Blackfoot Community Support Program

Welcome to Blackfoot Communications' portal for supporting our communities, powered by Submittable. We have streamlined our application process by using this online portal for for community events, cash requests, raffle baskets, and 4-H community project. If this your first time accessing this Application, you must first create a Submittable account to complete the form (see "Create Your Account" below). Once your Submittable account is created, you can use the same log-in/password account for future requests.  If you run into issues setting up your account, please check out the FAQs.   

Community Support Criteria 

To be considered, your organization must satisfy the following: 

     * Be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, a civic organization, school, or group.

     * Serve the needs of people in Blackfoot Communications' Cooperative service area, and other communities Blackfoot Communications serves in its Montana and Idaho rural service territories.

Blackfoot Communications’ areas of interest for support include: Arts and culture; education; sports and recreation; community service activities; wellness and healthy families; veterans and military; and fundraisers that benefit your broader community. 

Blackfoot Communications takes the following criteria into consideration when selecting support requests: 

· Events that make a difference in the communities we serve.

· Events that do not compromise Blackfoot Communications reputation or discriminate with regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, qualified disability, marital status or veteran status.

· Opportunities to reach a public audience to promote the Blackfoot Communications brand, products and services.

· Affordability of the event to the general public. Blackfoot Communications typically sponsors events with tickets less than $50.

· Full disclosure of confirmed participating sponsors and at what level.

In consideration for event sponsorship, Blackfoot Communications requests the following: 

· Agreement of Confidentiality – The specific terms and conditions of sponsorship agreements are confidential. They shall not be made available to any third party without prior written consent from Blackfoot Communications.

· First Right of Refusal – Event organizers agree to offer Blackfoot Communications the first right of refusal for the next event sponsorship.

· Right to Promote Sponsorship – Blackfoot Communications appreciates the opportunity to support your event. We may opt to promote the sponsorship and/or event on our website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, customer statements and/or printed collateral. We may also request to take photos and/or video footage to capture the event.

Requests to fund the following are likely to be denied: Religious and/or church-sponsored activities; voter registration; political lobbying activities or other political purposes; religious or charter schools; individuals for any purpose; private foundations. 

Blackfoot Communications' 4-H Club Community Project Grant Program 

The mission of Blackfoot Communications' 4-H Club Community grant is to help support the many 4-H Clubs located within its rural service territories. Each 4-H Club is encouraged each year to consider a community project that focuses on healthy living, citizenship, leadership, and community. This grant provides opportunities for youth and adults to strengthen their skills and maximize their positive impacts on the communities in which they live. 

Blackfoot Communications takes the following criteria into consideration when selecting 4-H Community Projects: 

· 4-H Club is located within Blackfoot Communications' Cooperative rural service area, and other communities Blackfoot serves in its Montana and Idaho rural service territories; 

· 4-H members should be involved in determining, planning, conducting and evaluating the project, and provides an opportunity to learn, grow and make a different in their communities;

· Project has lasting a lasting impact on its community; and

· If the project helps young people learn, grow and make a difference in their communities. 

Additional Information

* We recommend using Google Chrome for the best user experience with our community support platform

* Your Submittable form will be reviewed and a response made to the email address provided in the application. Please check your email and open the email from @email.submittable.com titled “RE: Blackfoot Communications  Community Grant Application”. If you still do not see the email in your Inbox, please add “@email.submittable.com” to your White List or Safe Sender List, and/or check your “Junk” or “Spam” folders. We make every effort to ensure that these emails are delivered.

* Have you already set up a Submittable account and want to check on the status and/or correspondence regarding your application? Access your account @ https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login

Tips on completing an Application

Having difficulties getting your application submitted? Try these steps: 1) make sure every question with an asterick * has been answered as these are mandatory questions; 2) save your current application; 3) sign out of your Submittable account; 4) close your internet browser; 5) reopen internet browser; 6) log back into your Submittable account https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login; 7) reopen your application; 8) scroll to bottom of application and hit 'Submit'.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your application should be accepted and you should receive a confirmation email stating your application has been accepted.

If these steps still do not work, please contact Submittable at: 1) https://www.submittable.com/contact/; 2) Call Tech Support at 855-467-8264 Ext. 4; 3) Email organizationsupport@submittable.com

Other Questions?

