give local

Give Local Is Voluntary

Participating businesses add a voluntary 1% contribution to the Give Local initiative to their customers’ bills; customers may opt out at any time.

Give Local Supports Housing Grants

Participating businesses send all Give Local contributions to the Park County Community Foundation (PCCF), which allocates them exclusively to their Housing priority funding area.

PCCF will distribute Give Local funds through their annual We Will grant program to local nonprofits supporting housing for Park County residents at every stage of life.

Housing Is Central to Cost of Living 

When housing costs are high, research shows “the rent eats first”—people will forgo critical spending on food, healthcare, childcare, and transportation to afford housing. Supporting housing access is an effective way to address cost-of-living concerns.

Give Local Is Community-Supported 

Give Local is the culmination of six years of work by more than 50 community members working with the Park County Housing Coalition. It is modeled after Explore Whitefish’s Community Support Fund, which has sustained community initiatives for 20 years.

Give Local Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Park County Voluntary 1% Housing Pilot Program?

A: This is a voluntary, six‑month pilot running from July–December 2026 in which participating businesses add an optional 1% community housing donation to customer bills or make a direct gift to the fund. The pilot will help Park County test the model before a possible wider launch in 2027.

Q: Why is Park County launching this pilot?

A: Housing is one of Park County’s most pressing challenges. The pilot creates a new, sustainable, tourism‑supported source of revenue to help address it—without placing additional burden on local residents.

Q: Why a pilot?

A: A pilot allows Park County to test the model, gather feedback, and make improvements before launching a long-term program.

Q: How long is the pilot?

A: July 1 through December 31, 2026.

Q: Who decides whether the program continues?

A: Continuation of the program and potential program expansion will depend on community participation and feedback from businesses and community organizations.

Q: Is the 1% donation required?

A: No. Participation is voluntary for businesses, and customers can opt out.

Q: How does the 1% donation work?

A: Participating businesses add a 1% line item to customer receipts. The contribution is completely voluntary—customers can decline it at any time by request.

Q: Where will the money go?

A: All funds generated through the pilot will go directly into PCCF’s Housing priority area—one of the community priorities identified annually through PCCF’s We Will grants program, which relies on resident input and hard data to guide investments.

Q: How will the funds be distributed?

A: Dollars collected through the pilot will be granted out through PCCF’s We Will grant program, which awards funds to local nonprofits addressing community‑identified needs, including housing development, preservation, and access.

Q: Is this a tax or mandatory fee?

A: No. This is not a tax. Participation is voluntary for businesses, and the contribution is optional for customers.

Q: Why involve visitors?

A: Park County’s tourism economy is strong, and visitors benefit from the services and workforce that make the county thrive. As costs continue to rise faster than local incomes, this model gives visitors a simple way to give back to the community they love, supporting local workers and families.

Q: What will be evaluated during the pilot?

A: The pilot will assess:

• Business participation and operational fit

• Customer response

• Administrative burden on PCCF AND local businesses

• Total funds raised

• Impact on housing access, availability, and preservation

• Impact on philanthropic investment into PCCF’s Housing and Affordability fund

• Ease of implementation

• Community feedback

• Monetary support of long‑term housing strategies

Q: Which businesses can participate?

A: Any Park County business is welcome to join the pilot—lodging, retail, guides/outfitters, food & beverage, and more. We are prioritizing businesses that predominantly serve Park County’s visitor economy. Contact PCCF to inquire about participation.

Q: How will the community be informed about outcomes?

A: At the end of the pilot, PCCF will publish a public report summarizing funds raised, grants awarded, business and customer feedback, and recommendations for next steps.

Q: What types of grants will the dollars from the pilot program support?

A: All funds generated through the pilot will be granted out through PCCF’s We Will grant program, specifically within the Housing priority area. This priority is identified each year through community input and hard data to determine Park County’s most urgent needs. For more information: https://www.pccf-montana.org/need

Grants will be directed at supporting rentals, home ownership opportunities, and other types of community housing affordable to Park County locals. These efforts could include: emergency housing, transitional housing, homebuyer readiness and education, down payment assistance, land acquisition for attainable housing, creation and preservation of resident-owned communities and cooperatives, and home repair programs for low- and moderate-income homeowners.

Since 2007, PCCF has granted more than $20 million to nonprofits serving Park County.