The Background: Like many other Western mountain communities, Red Lodge is growing, and that growth poses a variety of challenges. Our community needs more affordable housing, adequate health care, social services, and support of the arts. Existing nonprofit organizations are also growing and new ones being created to try to respond to these needs. At the same time, contribution dollars and sources of grants in Red Lodge and Montana are limited.

     The Challenge: For Red Lodge, the dual challenge is to increase charitable contributions to meet the needs of our community and to foster collaboration among the nonprofit organizations, so fund-raising can be conducted more efficiently and effectively. Not only will the nonprofits benefit, but also businesses and individuals in the community will appreciate a more simplified way of making contributions.

     A Solution: The Fun Run is a festive, outdoors event that serves as a community-wide fund-raising initiative, to support our nonprofit organizations and their goals and missions. The RLACF will act as the organizing hub and then disburse the raised funds to each nonprofit. In addition, the RLACF will take the lead in soliciting match grants (see explanation below), which is key to leveraging the fund-raising potential of the event.

     The Event: The Fun Run will include 10K and 5K Runs and a 2K Fun Walk. We will invite runners and walkers of all ages to participate, and dogs on leashes will be welcome. The day will include a costume contest and other special features. To participate, each nonprofit must contribute work and support to the Run and have at least one participant in the run/walk.

How the Fun Run Works

     Donations: Fun Run donors/racers make a single contribution to the RLACF, recommending one or more qualified nonprofits as beneficiaries. You may also make a contribution without participating in the run/walk by filling out just the donor side of the participant’s form. The RLACF collects all of these gifts and tracks how much each nonprofit has received. Then, the matching component is added to that gift.

     Match Funds: The RLACF needs to invite donors to support this effort with Match Funds – that is, a major donor would pledge funds to match contributions up to whatever amount he or she wishes. Let’s say, for example, that a generous donor pledges to donate contributions up to $500. If we raise $1,200 in contributions, the match donor will match $500 of that amount, for total contributions of $1,700. $1,700 will be divided among participating nonprofit organizations. Each nonprofit will receive funds earmarked by donors for that nonprofit, plus a share of the general funds raised, plus an equal amount from the Match Funds.

     Please contact us via or call Sally Martin, Chairperson, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation, at 406-446-1867 or Toll Free: 1-866-446-1867.

     Long-Term Results for the Community: This is “one-stop philanthropic shopping,” similar to how the United Way serves so many communities. By sending one check or making one stock transfer, a donor can make a big difference to multiple nonprofits. The Fun Run event itself is a spirited, fun experience of bonding for the entire community. Importantly, we will show our children the benefits to self and community of maintaining a charitable outlook. As always, the whole will be greater and stronger than the sum of the individuals.