Montana Voices is a left-leaning voter mobilization group that coordinates the efforts of other left-leaning activist groups in Montana. The group is part of the nationwide coalition State Voices, which organizes state-based political advocacy groups. ¹

Funding

Although it receives a portion of its funding through State Voices, in 2019 Montana Voices was also the recipient of a grant from the Kelly Ann Brown Foundation, a left-of-center private grantmaker. It awarded portions of this grant to the MontPIRG Leadership Fund, Forward Montana Foundation, and the LGBT/abortion rights advocacy group Montana Women Vote. ²

Montana Voices lacks a tax-exempt status of its own, but a grant received by the Forward Montana Foundation lists “Montana Voices Table” as the earmarked purpose of this grant, meaning Forward Montana Foundation may fiscally sponsor Montana Voices. ³

People

Amanda Frickle, executive director of Montana Voices, is also the director of the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (MDLCC), and the former minority chief of staff for the Montana House of Representatives. ⁴

Kristie Smith is the voting rights coordinator of Montana Voices. She is the previous policy and campaign manager of the climate and clean energy sector of the environmentalist group Virginia Conservation Network. She is also the former executive director of the Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank located in Helena, Montana. ⁵

Kiah Abbey is the leadership development coordinator of Montana Voices. She formerly worked as the deputy director, regional program director, and field organizer of the Forward Montana Foundation, a youth-oriented voter education advocacy group. ⁶

1. “Montana.” State Voices. Accessed September 20, 2021. https://voicesforpower.statevoices.org/states/montana/
2. “Montana Voices.” Kelly Ann Brown Foundation. Accessed September 20, 2021. http://www.kellyannbrownfoundation.org/montana-voices.html
3. Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/841123481/202042599349301909/IRS990ScheduleI
4. “Amanda Frickle.” Linkedin. Accessed September 20, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandafrickle
5. “Kristie Smith.” Linkedin. Accessed September 20, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiesmith27
6. “Kiah Abbey.” State Voices. Accessed September 20, 2021. https://voicesforpower.statevoices.org/teammember/kiah-abbey/