Celebrating 75 Years of Impact
Honoring a Legacy of Giving at the University of Montana
March 24, 2025
This story is part of “75 Years of Impact,” a celebration marking the University of Montana Foundation’s 75th anniversary. During 2025, the Foundation will share stories illustrating the profound impact of philanthropy at the University of Montana throughout the decades. To learn more visit SupportUM.org/UMF-75.
November 18, 1950, was a day of celebration at the University of Montana.
Homecoming was in full swing. Despite freezing morning temperatures, a parade marched south on Higgins Avenue through downtown, passing the lavish Christmas display windows of the Missoula Mercantile and the iconic Wilma Theater, where the marquee attraction was a film adaptation of “Hamlet” starring Lawrence Olivier.
After turning east through the residential University neighborhood and arriving on the Oval, participants and spectators enjoyed a barbecue set up by students. Many local stores closed at 1 p.m., so workers could attend the Homecoming football game against Utah State Agricultural College at Dornblaser Field. (The Griz won 38-7).
Homecoming was then — as it is now — a chance to honor the University, to deepen connections with UM and to renew friendships and valued traditions.
UM Homecoming parade, circa 1950.
Photo provided by Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana.
As the crowd gathered to make merry on campus that chilly morning, a small group of enterprising community leaders and alumni worked behind the scenes with much the same goal: to give back to the school they loved.
United around the vision that ongoing financial assistance from loyal supporters would greatly benefit the University and its students, this small collection of forward-thinking Montanans filed Articles of Incorporation to establish what would become the University of Montana Foundation.
For nearly the first 14 years of its existence the organization was known simply as the Endowment Foundation. From its humble yet strong beginnings, it would spend the ensuing decades serving donors who have made a transformational impact on UM and students from Montana and around the world.
Passion and Purpose Unite Alumni Volunteers
By the summer of 1951, the Endowment Foundation’s temporary Board of Trustees gathered for its first meeting at Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork. Attendees nominated officers in preparation for election of the first regular Board of Trustees to be held at a meeting later that fall. These passionate volunteers were making it happen — from governance to community-building to soliciting donations. They were dedicated to modeling exemplary volunteer leadership and to involving cross-industry leaders to ensure the organization would be set up to create meaningful value for UM in perpetuity.
In those early days, the Endowment Foundation was mostly comprised of former students who connected with the mission and made modest donations to support UM. The organization’s first financial report noted funds amounting to $2,155 — about $28,000 today — given by mostly UM alumni over a period of just 30 days.
Throughout the 1950s, the organization, which was granted 501(c)(3) status as an independent, nonprofit organization in January 1953, remained a volunteer-led effort with a growing number of supporters contributing ongoing annual gifts.
Yet it also represented a proactive statewide eagerness to prioritize the University and its students. The Foundation’s original Board of Trustees included private citizens from towns such as Missoula, Anaconda, Billings, Butte, Glendive, Helena, Kalispell and Sidney.
Likewise, the earliest supporters hailed from communities across the state and worked across many industries. Many of them would eventually serve as Trustees in future years.
University leadership of the time recognized the potential of harnessing this wide-ranging enthusiasm to provide essential support for the University and put a great deal of trust in the Foundation's Trustees. From the outset, University presidents and the Foundation’s Trustees were committed to maintaining alignment regarding the University’s needs and opportunities for private donations to advance the University’s mission.
Seventy-five years later, that collaboration remains just as strong.
The Evolution of Giving
Just as students, alumni, faculty and community members continue to gather during homecoming to carry on the University’s proud traditions, the Foundation remains committed to inspiring philanthropic support to enhance excellence and opportunity at UM through service to donors and delivering an exceptional giving experience.
Though the Foundation’s earliest endeavors were comparatively modest to today’s, the selfless work of those founding Trustees laid the groundwork for future success, nurturing the culture of service, through volunteerism and philanthropy, that epitomizes the UM community today.
Over the last three quarters of a century, UM has experienced remarkable growth and innovation, propelled in significant part by the ongoing philanthropic support of thousands of individuals, families, businesses and foundations.
The unwavering dedication of donors — uniting to fund crucial areas of need and opportunity for students, faculty, academic programs and facilities — has ensured that students receive a high-quality and accessible education at UM and the world can benefit from the University’s creative scholarship and research.
Today, UM’s donor community continues to expand its reach and impact. In fiscal year 2024 donors made philanthropic contributions and commitments totaling $70.7 million. In 2024 the Foundation distributed a total of $28.6 million in funding to the University to support students, elevate academic programs, secure critical faculty positions to expand research and training, and enhance learning environments and facilities and more.
From the volunteer leadership of the nine pioneering members of the temporary Board of Trustees, the UM Foundation has grown to employ more than 70 professional staff today. A Board of 25 dedicated volunteer Trustees continues to govern the organization, lending their time and expertise to ensure its success. Over the years, these individuals have had the great privilege of serving UM’s loyal donors and uplifting the University’s mission.
As the need for philanthropy grows, the Foundation and its giving partners remain committed to ensuring that UM will continue to innovate and provide students with rich learning experiences and pathways to successful careers.
“It has been the Foundation’s greatest honor over the last 75 years to serve the generous donors of the University of Montana,” said UM Foundation President and CEO Cindy Williams. “It is with deep gratitude that this year we recognize the profound impact of their giving to UM.”
Celebrate with Us
Throughout 2025, the Foundation marks its 75th anniversary with its “75 Years of Impact” celebration. With feature stories spanning the decades, we’ll illustrate the impact of philanthropy as we honor our past, acknowledge our present and dare to think big about UM’s bright future.
Most importantly, we will recognize the giving community, whose dedication across the decades continues to change lives and communities, and fuel innovation and advancement at UM.
We hope to deepen your connections and renew your commitment to our beloved university. We also hope many of you will look back on how philanthropy may have played a role in your own history as a student, alum, supporter or community member.
Together with you, we look forward to commemorating our rich history while continuing to shape UM’s story with pride and vision.
The Foundation invites you to join the celebration of this historic milestone. To learn more, visit SupportUM.org/UMF-75.