As the year draws to a close, it’s easy to get caught in the familiar holiday rush and crush — the sales, the shopping lists, the wrapping paper. The calendar fills up, time speeds up, stress goes up. But here at the High Stakes Foundation, we’re inviting you to slow down. To take a breath. To think not about what you can buy, but about what you can build through generosity. 

 

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members” 

–Coretta Scott King

A Season for Community, Not Consumption

 

At the end of the year, many of us spend out of habit — chasing deals or traditions that sometimes feel more obligatory than joyful. Yet the most meaningful moments rarely come from things we purchase. They come from what we give: our time, our care, our belief in something larger than ourselves.

 

When you choose to donate instead of spend, you’re choosing to strengthen the fabric of Montana. You’re helping local leaders pursue climate solutions, supporting organizers protecting democracy, and sustaining the arts, education, and community health that make this state vibrant and resilient.

 

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

 - Maya Angelou

 

Small Gifts, Big Ripples

 

A single donation — no matter its size — can have a powerful ripple effect. Redirecting a few dollars from spending to giving can help a rural nonprofit expand its reach. A monthly contribution can provide a local artist or activist with the stability to keep going. Every gift reminds someone that their work matters — and that they are not alone. And it reminds us that we are better together. 

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“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt

End the Year with Purpose

 

As 2025 draws to a close, consider redirecting your resources from fleeting purchases to making a lasting impact. Your donation to the High Stakes Foundation’s grantees helps Montana’s changemakers tackle our most pressing challenges with courage and creativity. 

Instead of more stuff, give something that endures: possibility. Instead of consuming, create community. Instead of the usual actions, take action. 

 

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Visit our funding categories page to learn more about our grantees under each pillar and make your year-end donation today. If you need recommendations that align with your values, please reach out to us at loi@highstakesfoundation.org, and we can give suggestions. Together, we can ensure that the close of this year — and the start of the next — is rooted in purpose, generosity, and hope.