Email Blackfoot’s Community Support Committee at communitysupport@blackfoot.com

* Please note Blackfoot Communications no longer offers bottled water for events due to environmental concerns*

Blackfoot in Education 

Welcome to Blackfoot Communications' portal for supporting our communities, powered by Submittable. We have streamlined our application process by using this online portal for community and education applications. If this your first time accessing this Application, you must first create a Submittable account to complete the form (see "Create Your Account" below). Once your Submittable account is created, you can use the same log-in/password account for future requests.  If you run into issues setting up your account, please check out the FAQs.   

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FRS Youth Tour Program Information

Since 1995, the NTCA Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) has hosted an annual Youth Tour for thousands of high school students from across rural America. The Youth Tour provides an opportunity for students to visit our nation’s capital and learn about rural broadband—and share their community’s story with key legislative, regulatory and government figures as well as a forum for them to meet and interact with their peers from other rural communities. 

Each year Blackfoot Communications sponsors up to two high school students with an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC.  The winner(s) will join over 100 students from across the country for a 4-day tour and explore the city, hear from experts at the FCC and Congress, and discuss how to make our rural communities better. Qualifying high school students, aged 15, (NEW), 16 or 17 at the time of the 2024 Tour, and whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are current Blackfoot Communications Montana/Idaho residential customers are eligible to complete this Application. 

The FRS Youth Tour is scheduled for Monday, June 3 - Friday, June 7, 2024.

More program information can be found here. 

Check out the FRS Video:

Blackfoot Criteria

The Blackfoot Student Application requires a Letter of Recommendation from a community member and answering a short Essay Question: “I appreciate my community because …” (up to 300 characters)"

DEADLINE: February 29, 2024. Late entries will not be accepted.

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Additional Information

* We recommend using Google Chrome (Mac or Windows) for the best user experience with our community support platform

* Use your PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS in lieu of your school email address for the Blackfoot Application (e.g. "xxx@gmail.com" or similar )

* Your Submittable form will be reviewed and a response made to the email address provided in the application. Please check your email and open the email from @email.submittable.com titled “RE: Blackfoot Communications – FRS Youth Tour Application.” If you still do not see the email in your Inbox, please add “@email.submittable.com” to your White List or Safe Sender List, and/or check your “Junk” or “Spam” folders. We make every effort to ensure that these emails are delivered.

* Have you already set up a Submittable account and want to check on the status and/or correspondence regarding your application? Access your account @ https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login

Tips on completing an Application

Having difficulties getting your application submitted? Try these steps: 1) make sure every question with an asterick * has been answered as these are mandatory questions; 2) save your current application; 3) sign out of your Submittable account; 4) close your internet browser; 5) reopen internet browser; 6) log back into your Submittable account https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login; 7) reopen your application; 8) scroll to bottom of application and hit 'Submit'.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your application should be accepted and you should receive a confirmation email stating your application has been accepted.

If these steps still do not work, please contact Submittable at: 1) https://www.submittable.com/contact/; 2) Call Tech Support at 855-467-8264 Ext. 4; 3) Email organizationsupport@submittable.com

Other Questions?

Email Blackfoot’s Education Committee at education@blackfoot.com

Blackfoot in Education 

Welcome to Blackfoot Communications' portal for supporting our communities, powered by Submittable. We have streamlined our application process by using this online portal for community and education applications. If this your first time accessing this Application, you must first create a Submittable account to complete the form (see "Create Your Account" below). Once your Submittable account is created, you can use the same log-in/password account for future requests.  If you run into issues setting up your account, please check out the FAQs.  

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Blackfoot Scholarship Program Information

Blackfoot Communications looks for ways to invest in the long-term success of our communities and are dedicated to supporting and providing educational opportunities for all ages. That’s why each year, Blackfoot contributes over $75,000 to educational endeavors. We have awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to students who have pursued their passions and made positive impacts in our local service areas and beyond, and are excited to see the possibilities the future holds for today’s students. 

As part of our commitment to education, the Blackfoot Scholarship Fund provides academic scholarships for students from within our residential Montana and Idaho service areas. The scholarship program is designed for graduating high school students and/or post-secondary students currently served by Blackfoot at either their parents’ residence or their own principal residence, and/or attending college/university/trade school. Scholarships may be awarded from $1,000, up to $2,500. 

