2025 Match Month Campaign: Building a better today and tomorrow

November has arrived, and with it comes one of the most powerful giving opportunities of the year for Sheridan County. The Sheridan County Community Foundation (SCCF) has officially launched its 10th Annual Match Month campaign, a month-long effort to raise $100,000 in local donations that will be tripled in value through matching support from two partner foundations.

Throughout the month of November, every gift made to SCCF will go three times as far thanks to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Patterson Family Foundation. Both organizations have pledged matching funds that make it possible for every $1 donated to equal $3 in total community impact — strengthening the long-term future of Sheridan County through local philanthropy.

“This is more than a fundraiser, it’s an investment in our county’s future,” said Karl Pratt, SCCF Executive Director. “The generosity shown each November builds real capacity for our nonprofits, schools, and civic groups. Every donation during Match Month helps ensure we can continue supporting local projects year after year.”

Through the Hansen Foundation’s Match Month initiative, the first $50,000 in local donations will be matched 100% and directed to SCCF’s Cultivate Sheridan County Grant Fund, an endowed community fund that fuels annual grantmaking across the county. When that target is reached, SCCF also unlocks an additional $45,000 for its operating endowment and $5,000 in unrestricted funds to sustain daily operations.

The Patterson Family Foundation has added another layer of opportunity by offering matching funds up to $100,000, effectively tripling the value of every contribution received throughout November.

“This unique partnership means local generosity has never gone further,” Pratt noted. “Together, we can raise $100,000 and turn it into $300,000 of lasting support for Sheridan County.”

Proceeds from Match Month are invested in the Cultivate Sheridan County Fund, a permanent endowment created to generate ongoing grant dollars for community needs.

Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded $1,613,899 in total grants and scholarships, including $92,392.20 in 2025 alone. This year’s grants have supported education, health, arts, recreation, and community development projects across Sheridan County.

“The endowment model ensures that Sheridan County always has a dependable source of charitable funding,” Pratt said. “When we reach our Match Month goal, we don’t just meet this year’s needs, we create a permanent source of opportunity for decades to come.”

Donations to the Sheridan County Community Foundation’s Match Month campaign may be made in several convenient ways throughout November. Contributions can be mailed to the Foundation at P.O. Box 445, Hoxie, KS 67740 (please ensure checks are dated within November 2025). Donors may also stop by the Foundation’s offices, located inside Bottle KAP Studios at 721 Main Street in Hoxie, to make their gift in person. For those who prefer to give online, secure donations can be made anytime at www.growsheridancounty.org/matchmonth2025.

As the Foundation celebrates ten years of participating in the Hansen Foundation’s Match Month program, it continues to express heartfelt thanks to all donors—past and present—who have fueled this success story.

“The generosity of this community is what keeps Sheridan County thriving,” Pratt said. “And we’re deeply grateful to the Hansen and Patterson Family Foundations for making every gift go further. When we work together, we ensure Sheridan County’s strength not just for today, but forever.”

SCCF is an affiliate of the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation based in Bird City. The foundation seeks to encourage, prudently manage, and distribute charitable contributions to improve the quality of life of Sheridan County residents, now and in the future. To learn more, contact Pratt at 785-677-5090, director@growsheridancounty.org, or visit www.growsheridancounty.org. Connect with SCCF at www.facebook.com/sheridanccf.