Thelma H and John J Zeller Inc
Historical FunderWilmington, Delaware · EIN 27-3980711 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$297K
Organizations funded64
Typical grant$1,000
Total assets$6.6M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $500 and $5,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | RANDALL KNOWLES |
|---|---|
| Address | 3017 NINTH AVENUE SOUTH, GREAT FALLS MT 594053421 |
| Phone | 4067991547 |
| KNOWLESMONTANA@JUNO.COM | |
| Form and materials | WRITTEN, THERE IS NO FORMAL APPLICATION |
| Deadlines | NONE |
| Restrictions | THE FOUNDATION GIVES PRIORITY TO NON-PROFIT GROUPS IN THE SUN RIVER VALLEY, AND EDUCATION, MUSIC, ART, THEATRE; AROUND CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA; AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACROSS MONTANA. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
100% of grants went outside Delaware.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $27,000 |
| Cascade County Historical Society | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Family Promise of Great Falls | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Great Falls Municipal Band | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Hi-Ine Future Foundation Inc | Malta, MT | For the advancement of the Malta Swimming Pool | $20,000 |
| Sun River Valley Lions Community Foundation | Fort Shaw, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Great Falls-Cascade County Senior Citizens Center | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation | Great Falls, MT | Bowling Alley remodel fund | $15,000 |
| St Ann Church | Fort Shaw, MT | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Friends of the Little Belts | Great Falls, MT | To help publish maps for hikers and off road users in various Montana Mountain Ranges | $10,000 |
| Sun River Valley Historical Society | Simms, MT | to cover expense for moving the barn | $10,000 |
| Uptown Optimist Foundation Inc | Power, MT | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $9,000 |
| Housed Great Falls | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $9,000 |
| Simms High School | Simms, MT | To help BPA to Attend National Conference | $9,000 |
| Recycle Montana Inc | Winifred, MT | General & Unrestricted | $7,000 |
| Extreme History Project | Bozeman, MT | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Great Falls Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disor | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation | Great Falls, MT | New Music Program at MSDB | $5,000 |
| North Eugene High School | Eugene, OR | Band Trip fund | $5,000 |
| The Salvation Army | Spokane, WA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| City of Great Falls | Great Falls, MT | to complete the purchase and installation of signage for the historic St. Peter's Mission | $3,000 |
| Great Falls Community Concert Association | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $2,400 |
| Big Sky Country National Heritage Area Inc | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| J C Adams Stone Barn Co | Fort Benton, MT | General & Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Missouri River Open Lands Preservation | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Montana Congress of Parents Teachers Students | Great Falls, MT | Pay for School Lunches | $2,000 |
| Montana Congress of Parents Teachers Students | Great Falls, MT | to purchase children's Lunches | $2,000 |
| Montana Museum of Railroad History | Great Falls, MT | To help update the control system | $2,000 |
| Friends of Montana Pbs Inc | Bozeman, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation | Great Falls, MT | Charitable Event | $1,500 |
| Pet Paw-See Inc | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| American Prairie Foundation | Bozeman, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Cda Comm Theater & Academy Inc | Coeur D Alene, ID | Middle School Acting School | $1,000 |
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | Church World Service | $1,000 |
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | Great Falls FISH, Inc. | $1,000 |
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | Charitable Event | $1,000 |
| Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation | Great Falls, MT | To provide NEW Bath Rugs and Top Sheets for the Guest Rooms | $1,000 |
| Great Falls Theatre Company | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Montanta Historical Society | Helena, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Public Land Water Access Association Inc | Bozeman, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Sams Hope Foundation | Lincoln, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Ursuline Historical Foundation Inc | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Energy Share of Montana Inc | Helena, MT | General & Unrestricted | $700 |
| Preservation Cascade Inc | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $600 |
| Great Falls Public Library Foundation | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| National Ski Patrol System Inc | Bismarck, ND | To support the Great Falls Ski patrol | $500 |
| Pheasants Forever Inc | Saint Paul, MN | Charitable Event | $500 |
| United Way of Cascade County | Black Eagle, MT | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| Cascade 4-H Foundation | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $450 |
| Montana 4-H Foundation Inc | Bozeman, MT | General & Unrestricted | $400 |
| Casa-Can Childrens Advocate Network | Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $200 |
| Montana Wildlife Federation | Helena, MT | General & Unrestricted | $200 |
| United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation | Colorado Springs, CO | General & Unrestricted | $200 |
| Uptown Optimist Foundation Inc | Power, MT | to purchase a Christmas Tree for a worthy family | $200 |
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | Helping Hands | $100 |
| Central Christian Church | Great Falls, MT | Northern Lights Summer Support | $100 |
| Intermountain Planned Parenthood Inc | Billings, MT | Planned Parenthood office in Great Falls, MT | $100 |
| Madison Middle School | Eugene, OR | Charitable Event | $100 |
| Montana Free Press | Helena, MT | General & Unrestricted | $100 |
Showing the 60 largest of 64 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $297,100 | 64 |
| 2024 | $242,100 | 30 |
| 2023 | $203,300 | 34 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 6, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202621269349101762
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 27-3980711
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.