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Lightning Class Association
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Date: 1/25/2026
Subject: Fuel The Flash 2030 Progress Update
From: International Lightning Class Association



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Fuel The Flash 2030  
Progress Update     Donate now  
 
What did we accomplish in 2025? We exceeded expectations for the first year of the fundraising campaign, both in participation and in funds raised. Six donations of $10,000 or more, including a much larger donation specifically aimed at the Mold/Tooling initiative, were received bringing our total 2025 donations to $385,000! 
  • 345 people donated to the Class in 2025 – that’s fantastic! 
  • Those who gave under $1000 raised more than $30,000 total – not including the $25,000 match which almost doubled those donations. 
We’re well underway with some of the planned Fuel The Flash 2030 initiatives to secure the future of the Class, including addressing these 5 Focus Areas:  
  • Boat Grant Program & Expansion
  • New & Used Boat Pipeline Program
  • New Molds
  • Marketing / Market Research
  • Class History Preservation
For example, the New Molds team has been hard at work and a lot of progress has been made. Stay tuned for a detailed view of their work in the next few months.

So what’s next?  The 2026 $50,000 Super Match Challenge has begun. Two donors – one anonymous and the other the Audrey and Peter Denton Family Foundation – are each contributing $25,000 to the Challenge. To receive the $50,000, we need to have at least 350 donors and at least $25,000 in qualifying donations. Donations qualify simply by being larger than what you have given in the past. 

It’s a Super Challenge because each donation is effectively multiplied by three! For example, if you give $100, the Class receives your $100, and also receives $100 from each of the matching partners, for a total of $300.  Additionally, a US tax law change for 2026 and beyond allows donations up to $1000 to be deductible even if you do not itemize your deductions.  So your $100 donation might only cost you $75 after taxes - an additional impact for you!
 
In addition, if you make a multi-year pledge to the campaign, one half of pledge amounts in future years (2027-2030) will also count towards the Match. Please let us know your intentions for multiple years, or for later this year, using this Pledge Form.

Thank you again for your incredible support in 2025 – we look forward to many wonderful things in 2026!