Great Fish Community Challenge nets over $6.2 million for nonprofits

Whitefish Community Foundation awarded more than $6.2 million to 77 Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations during the Great Fish Awards Celebration Tuesday evening. The total amount awarded included $5,298,898 donated by 3,111 donors during the five-week Great Fish Community Challenge, plus $924,331 from the Great Fish Match Fund.

The Great Fish Match is made possible by Whitefish Community Foundation’s Circle of Giving and those who donated directly to the match fund during the Challenge. This year’s percentage match was the largest in the history of the Challenge at 62 percent on the first $20,000 raised by each nonprofit, resulting in a maximum matching grant of $12,400 per organization. Whitefish Community Foundation also awarded $39,700 in incentive grants throughout the Challenge, bringing the grand total awarded through this year’s Great Fish Community Challenge to $6,262,929, a 23 percent increase over last year.

“We are amazed by our donors and inspired by our local nonprofits. The spirit of the Challenge is ‘teamwork,’ and this year, we all worked together to create a truly astounding impact for our nonprofit community.” Alan Davis