms People and Organizations – Where are you going to volunteer at in 2025?

Volunteering and acts of service strengthen teams and organizations by fostering empathy in a divided world.

The “Yellowstone” TV Show Is Over, but Not the Damage It’s Done to the West

The caricatured version of Montana sold by the show is helping ruin a place its creators never truly understood.

Montana’s American Prairie Surpasses Half A Million Acres – Latest land acquisition is nonprofit’s second-largest purchase to date

American Prairie’s vision is to create a vast and collaboratively-managed prairie destination that serves as a fully functioning ecosystem for wildlife, and offers visitors permanent access to the landscape that shaped our nation’s character. Already open to the public for recreation including camping and hunting, American Prairie offers visitors an opportunity to connect with nature on a truly grand scale.

This is American Prairie

Visit one of the most exciting and ambitious conservation projects in the world! From the Missouri River Breaks to the C. M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, American Prairie is working to connect, conserve, and share more than 3 million acres of prairie grassland in Montana’s Northern Great Plains. We offer an unparalleled and uncrowded true Montana experience.

One Small Step – Let’s talk… for a change.

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