Pre-Event Requirements
- The event must produce room nights at Kalispell hotels, with marketing targeted to attract visitors from outside a 100-mile radius of the city of Kalispell.
- Event organizers must exclusively promote the Discover Kalispell lodging list in any event promotions. A link to the lodging directory or event room blocks on discoverkalispell.com must be included on the event website and in correspondence to participants, vendors, staff and spectators.
- The Discover Kalispell logo and website must be included in all promotional materials.
- Discover Kalispell must be able to display banners or other branding materials at the event.
- Discover Kalispell must be listed as a key sponsor in all materials.
- Applicants shall have an active status as a Montana nonprofit organization or a recognized tribal government or any recognized government organization.
Ineligible Expenses – Funds may not be used for:
- Reimbursement to teams/participants to offset registration cost
- Event insurance
- Event staff wages
- Activities (non-operational event elements)
- Permanent structures or event infrastructure (ex. permanent fencing)
Application Process and Selection Criteria
- Event Grant Application must be submitted a minimum of 60 days prior to actual event. Application must be complete and accurate.
- The grant applicant or representative must attend a regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Directors to present information on the application and be available for any questions. Those meetings are scheduled on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Zoom option is available. Applications are usually reviewed by the Board of Directors within a two-month period depending on time of submission and the meeting schedule.
- The application will be evaluated and scored by the TBID Board of Directors. (See Below: Event Grant Application Scoring System)
- Notice of award will be provided by Discover Kalispell following a vote by the TBID Board of Directors.
Event Grant Application Scoring System
| Anticipated Number of Room Nights Event Will Generate | 25 |
| New or Growing Event | 20 |
| Held in the shoulder or winter seasons (Oct-Apr) | 15 |
| Marketing plan for the event and promotion of Discover Kalispell sponsorship | 15 |
| Sustainable in future years | 10 |
| Lead time to promote event and Discover Kalispell lodging | 5 |
| Appeal to Kalispell visitors | 5 |
| Total Score | 100 |
A minimum score of 70 is required for any grant funding to be awarded
Post-Event Requirements
Grants Under $5,000
- A written post-event report to be submitted by the applicant. The report form will be be provided by Discover Kalispell.
Grants of $5,000 or more
- A written post-event report. Form will be provided by Discover Kalispell.
- A post-event presentation by the applicant to the Discover Kalispell Board of Directors at a regularly scheduled meeting.
- Event P&L financial report.
Disbursement of Grant Funds
Grants Under $5,000
50% of the grant funds will be disbursed within 15 days after receipt of an invoice submitted by event organizer. The remaining 50% will be disbursed on completion of the written post event report (as provided by Discover Kalispell). Report must be received no later than 30 days after the event.
Grants of $5,000 or more
No funds will be disbursed until pre-event requirements are met. Upon completion of pre-event requirements, 50% of awarded grant funds will be paid 15 days after receipt of invoice submitted by event organizer. 50% of the funds will be retained until completion of the written post-event report and the presentation to the board. Report must be received no later than 30 days after the event.
If The Event Is Cancelled
Grantees are expected to make every reasonable effort to carry out funded events as described in their application. We recognize that unforeseen circumstances may impact the ability to proceed as planned.
If the event is cancelled due to: 1) a climate-related or natural disaster, 2) venue-related issues that prevent the event from taking place, 3) low registration numbers, or 4) any other unforeseen circumstance that renders the event unfeasible:
- Notify Discover Kalispell in writing as soon as possible.
- Provide a financial report showing what has been paid from the grant funds.
- At discretion of the granting organization, awarded funds paid prior to the cancellation of event may be:
- returned in part or in full by the grantee
- deferred to a rescheduled event if applicable and feasible
- reallocated with written permission to a modified event format aligned with the grant application goals
