Great Fish Community Challenge
Nonprofit Information
Nonprofit FAQ & Resources
HOW TO RAISE FUNDS DURING THE CHALLENGE
Organizations will invite donors to give through the Great Fish Community Challenge during the giving period of the campaign and to include their organization on the official donor form or through the online donation portal. Donations MUST be payable to the Whitefish Community Foundation AND be accompanied by an official donor form or made through the online donation portal. The Community Foundation processes the gifts and acknowledges donors with a tax receipt. Organizations will receive 100% of the designated gifts. There is a 2.9% to 3.5% fee assessed to credit card gifts only by the processor. Donors have the option to help cover this fee when checking out. At the end of the Challenge, the Foundation calculates a percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by the charity.
NONPROFITS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
- 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.
WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’S RESPONSIBILITIES
- 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.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATING
Read the 2023-24 Rules before applying.
MARKETING FAQ
Read these rules and best practices for marketing your participation in the Great Fish Community Challenge.
POP-UP DONATION STATION SCHEDULE
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.
REGISTERING FOR THE GREAT FISH FUN RUN
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.
SPECIAL AWARDS AND INCENTIVE GRANTS
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.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS RAISED IN THE CHALLENGE
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.
ACCESSING YOUR NONPROFIT FUND ACCOUNT
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.
2023 Important Dates & marketing toolkit
July 11 – Mandatory meeting for all 2023 Great Fish Community Challenge participating organizations DOWNLOAD SLIDE PRESENTATION
August 10 – Great Fish Launch Party at 5:30 p.m. at First Interstate Bank in Whitefish
August 10 – Great Fish Community Challenge opens
August 25 – Great Fish on Air with KGEZ from 7:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
September 9 – Great Fish Fun Run & Community Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Depot Park in Whitefish
September 15 – Great Fish Community Challenge closes at 5 p.m.
October 24 – Great Fish Awards Ceremony at 5 p.m. at Wachholz College Center in Kalispell
April 17 – Application opens
April 25 – Application workshop at 12 p.m. at the Northwest Montana History Museum, Kalispell
REGISTER FOR WORKSHOP HERE
May 11 – Application workshop at 9:30 a.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center, Whitefish
REGISTER FOR WORKSHOP HERE
June 1 – Application closes at 5 p.m.
June 23 – Applicants will be notified regarding whether they are invited to participate in the 2023 Challenge.
2023 fine print & variance power
The Fine Print
- *All donations are subject to the Community Foundation‘s variance power.
- To ensure your gift is fully tax deductible, you may not receive any goods or services in return for your contribution.
- Whitefish Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Corporation, EIN#81-0533002.
*Variance Power. Donations to the Great Fish Community Challenge are subject to the variance power described in Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.170.A-9(f)(11)(v)(B)(1), as amended from time to time. Pursuant to the variance power, the Whitefish Community Foundation Board of Directors shall have the power to modify any restriction or condition on the distribution of funds for any specified charitable purpose or to specified organizations, if in their sole judgment (without the approval of any advisor, trustee, custodian, or agent) such restriction or condition becomes, in effect, unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment, or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the Community Foundation.