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Why Denmark Removed 40 Percent of Greenland From the Economy—and What It Teaches Us About Modern Capital
Denmark’s decision reveals something important: Not everything that can be monetized must be. And, more important, not everything should be exposed to economic optimization.
You Are Invited as University of Montana Students Compete at the 37th Annual Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge 4/17
The Ruffatto Startup Challenge – sponsored by Ontra Marketing Group, Bill and Cheryl Papesh and the Folley Family Foundation – provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their business ideas. Students compete for $50,000 in prize money, which reflects the strong support of businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship across the state.
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Your Networking Efforts and Why You Should Compound Relationships, Not Just Contacts
Why your network should deepen, not just widen.
Community Spotlight: Tell Us Something. Are you interested in telling your story?
Tell Us Something, Missoula’s live storytelling event, returns in June but the call for storytellers is already underway! Each event features 7-8 storytellers from the local community who share their personal stories from memory and without notes.
What is your “Power of Place” story? Tell Us Something April News
In this month’s newsletter, we explore “The Power of Place”, beginning with a harrowing personal story from the confluence of the Lewis and Snake Rivers. This theme anchors our upcoming June 16th event at Bonner Park, and we are officially calling for storytellers to pitch their own narratives.
Eventgroove Customer Reviews – See what our customers say about Eventgroove
Another great set of tickets from Event Groove. Super easy to design and fast delivery. The price point is great as well. I run a non-profit and it’s always nice to keep costs down and still have an exceptional product. I’ve been ordering from EventGroove for years and plan to do many more! Joey D.
The second annual Mission Match-Up. Connect with 80+ local nonprofits, learn about volunteer opportunities – 3/31 – Missoula
Mission Match-Up makes it easy to discover causes you care about. Throughout the evening, you can chat one-on-one with local organizations to learn about community programs and ways to make an impact in Missoula.
Prospera Business Network
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business – in turn strengthening our region’s economy and…
Allison Strekal is keynoting the Montana Fundraising Summit – April 7 in Great Falls — see the full agenda
There’s no shortage of fundraising advice out there — and plenty of LinkedIn influencers ready to tell you their strategy is the one that works. But the most valuable question isn’t what’s working somewhere else. It’s what will work in your community. This year’s Fundraising Summit is built around the experience of Montana leaders from across the state, bringing you practical tools and real stories from fundraisers and changemakers with deep roots in communities like yours.
Montana Nonprofit Association Training and Education
Register Now: Montana Fundraising Summit — April 7 in Great Falls
Sign Up Now for Grant Writing 101: From Readiness to Results 4/26 – Great Falls, Montana
Whether you are new to grant writing, looking to sharpen your skills, or hoping to strengthen your organization’s funding strategy, this training is designed to offer practical guidance you can put to use right away. Participants can expect a grounded, real-world learning experience from presenters who understand Montana organizations, community needs, and the realities of pursuing competitive funding.
I’d like to personally invite you to Great Falls on April 7 for the Montana Fundraising Summit.
This year, we’re cutting through the noise and building the Summit around learning and sharing what is actually working in communities across our state.
Keeping the human in the Artificial Intelligence loop at The University of Montana College of Business
If you are a business leader, an alumnus, or a community member, I invite you to help us keep the human in the loop. Connect with students. Offer internships and job-shadowing opportunities. Serve as a mentor. Share your career story, including the lessons learned. Human connections shape confidence and long-term success in ways no algorithm can replicate.
2026 Montana Fundraising Summit – 4/7 – Great Falls
Join our annual fundraising summit to connect with peers and experts, learn about the latest in fundraising, and take home tools, resources, and tips to bolster your fundraising in 2026. This event is designed for fundraising and communications staff, or those who wear the development hat. It will be full of opportunities to connect with others, learn from experts 1:1 and in sessions, and hear stories about what is driving fundraising forward in Montana.
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
The age of AI co-workers in Montana
Just as our timber, software, and manufacturing sectors have embraced new tools to stay competitive, every Montana business can begin integrating AI in small, practical ways. The companies that succeed won’t be the ones with the most algorithms, they’ll be the ones that pair these tools with the talent, grit, and problem-solving instincts Montanans are known for.
The Leading Edge, February 2026 Leadership Montana – LAST CHANCE TO APPLY! Flagship Class of 2027 Applications Close February 28th
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY! Flagship Class of 2027 Applications Close February 28th
Time is almost up to share the magic of Leadership Montana. Flagship applications close February 28th, and this is the final opportunity to help us build another exceptional class.
The Montana Department of Commerce has launched the 2026 grant cycle of the newly created Rural Tourism Asset Grant.
This grant is open to rural, local and Tribal governments; economic development organizations and nonprofits in good standing. The TAG Program is accepting applications March 2-26, 2026. A 10% match is required.
Montana State University Library offers new tool to help libraries with AI use
“Viewfinder: A toolkit for values-driven AI in libraries and archives” is designed to support librarians, researchers and others as they consider whether and how to implement AI tools in their libraries and archives. The toolkit is available to use and download at http://www.lib.montana.edu/responsible-ai/viewfinder/.
