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78 nonprofits to participate in Great Fish Community Challenge

by Whitefish Pilot
| July 19, 2023 1:00 AM

A record number of Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations will participate in the 9th annual Great Fish Community Challenge hosted by Whitefish Community Foundation August 10 to Sept. 15.

The Great Fish Community Challenge is a 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. Nonprofits must raise at least $10,000 to be eligible for the match. 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.

Nonprofits interested in participating in the 2023 Challenge applied through a comprehensive application process this spring. Seventy-eight organizations were invited to participate in the Challenge, an 11 percent increase over last year. Six organizations are participating for the first time.

The following organizations will participate in this year’s Great Fish Community Challenge:

Abbie Shelter

Amazing Place Music

Backpack Assistance Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters NW Montana

Bigfork Art and Cultural Center

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country

CASA for Kids

Center for Restorative Youth Justice

Child Bridge

Children’s House Montessori School

Code Girls United

Conrad Mansion Museum

Creston Firefighters Association

DREAM Adaptive Recreation

Flathead Area Mountain Bikers

Flathead Audubon Society

Flathead County Sheriff's Posse

Flathead Food Bank

Flathead Industries

Flathead Land Trust

Flathead Rapids Youth Soccer

Flathead Rivers Alliance

Flathead Valley Community College Foundation

Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation

Flathead Warming Center

Flathead Youth Home

Foy's to Blacktail Trails

Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center

Gateway to Glacier Trail

Glacier Hockey Association

Glacier Institute

Glacier National Park Conservancy

Glacier Nordic Club

Glacier Skate Academy

Glacier Symphony, Orchestra & Chorale

Good Grief Camp

Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley

Hockaday Museum of Art

Housing Whitefish

Humane Society of Northwest Montana

ImagineIF Library Foundation

Immanuel Foundation

Intermountain Deaconess Children's Services

Kalispell Education Foundation

Land to Hand

Lighthouse Christian Home & Services

Logan Health Foundation

Logan Health-Whitefish Foundation

Montana Conservation Corps

Montana Kayak Academy

Montana Youth Diabetes Alliance

Nate Chute Foundation

North Valley Food Bank

North Valley Music School

North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry

Northwest Montana Community Land Trust

Northwest Montana History Museum

Project Whitefish Kids

Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center

Samaritan House

Shepherd's Hand

Sparrow's Nest of NW MT

Stumptown Art Studio

Tamarack Grief Resource Center

The Nurturing Center

Two Bear Therapeutic Riding Center

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 Company

Whitefish Veterans Support Team

Wings Regional Cancer Support

Since 2015, the Great Fish Community Challenge has raised over $22 million for more than 85 local nonprofit organizations. In addition to the percentage matching grant awarded on the first $20,000 raised by each nonprofit, Whitefish Community Foundation awards thousands of dollars in incentive grants throughout the campaign.

There is no cost for nonprofits to participate in the Challenge. Whitefish Community Foundation underwrites the cost of hosting the campaign with support from title sponsor BNSF and additional sponsors Big Sky IV Care, First Interstate Bank, Glacier Bank, Harris Financial, Iron Horse Foundation, JCCS, Park Side Credit Union, Stockman Bank, Summit Beverage, Underscore Art & Jewelry, and Whitefish Credit Union.

This year’s campaign will kick off with the Great Fish Launch Party on Thursday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. at First Interstate Bank in Whitefish. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more at the Launch Party to one participating nonprofit will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 10 $100 matching grants for their designated organization. From August 10 to September. 15, 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 Saturday, Sept. 9 in Depot Park in Whitefish. The event will include 5K and one-mile fun runs, a tot trot, lunch from Piggyback BBQ, a nonprofit fair and the presentation of awards and prizes. Registration for Great Fish Fun Run opens July 15 at runsignup.com/great-fish-fun-run.

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