Great Fish Community Challenge

Nonprofit Information

APPLICATION INFORMATION


The 2023 application opens April 17 and closes June 1 at 5 p.m.  Please note that attending one of the informational meetings in January was a required part of the application process for nonprofits that did not participate in the 2022 Great Fish Community Challenge.

2023 Important Dates

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.

August 10 – Great Fish Launch Party

August 10 – Great Fish Community Challenge opens

August 25 – Great Fish on Air with KGEZ

September 9 – Great Fish Fun Run

September 15 – Great Fish Community Challenge closes at 5 p.m.

 

 

Nonprofit FAQ

UNDERSTAND THE RULES FOR PARTICIPATING.

Stay tuned for 2023 information.

MARKETING FAQ.

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

 

WHERE ARE THE POP-UP DONATION STATIONS?

Stay tuned for 2023 information.

HOW DO PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THE GREAT FISH FUN RUN?

Stay tuned for 2023 information.

WHAT SPECIAL AWARDS AND INCENTIVE GRANTS ARE OFFERED THIS YEAR?

Stay tuned for 2023 information.

HOW DO NONPROFITS 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.

IS THERE A FEE TO PARTICIPATE?

No. Organizations must apply to participate, but there is no fee to participate.  Whitefish Community Foundation covers all of the costs of the campaign including: advertising, marketing, administration, gift processing, and the Fun Run and Community Celebration. Gifts that are made by credit card are assessed the credit card processing fee, currently 2.9% to 3.5%. Gifts made by check, cash, IRA Rollover, and stock gifts are not assessed a fee.

WHAT ARE THE 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 on September 10, 2022.
  • 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.
WHAT ARE THE 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 Fun Run and Community Celebration.
HOW ARE THE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED?

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.

YOUR FUND WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

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.

PREPARING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION in 2023

UPDATE YOUR CANDID/
GUIDESTAR NONPROFIT PROFILE


Your nonprofit organization will need to have a Bronze Seal of Transparency (or higher) from Candid/Guidestar to participate in the Great Fish Community Challenge. Levels of participation expire on Candid/Guidestar so be sure to check that your organization’s profile is current.

UPLOAD YOUR 2021 990


Returning nonprofits must upload their 2021 signed, and filed Form 990 or 990-EZ when applying for participation. Nonprofits applying for the first time will not be required to submit a Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Determine your use of funds


Organizations must designate how they will spend funds raised during the campaign. Gifts received during the campaign must be allocated to your Primary and/or Secondary Use of Funds.

PREPARE FINANCIAL REPORTS


You will need to submit a Project or Program Budget, a Budget vs. Actual P&L Statement for the most recently completed fiscal year, and a two-year comparative Balance Sheet. Make sure your net income on your P&L matches your Balance Sheet.

2022 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.