From Excel to Financial Leadership—Courses Now Open – Montana Nonprofit Association
It may feel like winter today, but spring training is just around the corner. If you’re looking to level up, our course catalog is packed with practical trainings for every corner of your nonprofit—from beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel sessions to board-member orientation and our high-demand Financial Leadership series.
Managing with a Coach Approach – 11/5-6 – (VIRTUAL)
During this two-session course, we will break down essential management principles and equip you with practical tools to navigate real-world management challenges. We will delve into the advantages and methods required to become an effective coach, mentor, and leader by learning strategies to effectively grow and develop your team using a coaching style to management.
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
From Spark to Strategy: Crafting Your Business Plan – 5/6 – (VIRTUAL)
Through practical exercises and group discussions, attendees will begin crafting their own business plans while also learning how to use industry data to justify and strengthen their strategies. Resources and templates are provided to support continued development beyond the session. This is perfect for people starting a business or someone who started but skipped the business plan building step.
Sorry, Not Sorry-Communicating with Confidence – 5/8 – (VIRTUAL)
Confidence is essential to leadership and is an important component to career advancement. Confidence is a combination of verbal and nonverbal behaviors. By acting confident, we influence how others perceive us, and we can change how we feel about ourselves.
Finding Your Audience on LinkedIn: How Personal Brands and Businesses Reach the Right People – 4/21 – (VIRTUAL)
Designed for professionals and small business owners who feel unsure, inconsistent, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this session provides clear guidance on when LinkedIn makes sense, how to approach it realistically, and how to decide what “working” looks like for you. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of who they’re trying to reach, how LinkedIn can help (…or not) and what a sustainable, audience-focused approach looks like moving forward.
Do I Need to Document This? HR Essentials – 4/7 – (VIRTUAL)
This session will walk through the essential types of documentation across the employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, compensation and benefits, performance, and separation. We’ll also highlight common documentation mistakes to avoid and why proper recordkeeping matters.
Grow & Gather Book Club – 3/31 – (VIRTUAL)
Grow & Gather is a quarterly, virtual book club designed to bring together people who are building businesses, exploring new ideas, or stepping into a fresh chapter of life. Our goal is to cultivate a supportive community where members can learn alongside one another, share perspectives, and grow through meaningful conversation.
2026 Montana Employer Workforce Satisfaction Survey
This survey is intended to be taken by one representative from a business or organization, who has an understanding of their employee recruitment, readiness, and retention practices and experiences. We welcome responses from private/for profit business, public/government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
University of Montana College of Business
Make Your Future in the College of Business The College of Business at the University of Montana is a special place focused on making students feel engaged, supported and connected. Students receive access to opportunities…
February News for Montana Nonprofits
For those of you joining us for Nonprofits by the Numbers presentations in Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings this week — we’re looking forward to hanging out! If you’re not able to make it to an in-person event, be sure to check out the virtual presentation on Thursday (Feb 18) next week.
Leadership Montana Flagship Class of 2027 – Applications are OPEN – Deadline: February 28, 2026
We are a collaboration of leaders from business, labor, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and government coming together to form a strong partnership for the betterment of our state. Leadership Montana offers participants a program that strengthens leadership skills while fostering personal growth and reflection. Participants gain a deeper awareness of issues affecting Montana all while building powerful and personal connections with their classmates and network of committed alumni.
We’d appreciate it if you would consider becoming a MATR Sponsor, Supporter or Donor.
Thank you for your interest in helping MATR continue it’s mission! MATR is supported solely by individual donors and companies and organizations that advertise on the site. We welcome your participation if you believe, with us, that Montana is an enviable place to live and work.
Tell Us Something – Every story matters. It’s self-evident. You know there is an event next week, right? RIGHT? And you have your tickets, right?
Tell Us Something has always been a place for us to come together as a community to listen to one another share our truths. To me, it’s self-evident that we all have a story to share, and that everyone’s story matters. It’s self-evident that by joining together in community to share stories, we are stronger, and better able to get out there and make a difference in the world. The stories go beyond mere entertainment.
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.
University of Montana College of Business
Make Your Future in the College of Business The College of Business at the University of Montana is a special place focused on making students feel engaged, supported and connected. Students receive access to opportunities…
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.
Subscribe to the MATR Newsletter. It’s Free
The Montana Associated Technology Roundtable (MATR) is dedicated to fostering economic growth and innovation in Montana and the Inland Northwest Region. Our mission is to provide valuable information, events, and career opportunities to entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals, while showcasing Montana’s potential to the world.
Great Falls Development Alliance
“Anything Business – Think GFDA. The Great Falls trade area offers a strategic location, competitive operating costs, and strong industry advantages in food and agriculture, value-added processing, bioprocessing, energy, and advanced support services. As the…
Tell Us Something: Hello September! Looking Forward to Seeing You in October!
We hope you’re having a wonderful start to the month! The air is getting crisp, and we are buzzing with excitement for what’s ahead. We have a lot of great news to share, from our upcoming event to updates from our amazing storyteller community. Our next live storytelling event is coming up on October 7th, and we are on the hunt for storytellers!