Giving Together: 12 days left to multiply your impact

On this Labor Day weekend, Whitefish Community Foundation is celebrating the hard-working nonprofits of the Flathead Valley and the generous donors who fuel their missions. From caring for youth and feeding families, to preserving open space and creating affordable housing, our local nonprofits enrich life for all of us. And behind each of these efforts are donors who believe in their work.

With just 12 days left in the Great Fish Community Challenge, donors are showing up strong. More than 1,500 individuals have already raised over $2 million for 85 Flathead Valley nonprofits. Some are giving for the very first time, while others have donated every year since the inaugural Challenge in 2015. Many donors look forward to learning how their gifts will help nonprofits deliver impactful programs and services. No matter the size of the contribution, every donor is vital to the health and success of our community.

Evan and Sadie Harris, along with their team at Harris Financial, embody this spirit of giving. As both donors and sponsors of the Challenge, they recently shared: “The Flathead is our home and we want to see it thrive! We can’t encourage you enough—find something you’re passionate about and support it.”

Their words remind us that philanthropy is most powerful when it connects passion to action.

One reason the Great Fish Community Challenge is such an effective time to give is that every donation has the opportunity to go further. At the close of the campaign, Whitefish Community Foundation will award a percentage match on $25,000 raised by each nonprofit. This match is made possible by our Circle of Giving donors and others who contribute directly to the Great Fish Match Fund.

In addition, the Challenge includes weekly incentive grants designed to inspire giving. Each week, nonprofits that secure gifts from 25 or more unique donors are entered into a drawing for a $2,500 incentive grant. So far Nate Chute Foundation and CASA for Kids have earned this boost. The count resets every Thursday at midnight, giving organizations multiple chances to win. You can follow the leaderboard and track the progress of all 85 organizations at whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.

This year’s Challenge carries special meaning as Whitefish Community Foundation celebrates 25 years of strengthening philanthropy in the Flathead Valley. The impact we see today is possible only because of the unwavering commitment of donors and nonprofits working together year after year.

The Challenge runs through Friday, September 12 at 5 p.m. I hope you will join us in supporting the hard-working organizations that keep our valley strong. With one transaction, you can support multiple nonprofits and receive a single tax receipt. You can give with a credit card, check, appreciated stock, a charitable distribution from an IRA, private foundation, or from a Donor Advised Fund. Give us a call at (406) 863-1781 or visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org to make your gift.

Together, we can celebrate this Labor Day not only by honoring work, but by investing in the people and nonprofits that make our community thrive.

Alan Davis is the President/CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. He can be reached at [email protected] or (406) 863-1781.