The Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) has announced the official kickoff of Match Madness, a high-impact campaign to build long-term sustainability for local nonprofits through endowment growth, in celebration of the foundation’s 25th anniversary.

Through the Match Madness Phase One: Endowment Challenge, participating organizations that raise $5,000 from outside donors between April 15 and May 16 will receive a dollar-for-dollar match of $5,000 from MACF into their endowment funds held at the foundation.

“We launched Match Madness to inspire momentum for long-term giving while supporting the incredible nonprofits that serve our region,” said Jason Zimmerman, president at MACF. “This initiative is about more than matching dollars. It’s about strengthening organizations for generations to come.”

Existing Agency Funds selected to participate in the Match Madness Endowment Challenge are Greater Minot Zoological Society, Men’s Winter Refuge, Magic City Discovery Center, Dakota Hope Clinic, Domestic Violence Crisis Center, The Difference-A Holistic Approach, Souris Valley United Way, Minot Catholic School Foundation, Minot Area Council of the Arts, Minot Commission on Aging, Hostfest-Heritage Foundation, Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports and Minot Public School Foundation.

New Agency Endowment Funds that are participating are Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, The Lord’s Cupboard, F5 Project and Local Motives.

MACF also is offering a special match opportunity for Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). The first five donor advised funds opened at the foundation will receive a $5,000 matching contribution to help kickstart the fund’s impact. Donor advised funds offer individuals and families a way to give back to their community in a flexible, tax-efficient and meaningful way.

Community members can support participating nonprofits by:

– Mailing a check to MACF (made payable to Minot Community Foundation with the nonprofit’s

endowment name in the memo).

– Dropping off donations at the MACF office.

– Making small gifts online through MACF’s Match Madness PayPal link.

Gifts of $5,000 or more to qualified endowment funds may also be eligible for the 40% North Dakota Charitable Income Tax Credit.