- Are you a rural, underserved Montana community with a population under 5,000?
- Do you have a nature-based/outdoor recreation/community initiative project idea for your community?
- Need a little one-on-one help to turn your idea into action?
- Interested in receiving $3,000 in matching funds for your project?
- Are you registered for the Get Grant Ready Workshop on October 1st?
If you answered yes to the questions above and are ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work, then apply for "Project Pitch Fest 2026", co-hosted by Outdoor Community Partners (OCP) and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative (HRI)! Five (5) qualified communities will be randomly selected to be part of the Project Pitch Fest Community, at no cost! If selected, you will 1) be a part of a community cohort of peers to share ideas with, 2) receive individualized one-on-one coaching with OCP and HRI, and 3) practice your final project pitch with our advising experts to get feedback and suggestions. Project Pitch Fest Communities may also receive $3,000 in project matching funds to help bring their vision to life!
Apply today to receive FREE technical assistance and expand your capacity to get your project idea into grant ready shape! The following page of this form has a short application for you to fill out. If you have immediate questions, or are unsure if your project idea is a fit, please reach out to Diane Conradi (diane@outdoorcommunitypartners.org) or Kara Maplethorpe (kara@heart-of-rockies.org). We are happy to chat!
In addition to "homework", key dates to note as part of the program include:
- September 21st: Project Pitch Fest applications due by 5pm MST.
- September 24th: Selected communities will be notified by this date.
- October 1st: Get Grant Ready Workshop from 11am-12pm. Selected Project Pitch Fest Community applicants are required to participate.
- October 5th: Optional meet and greet brainstorm session with previous Project Pitch Fest communities and the 2026 Community Cohort from 10am-12pm.
- October 7th - 13th: Communities will sign up for up to two one-on-one coaching sessions with OCP and HRI to prepare their project idea for the Pitch Fest.
- October 15th: Project Pitch Fest with the Community Cohort and advising experts from 12:30-3pm.
Need to register for the Get Grant Ready Workshop? Register for FREE here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xNlvNzvHTzetpDxXQW26iA
Thank you to First Security Bank, Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, and Trust for Public Land for sponsoring Get Grant Ready and Project Pitch Fest in 2026!
We look forward to learning more about your project idea and helping you Get Grant Ready!