First Interstate and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation are kicking off the fifth annual Believe in Local campaign with 40 grants of $25,000 each for nonprofit organizations across our footprint.
We launched Believe in Local in 2022 to put local insight to work. Each year, our employees nominate nonprofit organizations they know and trust. Those nominations help guide where support can make a difference in the communities we serve.
An employee committee reviews submissions and recommends grant recipients based on our philanthropic priorities. That includes support for low- to moderate-income populations.
This year, the committee reviewed 640 nominations, and grants will be issues starting in April 2026 into the summer.
“When we launched Believe in Local five years ago, we believed our employees could show us where our support would matter most,” said James A. Reuter, President and CEO of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. “This milestone isn’t about looking back. It’s about looking around at the communities we serve and recognizing that the best investments we make are the ones our people lead us to.”
Believe in Local supports nonprofit organizations working on needs that show up in everyday life, including:
- Food security
- Early childhood education
- Financial literacy
- Workforce development
Through Believe in Local and other community involvement, we direct a meaningful portion of our earnings back into the communities we serve. These funds can help strengthen local programs, expand access to services, and support long-term opportunity.
“Reaching this milestone reflects our employees’ passion and the resilience of the nonprofit organizations we partner with,” said Amberly Pahut, Executive Director of the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation. “Every year, the nominations remind us that community isn’t just where we do business — it’s why we do business.”
We will announce grant recipients each week in the coming months. We’ll share stories about the selected nonprofit organizations and the work they lead in their communities. Follow First Interstate on social media for Believe in Local updates.
Learn more at firstinterstate.com/campaigns/believe
