Whitefish foundation awards $1.5M to nonprofits

The Whitefish Community Foundation on Monday distributed almost $1.5 million to 40 nonprofits that participated in the second annual Great Fish Community Challenge.

The fundraiser that began July 12 raised a total of $1,486,546 during the two-month campaign.

The challenge received 2,420 contributions totaling $1.15 million. The foundation match amounted to 55 percent on the first $15,000 raised by each nonprofit, for a total match of just over $322,523.

The Great Fish Match Fund started with a challenge of $200,000 that came from the foundation’s Circle of Giving. The foundation board increased this amount by another $72,000, and an additional $50,000 came from the individuals who donated directly to the match fund.

Nearly all the participating nonprofits exceeded $15,000 or more and received the maximum matching grant of $8,250. Grants were presented to the nonprofits at an awards event Monday at Casey’s in Whitefish.

Four special awards also were also presented, including the Great Fish Award recognizing Project Whitefish Kids for their outstanding participation in the challenge.

The Doris Schumm Community Spirit Award went to Whitefish Education Foundation. The Whitefish Fire Fighters Association received the Russ and Mary Jane Street Community Service Award.

A new award was established this year in memory of Jean Howard and was given to Tamarack Grief Resource Center. Each of the special awards was accompanied by an additional $2,500 grant.

Throughout the challenge, the foundation offered incentive grants and instant grants to participating nonprofits totaling $13,500. The bonus grants helped to increase the urgency of donors to give to participating nonprofits to help them earn even more money.

The total amount raised by the nonprofits surpasses the 2015 total of $915,000.

“The 2016 number is very impressive,” said Linda Engh-Grady, president of the Whitefish Community Foundation.

The 2015 campaign included a single gift of $200,000 to one organization, whereas donations in the 2016 campaign were more evenly distributed. Excluding the $200,000 gift from the 2015 totals brings the 2016 campaign results to a 38 percent increase. Several organizations raised more than $60,000 through the 2016 challenge.

“It is more than just raising money; it is about raising mission awareness,” Engh-Grady said.

Online and mailed donations poured into the foundation office during the final two weeks of the campaign. Foundation Vice President of Finance and Operations Daria Perez said that over $500,000 was processed in the final two weeks of the campaign.

“It was exciting to see many new donors give through the Challenge this year. It means the concept is catching on,” Engh-Grady said.

The Whitefish Community Foundation processed all the gifts for the campaign. All the costs of the campaign and the signature color run were covered by the foundation with the help of local sponsors so that 100 percent of all donations went to the designated charities.