Whitefish Community Foundation will host informational meetings this month for nonprofits interested in learning about 2026 grant program eligibility requirements and the application process.

Nonprofits that did not participate in the 2025 Great Fish Community Challenge must attend one of these meetings to be eligible to apply to participate in the 2026 Challenge. Nonprofits that plan to apply for a Community Grant or Youth Sports Grant are highly encouraged to attend one of the meetings. 

Two meeting options are available. One is Thursday, Jan. 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Flathead Valley Community College in room 139 of the Arts & Technology Building. The second is Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

The Community Grant Program is accepting applications from Jan. 12 through Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. Eligible nonprofits may apply for up to $10,000 for programs or projects benefiting residents of Flathead County or for health and human service programs benefiting residents of Lincoln and Glacier counties.

The Community Grant Program will prioritize funding requests from organizations that do not participate in the Great Fish Community Challenge. Organizations that participated in the 2025 Challenge may apply for funding for unforeseen needs or opportunities that fall outside of the projects and programs funded through last year’s Challenge.

The Youth Sports Grant Program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits running Flathead Valley youth sports programs, as well as 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting school-sanctioned but not funded school sports programs. Youth sports organizations that did not participate in the 2025 Great Fish Community Challenge should apply to the Youth Sports Grant Program. This program is accepting applications from Jan. 12 through Feb. 19 at 5 p.m., and the maximum request is $5,000.

All grant applications must be submitted through Whitefish Community Foundation’s online granting platform. Additional information and eligibility requirements can be found at whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/community-grant-programs. For assistance, contact the Foundation at (406) 863-1781 or [email protected].

As the Flathead Valley’s home for charitable giving, Whitefish Community Foundation brings together donors and nonprofits to cultivate a passion for charitable giving and improve quality of life. For more information, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.