Community Grant Program

Nonprofits can apply for up to $10,000 in funding for programs and projects benefiting the Flathead Valley. The program is offered once annually in the spring.  The 2023 Community Grant application closed March 30. Successful applicants will be notified by May 1, 2023.  

The annual Community Grants Award Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizations receiving a Community Grant are required to accept their award in person at the ceremony.

REQUIREMENTS

• The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity or publicly-owned tax-exempt corporation OR a 501(c)(4) service organization or 501(c)(6) trade organization presenting a project or program that serves a charitable purpose in our community.
• Tax exempt status must exist at time of application. A copy of the organization’s official I.R.S. Determination Letter will be uploaded into this application.
• Nonprofits providing a program or service the benefits residents of the Flathead Valley.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WILL BE UPLOADED INTO THE APPLICATION:

1. Detailed Project/Program-Budget for the project or program to be supported by this grant
• The budget will include all budgeted income sources and expenses for the life of the project/program.
2. Budget versus Actual Profit and Loss Statement for the most recently completed fiscal year
• Profit & Loss Statements that do not include a budget column will not be accepted.
• This document may be a few pages long, but all columns must all fit on one page.
3. Two-Year Comparative Balance Sheet for the organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years
4. IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter (all pages)

Whitefish Community Foundation’s Grants Committee will prioritize funding of organizations and initiatives where there is a social need and where the results will benefit our community at large.  The Foundation will consider funding for projects and programs, including capital projects that are established with a record of development activity and fulfill the mission of the organization. All requested funding must be allocated to projects and/or programs benefiting residents of the Flathead Valley and be associated with one of the following categories: Arts and Culture, Animals, Civic, Conservation/Environment, Education, Health and Human Service, or Recreation.

The Community Grant Program allocates funding once annually during a spring cycle.

Successful applicants will be notified in May. Grant awards will be distributed at a ceremony on May 18, 2023. Successful applicants must be present at the ceremony to receive their grant.

Although the Community Grant Program Evaluation Committee reviews each proposal separately, it generally does not consider grants for:

• Organizations outside Flathead County
• Individuals
• Deficits or retirement of debt
• Programs or projects promoting a religious doctrine
• Political campaigns or projects/programs promoting a political agenda
• Conduit organizations, i.e., organizations or events that pass funds to other organizations
• Seed money for projects or programs not yet started, or for projects or programs that are completed or conducted prior to the grant award date
• Event sponsorships

2022 Community Grant Awardees

Spring 2021 Community Grant Awardees
Fall 2021 Community Grant Awardees