Community Partners
What does it look like to be a good partner for Good Neighbor Day? Sometimes partnerships exist for programs and events, and sometimes a partnership is more informal, like a utilization of existing resources. Who do you already partner with for library programs, and who in your community would make a good partner for Good Neighbor Day programs?
There are many partners we don't know about who already exist in your community! This is not an complete list of partners, but a suggestion of places to start looking for partners. If you already collaborate with these partners, great! If not, don't underestimate a friendly email introducing yourself and the resources the library can provide to their group or organization.
With offices covering the state and almost 100 MSU Extension agents, the MSU Extension program provides education to all Montanans. Partnership is in their mission, so they make an excellent partnership for Good Neighbor Day.
4H is MSU Extensions' youth program that promotes leadership, community engagement, and skillbuilding through project based learning. A Good Neighbor Day project may be perfect for 4Hers in your areas.
First established in 1964 under President Lyndon B. Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act, there is a network of Community Action Agencies, Community Action Programs and Human Resource Development Councils that serve different regions in Montana. These are non profit organizations with responsive and comprehensive programs for all ages built on enhancing the lives of all our neighbors to break the cycles of poverty, and provide education and opportunities for independence. Many of these organizations have multiple programs within them, including outreach, and would make for natural Good Neighbor Day partners.
Action for Eastern Montana (serving Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Philips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, and Wibeaux counties; Ft Peck and Northern Cheyenne reservations)
Action Inc (serving Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Madison, Powell, and Silver Bow counties)
Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (serving Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders counties)
HRC XI (serving Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli counties)
HRDC of Southwest Montana (serving Gallatin, Park, and Meagher counties)
HRDC District 4 (serving Blaine, Hill, and Liberty counties; Ft. Belknap and Rocky Boy reservations)
HRDC District 6 (serving Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Wheatland counties)
HRDC District 7 (serving Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Yellowstone counties)
Opportunities Inc (serving Cascade, Chouteau, Glacier, Pondera, Teton, and Toole counties)
Rocky Mountain Development Council (serving primarily Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis & Clark counties
Brainstorm with a colleague or friend- who in your area would be a good partner? From local businesses to nonprofit and foundations, even financial organizations want to partner and participate in the betterment of their communities!
Many National organizations have local chapters or student groups that you may want to reach out to.
Future Farmers of America- youth and agriculture focused with over 100 chapters in Montana
Humanities Montana - an affiliate partner of the National Endowment for Humanities, this nonprofit promotes Montana culture through storytelling and deep conversations about history, literature, philosophy, and more
Rotary/Interact- there are over 55 chapters of the service-based organization Rotary, and their high school counterpart, Interact, across Montana
Consider partnering with local schools in your area to plan Good Neighbor Day programs geared toward youth in your community.
Montana also has a large homeschool population- include them in your partnership planning.
Many State Agencies offer outreach programs as a part of their work around Montana and are excellent partners to local libraries. Check to see if they have opportunities to partner in your area and consider partnering for Good Neighbor Day programs and events!
Montana Arts Council- Montana Arts Council may be good partners for a Good Neighbor Day art project! Additionally, Montana State Library and Montana Arts Councils' collaborative program, Creative Aging has more information on how to participate in the 2027 cohort.
Montana Wild- Fish, Wildlife, and Parks- Fish, Wildlife, and Park's Education department and Montana Wild program are excellent resources and can share about being neighborly to our outdoor neighbors. They are also a partner of the State Library in our Virtual Programs for Bat Week 2026.
Serve Montana- formed in 1993, the Governor's Office of Community Service promotes national service and community volunteerism in Montana. They support various AmeriCorps programs in Montana They may be a great partner for Good Neighbor Day Building Belonging programs based on volunteering.
Partners of United Way Worldwide, Montana's United Ways focus on building thriving communities at 9 regional locations around Montana, offering different opportunities for positive community connections. Their mission focusing on community resiliency, youth opportunities, financial security, and a healthy community as well as their collaborative nature makes them an excellent partner for libraries for Good Neighbor Day.
