BHACF, in cooperation with the Beverly and Lloyd Paulson Family fund, is offering a match on all contributions made to an agency or designated endowment fund from December 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 up to a total of $100,000. The maximum that any one fund can receive in challenge matching funds is $10,000.

The first year’s earnings from the Paulson Family’s endowment will fund the matching grant, encouraging new contributions to area organizations.

“We offered to match 5 percent on contributions made this year to a new or existing fund that benefits a charitable agency,” said Lloyd Paulson. “The foundation’s board of directors liked this idea so much that they decided to commit the same percentage of their own grant-making dollars to provide an incentive totaling 10% to prospective donors.

The amount for this challenge is $100,000, with $50,000 coming from the Paulson Family Fund and $50,000 from BHACF funds. Contributions for the matching grant must be made to a new or existing BHACF endowment fund that benefits a named charity. The maximum match offered to any one fund is $10,000. The challenge will end either when the entire $100,000 has been committed or on December 31, 2010.