Ep. 72 – Kalispell Education Foundation: Community Support, Classroom Impact

Public funding covers the basics in Montana schools, but targeted donations drive innovation. In this episode, Dorothy Drury of the Kalispell Education Foundation shares how Montana school funding really works and how the KEF's fast, teacher-driven grants are turning small dollars into real classroom impact.

She shares the growth of the foundation’s impact—from under $10,000 serving about 1,000 students to roughly $50,000 reaching more than 5,600 students. Many grants fund durable tools that benefit students for years.

Community partnerships make this possible, including strong local bank support and a $25,000 Applied Materials gift launching a STEM fund for larger workforce-aligned projects. Listeners can help by staying informed on levies, donating to the foundation or STEM fund, and giving through matching campaigns to multiply impact.

Tune in to learn more about the difference that the Kalispell Education Foundation makes in Kalispell Public Schools.

Links: Kalispell Education Foundation

Thank you to our podcast sponsors, First Interstate Bank, Weyerhaeuser, and Nomad GCS for helping make this podcast possible.