Nonprofits announced for annual Great Fish challenge

More than 60 Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations are set to participate in the seventh annual Great Fish Community Challenge hosted by Whitefish Community Foundation August 5 to Sept. 17.

The Great Fish Community Challenge is a six-week charitable giving campaign in which donors can choose to give to multiple nonprofit organizations with a single transaction. At the conclusion of the campaign, Whitefish Community Foundation will award a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each participating organization.

To be eligible to participate in the Great Fish Community Challenge, organizations must be a 501c3 charity serving the Flathead Valley, submit a complete application by the published deadline and demonstrate sufficient capacity to successfully raise funds for their mission or capital project.

Of the 61 organizations that will participate in this year’s Great Fish Community Challenge, eight are first-time participants. The complete list includes, Abbie Shelter; Backpack Assistance Program; Big Brothers Big Sisters NW Montana; Boys & Girls Club of Glacier Country; Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation; Braveheart Chaplain Ministry; CASA for Kids; Center for Restorative Youth Justice; Child Bridge; DREAM Adaptive Recreation; Farm Hands – Nourish the Flathead; Flathead Area Mountain Bikers; Flathead Audubon Society; Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse; Flathead Food Bank; Flathead Land Trust; Flathead Rapids Youth Soccer; Flathead Valley Community College Foundation; Flathead Warming Center; Flathead Youth Home; Foy’s to Blacktail Trails; Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center; Gateway to Glacier Trail; Glacier National Park Conservancy; Glacier Nordic Club; Glacier Skate Academy; Glacier Symphony & Chorale; Humane Society of Northwest Montana; Hockaday Museum of Art; ImagineIF Library Foundation; Intermountain Children's Services; Kalispell Education Foundation; Lighthouse Christian Home & Services; Montana Children’s Medical Center Foundation; Montana Conservation Corps; Montana Kayak Academy; Nate Chute Foundation; North Valley Food Bank; North Valley Hospital Foundation; North Valley Music School; North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry; Project Whitefish Kids; Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center; Samaritan House; Shepherd’s Hand Free Clinic; Sparrow’s Nest of NW MT; Stumptown Art Studio; Tamarack Grief Resource Center; The Nurturing Center; The Wave ; Whitefish Community Center; Whitefish Community Foundation; Whitefish Dog Park; Whitefish Firefighters Association; Whitefish Lake Institute; Whitefish Legacy Partners; Whitefish Review; Whitefish School District Education Foundation; Whitefish Theatre Co; Whitefish Veterans Support Team; and Wings Regional Cancer Support.

Since 2015, the Great Fish Community Challenge has raised over $13 million for more than 70 local nonprofit organizations.

In addition to awarding a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each organization, Whitefish Community Foundation awards thousands of dollars in incentive grants throughout the campaign. The match is made possible by Whitefish Community Foundation’s Circle of Giving donors, as well as donors who designate their gift to the Great Fish Match Fund. Last year’s match exceeded $600,000.

Whitefish Community Foundation will kick off this year’s campaign with the Great Fish Launch Party on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Glacier Bank in downtown Whitefish. Donors will be able to make a gift in-person or online and be entered into drawings to win incentive grants for their designated charities.

From Aug. 5 to Sept. 17, there will be many opportunities for donors to give to the campaign and help their favorite charities earn more incentive grants.

The Great Fish Fun Run & Community Celebration is scheduled for Sept. 11 in Depot Park in Whitefish. The event will include 5K and one-mile fun runs, tot trot, live music by John Dunnigan, a nonprofit fair and the presentation of thousands of dollars in awards and prizes. Registration for the fun run is now open at https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Whitefish/Fish5KColorRun.

For more information about the Great Fish Community Challenge, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/great-fish/ or call (406) 863-1781.