DEADLINE:  Thursday, March 25, 2024. Late entries will not be accepted

Additional Information

* We recommend using Google Chrome (Mac or Windows) for the best user experience with our community support platform

* Use your PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS in lieu of your school email address for the Blackfoot Application (e.g. "xxx@gmail.com" or similar )

* Your Submittable form will be reviewed and a response made to the email address provided in the application. Please check your email and open the email from @email.submittable.com titled “RE: Blackfoot Communications - Scholarship Application.” If you still do not see the email in your Inbox, please add “@email.submittable.com” to your White List or Safe Sender List, and/or check your “Junk” or “Spam” folders. We make every effort to ensure that these emails are delivered.

* Have you already set up a Submittable account and want to check on the status and/or correspondence regarding your application? Access your account @ https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login

Tips on completing an Application

Having difficulties getting your application submitted?Try these steps: 1) make sure every question with an asterick * has been answered as these are mandatory questions; 2) save your current application; 3) sign out of your Submittable account; 4) close your internet browser; 5) reopen internet browser; 6) log back into your Submittable account https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login; 7) reopen your application; 8) scroll to bottom of application and hit 'Submit'.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your application should be accepted and you should receive a confirmation email stating your application has been accepted.

If these steps still do not work, please contact Submittable at: 1) https://www.submittable.com/contact/; 2) Call Tech Support at 855-467-8264 Ext. 4; 3) Email organizationsupport@submittable.com

Other Questions?

Email Blackfoot Communication’s Education Committee at education@blackfoot.com

Blackfoot in Education 

Welcome to Blackfoot Communication's educational portal for supporting our rural cooperative communities - powered by Submittable. We have streamlined our application process by using this online portal for community and education applications. If this your first time accessing this Application, you must first create a Submittable account to complete the form (see "Create Your Account" below). Once you have created your Submittable account, you can use the same log-in/password account for future requests. If you run into issues setting up your account, please check out the FAQs. 

Student Connection Program

Blackfoot Communications is proud to continue this important educational initiative to fulfill student needs identified by school leaders in the public school systems located within our rural service territories. We realize many of our local families experience financial difficulties with kids in schools, with the extra cost of school supplies, PE shoes, clothing, etc. Our Student Connection Fund has been created to fill a gap for those students with a one-time funding need up to $250. This is Blackfoot Communication's chance to step up with your help! 

This program is open to public schools located within Blackfoot's Montana and Idaho rural cooperative service territories. Applications must be submitted by a school representative (i.e., Principal/Superintendent, Guidance Counselor, Teacher). 

Blackfoot has donated approximately $6,250 over the past six years to help our rural students in need with items such as school supplies, winter clothing, PE shoes, socks, and other related items. 

The Student Connection Program will remain open during the 2023-2024 School Year.

*PLEASE NOTE FUNDS CANNOT BE USED TO PURCHASE CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR STUDENT(S).

*If you are applying on behalf of students fundraising for Close Up, please use Blackfoot's general Community Support Application for the group of students.

Additional Information

* Google Chrome (Mac or Windows) is the suggested web browser for the best user experience

* Your application will be reviewed, and a response made to the email address provided in the application. Please check your email and open the email from @email.submittable.com titled “RE: Blackfoot Communications - Student Connection Application.” If you still do not see the email in your Inbox, please add “@email.submittable.com” to your White List or Safe Sender List, and/or check your “Junk” or “Spam” folders. We make every effort to ensure that these emails are delivered to a valid email address.

* Have you already set up a Submittable account and want to check on the status and/or correspondence regarding your application? Access your account @ https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login

Tips on completing an Application

Having difficulties getting your application submitted? Try these steps: 1) make sure every question with an asterisk * has been answered as these are mandatory questions; 2) save your current application; 3) sign out of your Submittable account; 4) close your internet browser; 5) reopen internet browser; 6) log back into your Submittable account https://givingback.blackfoot.com/login; 7) reopen your application; 8) scroll to bottom of application and hit 'Submit'.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your application should be accepted and you should receive a confirmation email stating your application has been accepted.

If the above steps do not work, please contact Submittable at: 1) https://www.submittable.com/contact/; 2) Call Tech Support at 855-467-8264 Ext. 4; 3) Email organizationsupport@submittable.com

Other Questions?

Email Blackfoot Communication’s Education Committee at education@blackfoot.com