Campaign Launches With Largest Ever Matching Pool
Monday, July 1st, kicked off of the sixth annual GIVE A HOOT campaign, hosted by the Park County Community Foundation. GIVE A HOOT is Park County’s month-long community-giving challenge that inspires people to support their community by donating to local nonprofits. From July 1st to July 31st, people can give to their favorite Park County nonprofits and unlock partial matching grants—making their gifts go further. In its first five years, the campaign has raised over $7.8 million from nearly 16,000 donations in support of 97 participating nonprofit organizations.
“As housing prices rise, it’s become much more expensive for locals to live in Park County, and this has only amplified the need for a well-funded and high-capacity nonprofit sector, explains Gavin Clark, executive director of the Park County Community Foundation. “GIVE-A-HOOT is really a fun celebration of our nonprofit sector. It’s not just about raising money—it’s about praising and highlighting the work that nonprofits do year-round for 12 months, 365 days, nonstop.”
Thanks to the generosity of a core group of committed philanthropists and businesses, all gifts made by the public to participating nonprofits will be eligible for partial matching funds. GIVE A HOOT Matching Pool Supporters not only provide partial matching funds but also ensure participation is free for nonprofits, allowing for 100 percent of all donations to go to the donor-designated nonprofits.
The 2024 campaign is opening with a record-breaking $430,000 in the Matching Pool and community members are invited to make additional gifts into the matching pool throughout the campaign. As a further incentive, the JAKET Foundation has agreed to match additional donations directly to the Matching Pool dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
“GIVE A HOOT was created to inspire people from across Park County to support and celebrate our local nonprofits," said Clark. "This year’s Matching Pool supporters not only amplify the impact of every donation but also inspire a profound culture of community philanthropy. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Park County."
Last summer’s GIVE A HOOT closed with $427,000 in the Matching Pool, ensuring that participating organizations received $0.41 for every dollar they raised, with five organizations receiving the maximum partial match of $15,000 and an additional fourteen organizations receiving a partial match of $10,000.
The 2024 Matching Pool Supporters are the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, in conjunction with Montana Rail Link, Willow Creek Ranch, the JAKET Foundation, the Solso Family Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, John & Bernice Gillespie, the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation, Diana & Bruce Rauner, Fishcamp Custom, Frontline Ag Solutions, Donald B. Gimbel, Livingston’s Ace Hardware, HighCamp Compliance, Community Closet, First Interstate Bank, glassybaby foundation, Sal & Carol Lalani, Opportunity Bank of Montana, Joe Phelps, Printing For Less, Sibanye Stillwater, and The Office in Livingston.
This year’s GIVE A HOOT includes a record 94 nonprofits. Ten of these organizations are participating for the first time, including the Artemis Institute and Friends of Park County Search and Rescue Team.
The Artemis Institute supports cultural projects focused on our connection to nature, including community constructions such as the Pine Creek Pavilion, and they plan to use the money raised during GIVE A HOOT to expand coverage through their new publication “Yellowstonian.”
Friends of Park County Search and Rescue Team is a recently founded organization that supports the Sheriff's dedicated volunteer Search and Rescue Team in performing its mission of performing search and rescue operations for the citizens and visitors to Park County. A full list of participating nonprofits and additional information can be found at www.give-a-hoot.org.
“With 94 organizations, this year’s campaign offers a wide range of choices for where to direct your donation, explains Barb Oldershaw, program director of the Park County Community Foundation. “Gifts can be as small as $5 and are a great way to show your support for the vital contributions made by Park County’s nonprofit organizations.
Gifts can be made online with a credit card at www.give-a-hoot.org. Donations can also be made by check payable to “Park County Community Foundation” and mailed with a donation form to PO Box 2199, Livingston, MT 59047 or dropped off at GIVE A HOOT Headquarters located in the Park County Community Foundation’s office at 104 S. Main St. in Livingston. The public is also invited to stop by GIVE A HOOT Headquarters Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm during the month of July to learn more about participating organizations or to donate in person.
Note that the office is closed on the 4th of July but will be open during the Livingston Roundup Parade on Tuesday, July 2nd and during Art Walk on the evening of Friday, July 26th. The Park County Community Foundation will also be sponsoring the July 31st Livingston Farmers Market featuring representatives from sixteen participating nonprofit organizations.
Please call the Park County Community Foundation at 406-224-3920 with any questions about how to contribute during the 6th annual GIVE A HOOT community giving challenge.
Donation brochures were mailed this week to homes and post office boxes county-wide and more information can be found online at give-a-hoot.org. GIVE A HOOT is made possible thanks to the long-term support and generosity of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, in conjunction with Montana Rail Link, and Willow Creek Ranch.
“Locals supporting locals is central to the spirit of GIVE-A-HOOT but it’s much bigger than that, as is the sense of community many feel, clarifies Clark. “Seasonal residents who are here for the summer have an opportunity to support the things they value which is present in the local non-profit groups advocating for them. You also have millions of people passing through on their way to Yellowstone and who fall in love with Park County along the way. This is their opportunity to give back to a place that has left a positive impression on their lives.”