Nonprofit Information

• Support and promote your participation in the Great Fish Community Challenge to the public, as well as to your board members, donors, and volunteers.
• Nonprofits should promote the Challenge through their usual marketing efforts, on their website, and through other public outreach opportunities.
• Developing special events to raise funds specifically for the Great Fish Community Challenge is prohibited. The idea behind the Great Fish Community Challenge is to cut down on fundraising expenses and events, not add to it.
• Host a booth at the Great Fish Community Challenge Fun Run and Community Celebration.
• Be willing to serve on one of the many event committees.
• Write personal thank you notes to your donors who make donations to your organization through the Great Fish Community Challenge.

• Receive and process all gifts made through the Challenge on behalf of the nonprofit and provide a tax receipt to the donor.
• Provide marketing and public relations support to create community awareness of the Great Fish Community Challenge.
• Include the participating nonprofits’ Use of Funds statement in its printed materials.
• Solicit contributors to the match pool, known as the Great Fish Match Fund.
• Oversee the Great Fish Fun Run and Community Celebration.

Read the 2023-24 Rules before applying.

Read these rules and best practices for marketing your participation in the Great Fish Community Challenge.

AUGUST 15 at Glacier National Park Conservancy in COLUMBIA FALLS from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

AUGUST 17 at Harvest Foods in BIGFORK from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AUGUST 22 at Glacier Bank in LAKESIDE from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AUGUST 25 at First Interstate Bank in KALISPELL from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

AUGUST 29 at Stockman Bank in WHITEFISH from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 7 at Bonsai Brewing in WHITEFISH from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 12 at Glacier Bank in WHITEFISH from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 15 at Whitefish Credit Union in south KALISPELL from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Register online here.

Advanced registration is required for the 5K and 1-Mile courses. No day-of registration is available. 

Registration is online only. Paper registration forms are not available.

MATCHING GRANTS

Launch Party: Donors who make a gift of $100 or more to one nonprofit at the Launch Party will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win 1 of 10 $100 matching grants for a participating organization.

Fun Run & Community Celebration: Donors who make a gift of $100 or more to one nonprofit at the Fun Run & Community Celebration will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win 1 of 10 $100 matching grants for a participating organization.

Great Fish on Air with KGEZ: Donors who make a gift of $100 or more to one nonprofit during Great Fish on Air with KGEZ will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win 1 of 10 $250 matching grants for a participating organization.

BIGGEST CATCH INCENTIVE GRANTS

The nonprofit with the most unduplicated donors on the first day of the Challenge will win the Launch Day Biggest Catch award and a $1,000 incentive grant.

Each week, one nonprofit will win a $1,000 incentive grant for having the most unduplicated donors. The incentive period runs from Friday to Thursday at midnight each week during the campaign.

Each week, one nonprofit will win a $1,000 incentive grant for raising the most money. The incentive period runs from Friday to Thursday at midnight each week during the campaign.

Each participating organization is eligible to win only one of these $1,000 incentive grants during the Challenge.

The nonprofit with the most unduplicated donors during the Challenge will win the Biggest Catch Overall award and a $2,000 incentive grant, sponsored by BNSF.

Fun Run & Community Celebration Awards

The top three male and female finishers in the 5K and  5K Para Athlete divisions will recommend a grant to the participating nonprofit of their choice.
First Place–$500
Second Place–$250
Third Place–$100

Nonprofit booths at the Fun Run & Community Celebration will be evaluated for creativity, appearance, and interactivity.
First Place–$1,000
Second Place–$500

Whitefish Community Foundation staff will choose nonprofits to receive the following Staff Awards, accompanied by a $1,000 grant:

Finest Fishing: Awarded to a nonprofit that demonstrates outstanding, collaborative marketing throughout the Challenge.

Fish Teamwork: Awarded to a nonprofit that goes above and beyond to help Whitefish Community Foundation put on a successful Challenge.

New Fish on the Block: Awarded to a standout, first-time Challenge participant.

Upstream Award: Awarded to a nonprofit that exhibits extraordinary leadership in bringing their organization to a new level.

SPECIAL AWARDS presented at the Great Fish Awards Ceremony October 24

Great Fish Award: Presented annually to a nonprofit that has shown tremendous leadership and growth, utilized the Great Fish Community Challenge to broaden awareness of their mission and deepen their impact, and proved to be an outstanding participant. A $7,500 grant accompanies the award.

Connie Heckathorn Cheers for Volunteers: Awarded to an individual in recognition of their tremendous dedication and service as a community volunteer. The recipient will recommend a $2,500 grant to the participating nonprofit of their choice.

Corporate Citizenship Award: Given each year to a local business that does an outstanding job promoting employee giving during the Challenge. The award recipient will recommend a $2,500 grant to the participating nonprofit of their choice.

Most Improved: Awarded to a nonprofit that has demonstrated significant improvement in donor outreach, marketing, and collaborative participation in the Challenge. A $2,000 grant accompanies the award.

All eligible contributions are passed on to participating organizations that the donors designate (subject to the Whitefish Community Foundation Variance Power), along with a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised on their behalf. Each participating nonprofit will have a designated fund at the Community Foundation where funds will accumulate for your organization. You will receive login information in order to access your fund balance and view the names and addresses of donors who have contributed to your fund.

Each nonprofit will have its own fund with the Foundation and 24/7 online access to that fund.  Nonprofits can access the online portal by clicking here.  Once logged in, nonprofits will be able to monitor donations throughout the campaign and write personal thank you notes to donors. Do not send a tax receipt. The Whitefish Community Foundation receives all donations and will send tax receipts.