Investing in women in Big Sky Country.

Creating opportunities for Montanans to invest in women-led businesses in our great state.

Join the Co-op as a Member

The Montana Women's Finance Co-op empowers women entrepreneurs by pooling resources from members and preferred shareholders to support women-owned businesses, foster local economic growth, and strengthen communities across the state. Rooted in collaboration, the Co-op prioritizes mission-driven outcomes.

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Fact: women in Montana experience limited access to business funding.

The Montana Women's Finance Co-op aims to catalyze sustainable economic development in our state by promoting and financing women-owned businesses.

Join the Co-op!

What is an Investment Co-op?

An investment cooperative is a group of everyday people who pool their money to invest in meaningful local projects. Unlike traditional investment models that require high net worth or specialized knowledge, an investment cooperative makes investing accessible to everyone—no prior experience or large amounts of money needed.

By joining, members:

  • Invest what they can, with options for different investment levels.

  • Support local businesses and projects that strengthen the community and align with their values.

  • Share in any financial returns from successful investments (*as with any investment, returns are not guaranteed).

  • Have ownership in the cooperative, giving them opportunities to be involved in co-op governance and voting rights - one member, one vote.

  • Enjoy networking, community, and social impact opportunities.

Investment cooperatives are a powerful way for regular people to invest in meaningful projects for positive community impact. Whether you’re new to investing or looking for a way to put your money to work locally, Montana Women’s Finance Co-op provides a safe, transparent, and collaborative way to get started.

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Join the Co-op as a member!

Individuals 18 years or older residing in Montana can buy one share of common stock at $1,000, which includes membership in the Co-op.

Membership benefits include:

  • The ability to attend annual meetings of the Cooperative and vote on decisions

  • The ability to serve on the Board of Directors

  • Receipt of benefits and patronage aligned with common stock ownership

  • Networking opportunities as organized by the Cooperative

  • Community and social impact for women-owned businesses and Montana’s economy

  • Other benefits as defined by the Board of Directors

Click the button below to fill out our interest form and learn more about joining the Montana Women’s Finance Co-op as a member.

We will reach out with more information, and you will be added to our email list.

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Interested in investing?

Montana Women’s Finance Co-op is making it possible for anyone to invest in women-owned businesses in Montana.

With investment opportunities starting at $500, it’s easy to support women in Montana, regardless of your income level, investible funds, history of investing, or any other factor. Investors are not required to join as co-op members to purchase preferred stock.

Investors do not have voting rights. Investors are not required to join as co-op members to purchase preferred stock, and investors can be individuals or organizations.

Click the button below to fill out our interest form and learn more about joining the Montana Women’s Finance Co-op as an investor! We will reach out with more information, and you will be added to our email list.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Join the Co-op as a member by investing $1,000 in common stock, or invest in the Co-op as a preferred shareholder for $500 per share. 

  • Common stock: Individuals 18 years or older residing in Montana can buy common stock, which includes membership in the Co-op. 

    Membership benefits include: 

    1. the ability to attend annual meetings of the Cooperative

    2. the ability to serve on the Board of Directors

    3. receipt of benefits and patronage aligned with common stock ownership

    4. networking opportunities as organized by the Cooperative

    5. community and social impact for women-owned businesses and Montana’s economy

    6. other benefits as defined by the Board of Directors

    Preferred stock:  Preferred stock may be sold to any form of investor including individuals and organizations.  Initially, preferred stock can be purchased for $500.  Investors may include individuals, businesses, financial institutions, non-profits, foundations, and other types of organizations.   Preferred stock holders who are not also a member have no voting rights in Co-op decisions, although they may attend annual meetings.

  • The Co-op will accept applications for loans from well-managed women-owned businesses based in Montana. The Co-op's professional lending team and policies will ensure careful selection of businesses, ongoing monitoring, and regular reporting to members and shareholders. As a loan, the Co-op's funding is available to a broader range of businesses than typical venture capital financing.

  • The Co-op is not taking applications right now - join our email list below to stay updated.

  • The Co-op aims to establish strategic collaborations with traditional funding sources in Montana. By forging partnerships with established financial institutions, CDFIs, community development organizations, angel investors, foundations, business incubators, and others, we will optimize the robust network of support for women-owned businesses in Montana. These collaborations will not only provide access to much-needed financing but also offer valuable mentorship, industry connections, and expertise to our members and business clients. This multi-faceted strategy will ensure that we will be able to co-finance selected businesses with strategic funders to tap into a wide range of resources, maximizing opportunities for business owners, and contributing to the sustainable economic development of Montana.

  • A Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a pool of funds used to provide loans to small businesses or individuals. As borrowers repay their loan principal and interest, the funds are recycled and used to make new loans to additional businesses.  RLFs are often used to support economic development, fill financing gaps, and provide access to finance for businesses that may not yet qualify for traditional bank loans.Item description

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Looking for funding?

Montana Women’s Finance Co-op is not taking applications for funding yet.

Please click the button below to join our email list and receive a notification when we launch our funding opportunities. Stay tuned!

MWFC Happenings