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Since 1974, Inland Northwest Community Foundation has connected donors with what it sees as the region’s most pressing causes. Through donor generosity, it manages over 500 funds and its assets have grown to over $120 million and it has donated more than $70 million in grants to organizations in a 20-county area of our region to improve lives and communities.

As Spokane was preparing for the World’s Fair, a group of concerned citizens determined a need for foundational support to aid revitalization efforts for the communities of the Inland Northwest.

That year, the Junior League of Spokane founded the Greater Spokane Community Foundation, which replaced the original Spokane Foundation that was established in 1915 with a single trust from Anton Albert.

In 1974, the Greater Spokane Community Foundation was incorporated and gifts totaling $115,000 were received.

The inaugural grant round in 1975 awarded $11,150 and then in 1976 the foundation transferred approximately $500,000 through Old National Bank to establish what’s still the largest endowment to date.

Name

Means “innovative way” and represents innovation it strives to bring to community transformation and speaks to its mission to forge new paths and drive change.

Logo

Represents a shifting, dynamic landscape with a color palette reflecting dawn and a pattern inspired by natural elements like mountain ranges, rolling fields, and seeds and flowers.

Timeline

1985: $350,000 to build Lawson’s Floral Gardens in Pullman

1999: $70,000, Spokane Symphony Society to present annual summer concerts

2001: $75,000 to fund expansion of NW Museum of Arts and Culture

2002: $100,000 awarded for new visitor center at Old Cataldo Mission

2006: $40,000 to city of Wallace swimming pool for restoration project

2007: $100,000, YMCA of Inland NW for joint capital and $50,000 to Lutherhaven for Shoshone Base Camp purchase.

2008: $34,652, Snake River Community Clinic for dental safety net

2011: $30,000, Whitman County Library to renovate the Endicott Library

2014: $400,000 grant awarded to GU, Spokane Public Schools to help improve HS graduation rates

2015: $19,000 to restore Northern Pacific Railroad Depot building in Wallace

2016: $30,000 each to pave Bear Creek Canyon Trail near Troy and build Phase 1 of Pend Oreille River Passage Trail.

2017: $600,000 grant to University of Idaho to launch Opening Books program. $30,000 each to Sandpoint Teen Center, Kamiah Senior Center

2018: $30,000, Lapwai, skate park project

Areas of impact

Innovia’s partners, ranging from nonprofit groups to community leaders, focus on affecting positive change and improvement to economic opportunity, quality of life, health and well-being, arts and culture, and educational development.

How to give

The foundation offers a variety of ways you can give to help make a difference in your community.

Invest in them: You can make contributions to the Partnership Fund or Civic Leadership Fund to support operations and mission.

Impact area: The foundation’s chosen impact areas represent specific challenges in the region and can connect you to a cause you care about most to strengthen your investment with the help of others.

Existing fund: Innovia has partnered with donors to establish more than 500 funds, addressing unmet needs and supporting programs improving our region as a place to live, work and play.

Develop your own fund: If you’re passionate about a cause, the foundation will make the specific vision for your donation a reality.

Contact Innovia

Get in touch with the foundation for information or to talk about donations: (509) 624-2606 or info@innovia.org.

Director history

  • George Ingraham (1974-1977)
  • Jeanne Ager (1977-1990)
  • Peter Jackson (1990-2005)
  • Mark Hurtubise (2005-2017)
  • Shelly O’Quinn (2017-present)