MNA launched our Rural Ambassador program in 2022 in two communities in Eastern Montana and it has since grown to nine communities across the state in 2025. Ambassadors are local nonprofit leaders who work closely with MNA to resource and support their nonprofit community. Ambassador projects include network building to connect leaders and promote community collaboration, designing custom resources and trainings to meet the needs of local nonprofits, and sharing resources from MNA to staff and board members.
In 2024, MNA hosted five Rural Ambassadors across the state. Our ambassadors hosted more than 28 networking and training events in rural communities with more than 116 local organizations engaged, reaching nearly 400 participants. 2024 Ambassadors were:
- Vaughn Zenko – O’Fallon Historical Museum (formerly with SMART)
- Ray Brown – Sanders County Community Development Corporation
- Carrie Coan – West Yellowstone Foundation
- Maria Emmer-Aanes – Beaverhead County Early Childhood Coalition
- Brandi Wilkinson – Northeast Montana Health Foundation
These Ambassadors launched and strengthened nonprofit networks and happy hours, hosted training events, created resources, and acted as bridges between their local communities and MNA. Ambassador events across the state covered topics such as collaboration, grant writing, volunteerism, advocacy, board basics, starting a nonprofit, AI, strategic planning, graphic design, capacity building, shared services and more.
What Ambassadors said about the experience:
Read on to learn the impact of rural engagement from excerpts from MNA’s 2024 Ambassador final reports:
As an ambassador, what is something you learned about nonprofits in your community that surprised you?
- There are a lot of nonprofits in the area, but not a lot of knowledge about the potential for nonprofits. Most just do their one thing, sometimes only once a year, and that’s it. I was surprised by how many of the nonprofit leaders were, themselves, surprised to learn all of things that nonprofits can do and all of the ways we can collaborate to further each other’s missions.
- We are all facing similar issues, such as fewer volunteers and a drop in financial support.
- What surprised me most is how little a budget most of our non-profits operate under. What these groups need are program/project development and fund development assistance.
- I was surprised to learn how economically and socially impactful Beaverhead County’s nonprofit sector is. With 121 nonprofits holding combined assets of over $104 million in 2021, it’s clear they’re vital to the local economy and well-being.
Stories of Impact:
- Our very first Nonprofit Happy Hour resulted in a collaboration between SMART and the Historical Society that received a $1000 grant to start a Baker History Walk downtown. Other impacts that came directly from Nonprofit Happy Hour include work with the Council on Aging to receive a $24,000 grant from AARP for a senior-friendly community garden, another collaboration with the Historical Society and Chamber of Commerce that received a $27,367 grant for a trackless train that can run during events, inspiring a man working on saving a one-room schoolhouse to begin work on starting his own nonprofit for the project and multiple other conversations that may, in 2025 and beyond, lead to a movie theater, a VR dinosaur experience, an affordable housing cooperative, a Community Foundation and more in Baker.
- After our workshop I was informed that one of the attendees was so excited to try out AI and Canva at work. She was able to immediately apply her new knowledge and the organization was able to save money on marketing. SCCD assisted (3) Sanders County Emergency Service Providers with TA on METAG applications which resulted in $180,000 in grant funding for new equipment.
- My work as an ambassador has produced tangible benefits for Beaverhead County’s nonprofit community, including launching the Beaverhead Bus Brigade, a new nonprofit dedicated to providing afterschool transportation for kids and improving access to healthcare and behavioral health services. This initiative quickly gained momentum, supported by strong partnerships and a clear mission. The speed and success of this effort are directly tied to what I’ve learned from the talented individuals within the MNA community, from strategic planning to building partnerships. The resources and guidance provided through MNA empowered me to rally local leaders, secure support, and launch this nonprofit with a clear mission and strong foundation. It’s a testament to the transformative impact of MNA’s work and the incredible network of people driving positive change across Montana.
Opportunities for the future:
- For the first time, we all know what each other are doing. All of the nonprofits in the area had kind of been operating on an island and now many of us have learned that we often have similar visions and can work together towards common goals. There will be great opportunities for fundraising and capacity building through shared work on events, and I think a greater understanding of what it means to be a nonprofit will lead to more grant opportunities as well.
- Being an ambassador this year helped strengthen our leadership team and deepen our collaboration with the community. The MNA conference served as a key resource, giving staff the chance to learn from other nonprofits, gain strategic insights, and build valuable connections. MNA’s support allowed me to invest in my team’s participation, and we shared these learnings with local nonprofits, broadening professional development benefits across our sector.
- A stronger collaboration with nonprofits and clubs to spread the word of the good work we are doing, the needs we have, and the events we are holding
As demonstrated in the reflections from ambassadors above, impact can’t be measured solely by numbers of attendees in trainings, but through the interactions at local gatherings that lead to increased collaboration, information sharing, and a sense of connection and pride. MNA believes that the best way to build capacity in rural communities is to provide funding and resources, then let those who know their region best lead the way. We are grateful to our funders and on-the-ground partners who support this work, and stand in admiration of our incredible ambassadors.
We are continuing this work in 2025 and beyond, and we will announce applications for our 2026 Ambassador programming in the fall of 2025. If your organization is interested in hosting or helping fund ambassador work in your community, please reach out to [email protected]