Grant Information - June 2026

The Montana University System seeks promising grant proposals that will deliver responsive Future Ready components (15, 30 and 60 credit units) in Montana’s most rural schools.   

What is it?

  • Montana’s Future at Work is agrant funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation designed to ensure that Montana’s most rural schools (as defined by NCES Local Codes 41, 42 and 43)  have access to 15, 30 and 60 credit Future Ready pathways.  Four grants up to $125,000 each will be awarded.

Applicants must:

  • Work in partnership with at least one very rural Montana K-12 school to develop Future Ready 15, 30 and 60 credit micro-pathways that can be delivered in the community of the partnering rural K-12 school
  • Provide Future Ready programming that supports high school students earning Future Ready credentials as outlined in the STARS Act
  • Plan to develop and begin delivery of pathways by Fall 2026 in a cohort model designed to serve at least 15 students. (This may necessitate working with several rural districts effectively to garner enough students.)

Who may apply?

  • Montana public post-secondary institutions in partnership with at least one accredited Montana high school. 

Request for Proposals

Complete applications should include no more than ten pages total of narrative, budget and letters of support from partnering institutions including the K-12 school partner(s).  

Applications must include: 

  • A clear plan to create and deliver on a 15, 30 or 60 credit Future Ready program by Fall 2026. This includes:
    • Explanation of how the program will be delivered and sustained to support the first cohort to completion but also to support future cohorts beyond the initial grant year
    • Explanation of how the program will serve the target audience
    • Expressed support of rural Montana K-12 districts through letters that outline their obligations in communicating these opportunities to students, families and employers and working to sustain these programs past the grant year
      • This letter should also include how the district will support public relations outreach leading to student interest and enrollment in the program
    • A detailed budget that demonstrates how the project will be established this year with at least 20% of the funds held to support the K-12 districts in a post grant academic year toward continuation of the project and student cohort completion if not all are able to complete in academic year 2026-27
  • A plan to work with K-12 school administrators (including counselors and teachers) to host a regional Future at Work/Future Ready Summit (Fall 2026)
  • A clear dollar for dollar match requirement by the post-secondary and/or secondary institutions
  • A clear project timeline showing summer 2026 work to develop and prepare Fall 2026 delivery
  • Include a 100 word synopsis of the project

Other Considerations:

How will you partner with industry on your project?

How will your project complement existing workforce training and development work (including Education Design Labs)?

Applications that do not permit roll out and completion in academic year 2026-27 will not be considered. 

Funds must be used to meet Montana’s Future at Work program goals and may include:

  • Staff to deliver the program, including dual enrollment instructors at the high school(s).
    • No more than 10% of the overall grant award can be used for project director stipends or payments.
    • Funds may be used for faculty travel or training in use of online course modalities.
  • Expenses related to the delivery of programming including faculty, equipment that can be reused, online course development, course, exam and assessment fees including books and supplies for students

Deadline

Complete Application Materials are due to amclean@montana.edu by noon on Monday, June 29, 2026. Awardees will be notified by early July to start work immediately.    

 

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