Great Fish Community Challenge kicks off Thursday

The Whitefish Community Foundation will kick off the Great Fish Community Challenge on Thursday, July 25 with a free Launch Party at the First Interstate Bank in Whitefish.

The party, which runs from 5-7 p.m., is open to the public and includes hors d’oeuvres, drinks and entertainment.

Donors have a chance to win additional money for their favorite charities through incentive grants that evening. The Whitefish Community Foundation will have a drawing for $2,000 in incentive grants throughout the evening in amounts of $25, $50 and $100 to donations made at the event.

The fifth annual giving campaign will run seven weeks, features 53 nonprofits, and will begin with a $200,000 match fund. The Community Foundation organizes the challenge and provides the matching funds to inspire the community to give to the participating nonprofits.

At the end of the campaign, Whitefish Community Foundation will provide a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each participating nonprofit. In just four years, the campaign has raised more than $7 million and a great deal of awareness for 55 local charities.

The nonprofits have the opportunity to be awarded over $25,000 in additional incentive grants this year. Every week during the campaign, an incentive grant will be awarded to the nonprofit with the most donors that week. The public will also have a chance to learn more about their favorite nonprofits and the important work they’re doing on Facebook and Instagram throughout the campaign. Visit the Whitefish Community Foundation Facebook page to stay updated on the Great Fish Community Challenge news and events.

Donors can start making gifts on July 25 online at www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org, or by sending in an official donor form. Official donor forms will be mailed out and will be available in newspapers, at the Whitefish Community Foundation office, Flathead County downtown businesses, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, and from participating nonprofits. Donation forms can also be downloaded from the Foundation’s website.

The campaign is designed to make it easy for donors to make one gift and benefit multiple charities. All donations are made to Whitefish Community Foundation. Donors can write checks, donate online by credit card, donate appreciated securities, and use an IRA distribution to donate during the campaign. Whitefish Community Foundation covers the costs of the campaign and passes on 100% of contribution to the designated charity. Credit card fees are covered by the designated charity.

The Great Fish Community Challenge will culminate on Sept. 7 at Depot Park with the Great Fish Challenge Color Run and Community BBQ. Sign-up for the Color Run today and get a free T-shirt, while supplies last, at http://www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org. The public can also sign up for the Color Run at the Launch Party and receive a T-shirt that night. The Great Fish Community Challenge will officially end on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m..

For more information about the Whitefish Community Foundation and the Great Fish Community Challenge visit the Foundation website at www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or call 406-863-1781. The Whitefish Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering philanthropy, building endowments and helping donors and nonprofits that benefit the community.