In 2012, Whitefish Community Foundation received a remarkable $1.1 million bequest from Russ and Mary Jane Street—longtime Whitefish residents whose lives were defined by generosity, civic spirit and a deep love for their community. Their legacy gift remains the largest in our history. And it changed everything.
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With their bequest, we launched our Major Community Project Grant program, awarding seven $25,000 grants that year to help local nonprofits complete impactful capital projects. The program continues today and has grown into one of our most significant grantmaking initiatives—fueling projects that build capacity, expand services and improve lives across the Flathead Valley.
Even more importantly, their bequest doubled our operating endowment, helping to chart the course for where the Foundation is today. Their gift didn’t just honor the past—it inspired the future. And every year when we present the Russ & Mary Jane Street Community Service Award to a local nonprofit, we’re reminded of how one planned gift can ripple outward in extraordinary ways.
As the Flathead Valley’s home for charitable giving for 25 years, we work hand-in-hand with donors to help achieve the charitable goals of their estate planning—whether supporting local nonprofits or giving back to an out-of-state alma mater. We collaborate with donors in their lifetime to create funds that reflect their values and intentions.
Born and raised in Montana, Jim and Lisa Stack founded Stack Financial Management in 1994 as an independent investment advisory firm. They turned to Whitefish Community Foundation to help execute their charitable goals—both now and long into the future.
We’ve built our lives, our home, and our business in Whitefish and the Flathead Valley, so giving back to our cherished community has never been more important to us.
“We’ve built our lives, our home, and our business in Whitefish and the Flathead Valley, so giving back to our cherished community has never been more important to us,” Jim and Lisa recently shared. “Whitefish Community Foundation has been at the core of our philanthropic efforts—from starting a Donor Advised Fund to more recently establishing a Legacy Endowment Fund, rather than creating a private foundation. We worked closely with the Foundation team to structure the Legacy Fund—and its future granting—around our values and wishes. Their commitment to fiscal responsibility, high standards, and focus on long-term community impact gave us complete confidence.”
As we celebrate 25 years of giving, stories like the Street’s and the Stack’s remind us that lasting change often begins with a simple act of foresight and care. The Street’s bequest planted seeds that are still growing today—strengthening nonprofits, inspiring generosity and enriching the community they loved. And the Stack’s Legacy Endowment Fund will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the nonprofits they value.
The spirit of giving—quiet, steady, and deeply personal—is what truly shapes this place we call home. If you are interested in exploring options for providing for the needs of future generations through planned giving, Whitefish Community Foundation is here to help.
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