More than $350,000 was donated to the Whitefish Community Foundation’s Great Fish Community Challenge on the final day of the challenge on Sept. 15. The preliminary total for the 45 participating nonprofits tallied at $1.58 million.

Donors gave generously online, in the mail, or hand delivered their donations up until the very last minute, according to the community foundation.

The total is an increase of more than $430,000 over last year’s numbers and does not include the final match fund.

Nearly all of the nonprofits succeeded in raising at least $20,000, which is the maximum amount eligible to be matched. The match percentage is being calculated by the Whitefish Community Foundation and will be announced at the third annual Great Fish Challenge Awards Celebration.

The Awards Celebration, a public event, is Thursday, Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs bar at Casey’s.

Several bonus grants will be announced at the Awards Celebration.

The Great Fish Award, originally presented to a nonprofit to recognize its outstanding contributions to the community and included a $2,500 grant, is being reorganized. The new Great Fish Award will include a $5,000 grant and will recognize a nonprofit that exhibits outstanding participation in all areas of the challenge.

It is selected each year by the Whitefish Community Foundation Board of Directors. A $1,000 grant will be presented to the nonprofit winner of the Jingle Contest for the most creative jingle representing the true spirit of the Great Fish Community Challenge. Several other bonus grants will also be announced. Over $15,000 has been awarded during the challenge through incentive and bonus grants.

For more information about the Whitefish Community Foundation visit www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.