Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation
Stanford, MT · EIN 81-0518232. Reported 242 grants totalling $538,910 to 104 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $1,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $2,500; the smallest was $250 and the largest $15,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geraldine Community Ambulance | Geraldine, MT | $26,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Swimming Pool Assoc Inc | Geraldine, MT | $19,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Highwood Rural Fire Department | Highwood, MT | $18,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Community Ambulance Service | Geraldine, MT | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Geraldine Senior Citizens | Geraldine, MT | $17,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Fort Benton Memorial Ambulance | Fort Benton, MT | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Judith Basin County 4-H Council | Stanford, MT | $16,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Geyser Fire Department | Geyser, MT | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Basin Wellness Center Inc | Stanford, MT | $13,833 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Belt Theater Co | Belt, MT | $13,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Belt Volunteer Ambulance Service | Belt, MT | $11,850 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shonkin Community Club | Shonkin, MT | $11,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Belt Swimming Pool | Belt, MT | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Belt Rural Fire District | Belt, MT | $10,900 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Belt Golden Agers Senior Center | Belt, MT | $10,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Volunteer Fire Dept | Geraldine, MT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Geyser Fire Dept - Emergency Services Inc | Geyser, MT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Geyser Community Club | Geyser, MT | $9,600 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Judith Basin Food Pantry | Stanford, MT | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Public School - Tiger Kids | Geraldine, MT | $8,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Youth Sports Inc | Geraldine, MT | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Geyser Fire Dept | Geyser, MT | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Judith Basin Operation Santa | Geyser, MT | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Fort Benton Volunteer Fire Department | Fort Benton, MT | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Geyser Senior Citizen Center | Geyser, MT | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Stanford Close Up | Stanford, MT | $7,200 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Belt Park & Rec Board | Belt, MT | $7,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Judith Basin Senior Center | Stanford, MT | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Little Belt Cowboys Assoc | Belt, MT | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Outriders Saddle Club | Geraldine, MT | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Stanford Beautification Project Inc | Stanford, MT | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Highwood Senior Center | Highwood, MT | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Stanford Beautification Proj | Stanford, MT | $6,320 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Belt Food Bank | Belt, MT | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chouteau County Performing Arts | Fort Benton, MT | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Spire Health Incorporated | Geraldine, MT | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Stanford Open Judith Basin Fairgrounds | Stanford, MT | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Judith Basin Rural Fire - Stanford District | Stanford, MT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Judith Basin Rural Fire Standord Dist | Stanford, MT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stanford Ambulance | Geyser, MT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Geyser Day Care | Geyser, MT | $4,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Belt Wellness Center | Belt, MT | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Geyser Community Hall Club | Geyser, MT | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Stanford Ski - Snowboard Club | Stanford, MT | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Highwood Commercial Club | Highwood, MT | $3,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Cascade County | Great Falls, MT | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chouteau County Free Library Foundation Inc | Fort Benton, MT | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Veterans Memorial Association | Geraldine, MT | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Highwood Senior Citizens | Highwood, MT | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Stanford Education Foundation | Stanford, MT | $3,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Geraldine FFA | Geraldine, MT | $3,433 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Geyser Emergency Service Inc | Geyser, MT | $3,107 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| 5TH & 6TH Grade Community Betterment Committee | Stanford, MT | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chouteau County Food Bank | Fort Benton, MT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Expedition Yellowstone-Geraldine Elementary | Geraldine, MT | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Geraldine Historical Committee | Geraldine, MT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Geyser Raynesford Senior Center | Geyser, MT | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stanford Ski Club | Stanford, MT | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Judith Cultural Committee Dba Judith Arts Society | Geyser, MT | $2,750 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Belt Education Foundation | Belt, MT | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Belt VFW Cemetery | Belt, MT | $2,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Geraldine Booster Club | Geraldine, MT | $2,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Operation Santablessings in a Backpack | Stanford, MT | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Geraldine Public Schools | Geraldine, MT | $2,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| American Legion Painter Bro Aux 102 | Geraldine, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Belt Clay Target Team | Belt, MT | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Fort Benton Community Improvement Association | Fort Benton, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Geyser Emergency Services Inc | Geyser, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Golden Age Center | Fort Benton, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Judith Basin Archery Club | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Painter Bros American Legion Aux Unit 102 | Geraldine, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stanford Beautification Project - Park Fund | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stanford Booster Club | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Stanford FFA | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Stanford Library Guild | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Stanford Youth Baseball | Stanford, MT | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Raynesford Fire Department | Raynesford, MT | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Belt Close Up 2023 | Belt, MT | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chouteau County Fine Arts Council | Fort Benton, MT | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fort Benton Trails Committee | Fort Benton, MT | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Montana Farmers Union Foundation | Great Falls, MT | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Montana Trail 406 Association | Great Falls, MT | $1,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Stanford Junior High School | Stanford, MT | $1,422 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| 6TH Grade Community Betterment Project | Stanford, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Belt Baseball Club | Belt, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fort Benton Chamber of Commerce | Fort Benton, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Geraldine Action Assoc | Geraldine, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Geraldine Public Schools Green House | Geraldine, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Highwood Public School Foundation Inc | Highwood, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Judith Basin County Free Library | Stanford, MT | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mat Rats Wrestling | Stanford, MT | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Raynesford Community Center | Raynesford, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stanford Geezers Assoc Inc | Stanford, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stanford School - Music Program | Stanford, MT | $950 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Stanford Bpa | Stanford, MT | $895 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Central Montana Rodeo Club | Lewistown, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Central Mt Lil Wranglers Youth Rodeo | Geyser, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cub Scout Pack 4329 | Stanford, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Geraldine Hs Concessions | Geraldine, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Judith Basin Historical Society | Stanford, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Montana Farmers Union Arrow Peak Lodge | Highwood, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stanford Ag Education & FFA Chapter | Stanford, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stanford City Hall | Stanford, MT | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stanford School Counseling Department | Stanford, MT | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
63 of 104 (61%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 68%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Stanford Beautification Proj
CHARITABLE - PROJECTS AND PARK FUND - Geraldine FFA
FUNDS FOR MACHINE FOR AG ED AND TRAVEL COSTS FFA
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 93 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | $79,720 | $1,500 |
| 2022 | 38 | $90,133 | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 49 | $81,607 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 50 | $86,433 | $1,216 |
| 2025 | 62 | $201,017 | $2,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $1,500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Montana.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 528, Stanford, MT, 59479. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 81-0518232 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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