Terms & Conditions
- Sponsor. The contest is sponsored by Chief Financial Credit Union ("Chief"), Rochester Hills, Michigan. The contest is hosted on the Launchpad6 platform.
- No purchase or membership necessary. Entering, voting, and winning do not require a purchase, an account, or membership with Chief.
- Eligibility. Open to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in good standing, that serve communities in Michigan. Organizations whose officers or directors are Chief employees or board members may enter, but those individuals may not vote for that entry.
- Entry period. Entries are accepted from 12:00 AM ET on October 5, 2026, through 11:59 PM ET on October 31, 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.
- Categories. Each organization enters one category based on total revenue reported on its most recent IRS Form 990: Under $2 Million (under $2,000,000) or $2 Million and Up($2,000,000 or more). Chief may move an entry to the correct category or ask for documentation.
- How to enter. Complete the online entry form and upload one video, 60 to 90 seconds long, that describes who the organization serves and what a $10,000 grant would help it do. Limit one entry per organization.
- Content standards. Videos must be the entrant's original work and must not contain copyrighted music or material the entrant does not have the right to use, defamatory or offensive content, or political campaign or partisan content. Everyone who appears must have consented, and minors must have parent or guardian permission. Chief may reject any entry that does not meet these terms.
- License to use. By entering, the organization grants Chief a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to display, share, and use the video, organization name, and logo in connection with the contest and Chief's marketing and community communications. The organization keeps ownership of its video.
- Voting. Round 1 runs November 1 to November 14, 2026, and includes all approved entries. The top 3 entries by vote count in each category advance to Round 2, which runs November 15 to November 28, 2026. Round 2 vote counts start at zero. Voters may vote once per entry, per day, using a verified email address. All times are Eastern.
- Vote integrity. Votes generated by bots, scripts, purchased services, fake or duplicate email addresses, or any other method that circumvents the one-vote-per-day limit are void. Chief and Launchpad6 may remove fraudulent votes and may disqualify any entry that benefits from them. Chief's decisions on vote validity are final.
- Winner determination. In each category, the entry with the most valid Round 2 votes wins. If there is a tie, the entry with more valid Round 1 votes wins.
- Awards. Two grants of $10,000 each, one per category, for a total of $20,000. Grants are paid to the winning organization only, not to individuals, and may not be transferred or exchanged. Winners must verify eligibility and provide a W-9 and EIN before payment.
- Grants are unrestricted.
- Announcement. Winners will be announced on December 1, 2026, and notified by email. If a winner cannot be verified or does not respond within [10] business days, the grant may go to the next-highest vote-getter in that category.
- Publicity. Winners agree that Chief may use the organization's name, logo, video, and photos from any check presentation in announcements and marketing, without further compensation.
- Privacy. Entrant and voter information is collected to run the contest. Chief will not sell it. Voters and entrants are added to Chief marketing emails only if they separately opt in.
- Limitation of liability. Chief and Launchpad6 are not responsible for technical failures, lost or late entries, interrupted voting, or errors beyond their reasonable control. Chief may modify, suspend, or end the contest if fraud or technical problems affect its fairness.
- Governing law. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.
- Questions. Email contest@chiefonline.com.
