Give a Gift That Can be Unwrapped Forever

Imagine this. You wake up Christmas morning and there it is – the biggest gift under the tree has your name on it. Yes, yours. You grab it, place it in front of you, and without even needing to unwrap it, you instinctively know this is going to be the greatest gift you've ever received. Moved by this unfamiliar, yet heartwarming feeling, you set in on the task in front of you. Side by side, you carefully peel back the wrapping paper, slowly revealing what's inside. Vast and rugged, but beautiful and snowy, you begin to see the mountain range that you first conquered with your dad. And the river, wide and flowing, that you caught your first trout in. You see your childhood home sitting high up on the hill, and your grandchildren playing in the park down by the valley. You see your friends, your family, and your neighbors. And then all at once, that feeling, that feeling that you couldn't quite place your finger on before, becomes instantly recognizable. Home. The feeling is home.

Just like you, there are more than a million others who love to call Montana home. That's a million more memories, a million more childhood homes, and a million more reasons to help preserve the state we love. This Christmas, you can help ensure Montana's future by giving a gift that can be unwrapped forever.

Everyone can be a philanthropist. Many are. And many have entrusted MCF with their philanthropy so that more than $41 million has been given across Montana from generous people like you and me. What's your legacy? Montana Community Foundation can help you give back to the causes and organizations that you care about.

Why give now? From 2010 to 2020, it is estimated that $12 billion will transfer from one generation to the next. But where will that money go? Your support for the places you rely on and love – local hospitals, parks, churches, businesses, youth and senior centers, theaters, can be helped forever through your generosity. By giving now, you are ensuring the home you love will continue to give back to others for generations.

There are hundreds of existing charitable funds to choose from, or you can even create your own which gives you the freedom to support many different organizations and causes you care most about. Montana may be the state we were born and raised in, or the state you chose as your home. It's where the mountains run high, the rivers run long, and the days never end. With more than a million people who love to call Montana home, we make great things happen together. Before the year is up, let us help you give a gift that will last for many Christmases to come.

Author: Mary Rutherford of Helena, MCF President and CEO, has more than 20 years of philanthropic leadership experience and leads Montana Community Foundation in its mission of cultivating a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish.