Foundation gives final donation for first phase of watershed project

The Whitefish Community Foundation recently awarded a Major Grant of $20,000 for the Trust for Public Lands to be used for the Whitefish Watershed Project.

The award will finish the fundraising campaign for the first phase of the Stillwater Project, the third project of the Whitefish watershed effort. TPL has been working with federal, sate and private funding partners to place the land under a conservation easement. The grant will go toward efforts for the easement covering 7,000 acres.

The foundation is proud to be a part of such a critical project that helps protect the future of Whitefish’s community water, the foundation noted. When the community foundation was informed of the final funding gap, the Board, along with two fund holders, stepped up with grant funds to cover it.

This is the third Major Grant awarded in 2017 from the Whitefish Community Foundation, including the $38,500 grant to Whitefish Lake Institute to help the institute carry out a comprehensive zebra and quagga mussel prevention program, and $25,000 for the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at Whitefish High School.

The foundation awarded more than $2.1 million in grants to support local projects and programs in 2017

The foundation awarded $89,915 to 35 nonprofits through the Community Grant program, $10,600 in Micro and Emergency Grants, $15,500 in incentive grants, and a grand total more than $2 million going to 45 nonprofits in the 2017 Great Fish Community Challenge. In all, the foundation awarded more than $2.1 million in grants in 2017. For more information, visit www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.