After years of advocacy, Zero to Five Montana (ZtFMT)–along with other advocates, parents, and providers–has succeeded in getting a new early childhood endowment included in a new revenue stream focused on state infrastructure. HB 924 creates the Growth and Opportunities Trust (GO Trust), a major new state trust fund focused primarily on infrastructure such as bridges, housing, and water systems.
And nestled within it is a new Early Childhood Special Revenue Account.
Seeded with a $10 million transfer in FY 2025, this account receives 10 percent of the interest generated by the non-housing portion of the GO Trust. Funds in this account can be used to pay for programs and grants authorized by the Montana early childhood account board, also established in HB 924. Examples of eligible activities include early childhood workforce development, quality improvements in early learning environments, increasing access to before and after school care, and supporting innovative early childhood initiatives. HB 924 also directs the state to coordinate across state agencies to increase efficiencies, expand access, and support data-driven decision-making through Montana’s early childhood strategic plan, while fostering public-private partnerships.
A multi-year effort led by ZtFMT, an Alliance grantee, this success is the result of advocacy by a diverse coalition of people across the state–from parent groups to the Montana Chamber of Commerce–who work to keep the early years as a priority in Montana.
“Zero to Five Montana had the honor of working alongside so many other Montanans to shape the early childhood endowment,” says Caitlin Jensen, the organization’s executive director. “And we were excited that the bill had strong, bipartisan support.”
After HB 924 passed the legislature, more than 200 organizations and individuals signed a letter to encourage the Governor to sign the Montana Early Childhood Account into law.
Advocates first advanced the idea in 2022, making the case for the impact of supporting early childhood on the overall vitality of the state. ZtFMT reached out to Children’s Funding Project—one of the responsive support providers the Alliance makes available to grantees at no cost to expand their expertise and capacity—to help frame the case for legislators. Decades of research confirm, for example, that early childhood investments deliver strong returns. Every dollar invested delivers as much as $16 for the state in improved outcomes in education, health, employment, and economic stability.
“The more policymakers learned about the fund idea, the more they saw this isn’t just about early childhood. It’s about securing Montana’s future infrastructure and workforce—creating the conditions where families and businesses can thrive together,” Jensen says.
“We are thrilled to see this legislation become reality and continue to build a Montana early childhood system that is adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of families across our state.”