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Whitefish Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,415,075 (2023)
  • Assets: $70 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $130,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Flathead Valley, MT (Flathead, Lincoln, and Glacier counties)
  • Application Method: Fixed annual deadline (Community Grant Program)

Contact Details

Address: 214 Second Street West, P.O. Box 1060, Whitefish, Montana 59937

Phone: (406) 863-1781

Email: contact@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org

Website: https://whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/

Pre-Application Support: Nonprofits planning to apply for a Community Grant or Youth Sports Grant are highly encouraged to attend informational meetings held in January each year

Overview

Whitefish Community Foundation was established around 2000 and has since granted over $100 million to support nonprofits across the Flathead Valley. The Foundation has grown to become the second-largest community foundation in Montana, with assets reaching $70 million in 2024 and contributing $13,415,075 in grants during 2023. The Foundation's mission is to bring together donors and nonprofits to cultivate a passion for giving and improve quality of life for everyone in the Flathead Valley. Their strategic approach encompasses multiple grant programs addressing health, education, youth homelessness, wildlife protection, and capital projects. The Foundation manages over $16 million in permanently endowed assets and more than $24 million in Donor Advised Fund assets.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grant Program: $1,000 - $10,000

  • Annual cycle with fixed deadline
  • Supports programs or projects benefiting Flathead County residents, or health and human service programs benefiting Lincoln and Glacier counties residents
  • Application opens January 12, closes February 19 at 5 p.m.
  • Online application portal

Youth Sports Grant: Up to $5,000 annually

  • For Flathead Valley youth sports organizations that do not participate in the Great Fish Community Challenge and do not receive school funding
  • Application opens January 12, closes February 19 at 5 p.m.

Micro Grant Program: Up to $1,000

  • Rolling basis, once per year per organization
  • Designed to assist small nonprofits with immediate needs
  • Online application through granting platform
  • Organizations receiving a Community Grant or participating in Great Fish Community Challenge are not eligible

Kids Fund: Varies (grants of $50,000 - $100,000+ awarded)

  • Created in 2019, nearly $750,000 awarded to date
  • Supports programs serving youth who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless
  • Focus areas: education, health, and safety
  • Increases access to educational opportunities, tutoring, job skills training, stable housing, and basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene)

Major Community Project Grants: $50,000 - $130,000+

  • For significant capital projects and organizational expansion
  • Recent examples include facility construction, equipment replacement, building renovation, and accessibility improvements

Great Fish Community Challenge: Varies

  • Multi-week charitable giving campaign held annually (August 12 - September 12)
  • Organizations receive 100% of designated gifts plus percentage match on first $25,000 raised
  • Participation is free for nonprofits
  • Has raised over $43 million for Flathead Valley nonprofits since 2015
  • Acceptance notifications sent mid-June

Priority Areas

  • Education initiatives (including music programs, instruments, tutoring, job skills training)
  • Youth services and preventing youth homelessness
  • Health and human services
  • Mental health and suicide prevention
  • Affordable housing and homelessness support
  • Adaptive recreation and accessibility projects
  • Arts and culture programs
  • Addiction recovery services
  • Environmental protection and wildlife conservation
  • Capital projects and organizational infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations operating under fiscal sponsorships (all grant programs)
  • Special events created specifically to raise funds for the Great Fish Community Challenge
  • Organizations must have submitted all required documentation for previous grant awards by specified deadlines to remain eligible

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 15 local individuals deeply involved with the Foundation's work and the community. The organization employs two full-time and three part-time staff members who manage grant programs, donor relations, finance, and nonprofit capacity-building efforts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Grant Program and Youth Sports Grant:

  • Application opens: January 12
  • Application deadline: February 19 at 5 p.m.
  • Submit through online granting platform at whitefishcommunityfoundation.org
  • Detailed eligibility requirements and instructions available on website
  • Highly encouraged to attend informational meetings (held in late January)

Micro Grant Program:

  • Rolling applications accepted throughout the year
  • Can apply once annually per organization
  • Online application portal

Great Fish Community Challenge:

  • Separate application process
  • Acceptance notifications sent mid-June (June 16-18)
  • Campaign runs August 12 - September 12
  • Participation is free for nonprofits

Decision Timeline

Great Fish Community Challenge: Acceptance notifications sent between June 16-18 for participation in August-September campaign

Community Grant Program and Youth Sports Grant: Specific notification dates not publicly disclosed; applications close February 19

Success Rates

Recent awards data shows strong funding activity:

  • 154 awards in 2023
  • 131 awards in 2022
  • 136 awards in 2021
  • 109 awards in 2020

In April 2025, the Foundation awarded $477,750 to 52 nonprofit organizations. In October 2024, $6.68 million was awarded to 80 nonprofits during the Great Fish Awards Ceremony. The Community Grant Program awarded $743,455 to 132 local organizations in one recent cycle.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions on reapplication were found. Organizations can apply once annually for Micro Grants. The Foundation encourages small nonprofits to apply for Community Grants as a stepping stone to being considered for Great Fish Community Challenge participation.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance:

  • Small nonprofits are encouraged to apply for a Community Grant to help the foundation become acquainted with the organization; "receiving a Community Grant is often a stepping stone to being considered as a Great Fish Community Challenge participant"
  • Attend informational meetings held in January - the Foundation strongly encourages attendance for applicants to understand eligibility requirements and application processes
  • Review past awardees lists to understand types of projects funded
  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit charities, publicly-owned tax-exempt corporations, 501(c)(4) service organizations, or 501(c)(6) trade organizations presenting projects that serve charitable purposes
  • Programs or services must benefit residents of the Flathead Valley (Flathead County) or Eureka, or provide health and human services to Lincoln and Glacier counties
  • Must provide proof of current tax-exempt status at time of application

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

  • Nate Chute Foundation: $100,000 multi-year Kids Fund Grant for peer-to-peer mental health and suicide prevention training in schools
  • DREAM Adaptive Recreation: $125,000 for construction of fully-accessible headquarters at Whitefish Mountain Resort
  • North Valley Music School: $130,000 for construction of new music campus
  • Northwest Montana Community Land Trust: $120,000 for acquisition of affordable homes
  • Miracle League of Northwest Montana: $50,000 to resurface accessible baseball field
  • Whitefish Education Foundation: $45,000 to replace band and orchestra instruments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Build relationship progressively: Start with smaller Community Grants ($1,000-$10,000) to establish a relationship before pursuing larger opportunities or Great Fish Community Challenge participation
  • Geographic alignment is essential: Programs must clearly benefit Flathead Valley residents (or health/human services in Lincoln and Glacier counties)
  • Attend January informational meetings: The Foundation strongly encourages attendance - these sessions provide critical insights into application requirements and processes
  • Diverse funding opportunities: Multiple pathways to funding depending on organization size and project scope - from $1,000 Micro Grants to $130,000+ Major Project Grants
  • Capital projects welcomed: Recent awards show strong support for facility construction, equipment replacement, and accessibility improvements alongside program funding
  • Documentation matters: Previous grantees must submit all required documentation by deadlines to remain eligible for future funding
  • Youth focus areas prioritized: Programs addressing youth homelessness, mental health, education access, and basic needs receive significant support through the Kids Fund

References

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