Community Leadership
Realizing our vision for vibrant and sustainable communities where every person thrives requires dedication to community leadership.
Every community has unique opportunities and challenges. In partnership with our communities, Innovia Foundation provides leadership to catalyze transformative change in our region. As a funder and convener, we are dedicated to learning about, and investing in, collaborative, community-based efforts.
LaunchNW
We believe that every child should have the opportunity and support to pursue their postsecondary dreams. We are launching a long-term initiative to close the opportunity gap through a supported promise scholarship to benefit all youth in the region.
In partnership with community partners and major donors, LaunchNW will endow a scholarship fund that allows every child in our region the opportunity to graduate high school and attain a quality post-secondary certificate or degree.
5% Invested, Fully Committed
People in Eastern Washington and North Idaho are expected to leave $42 billion by 2029 to beneficiaries upon their passing, according to an Innovia transfer of wealth study. In 2020, we launched the 5% Invested, Fully Committed campaign to transform 5% of that future wealth – approximately $2 billion – into philanthropic investments that will increase the financial resiliency of local communities.
Leadership Councils
Our Leadership Councils play a vital role in the Foundation’s work by providing representation throughout our 20-county service area. Council members serve as ambassadors and advisors to Innovia Foundation, and advocate for philanthropy in general. Each of Innovia’s 10 Leadership Councils is comprised of 15 local community members who serve as trusted voices and engaged representatives from the communities where they live and work. Our council volunteers bring on-the-ground experience from a variety of sectors including education, health care, business, nonprofit management, elected offices, tribal governments and more. The Councils meet regularly to keep the Foundation educated about the needs and opportunities in their communities and help leverage the power of philanthropy for local impact.
Leadership Summit
We believe that strong communities are inclusive, built on diverse backgrounds, perspectives and participation. Each year we convene volunteers, community leaders and philanthropists from across our region for the Community Leadership Summit.
Exploring together how community leadership has the power to transform lives and communities, we empower and inspire leaders to work together with us to strengthen communities throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho.Â
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Between July 2020 and June 2021, Innovia Foundation partnered with individual donors, philanthropic partners and local government to distribute more than $30 million in support of our region’s most vulnerable populations and to help local businesses weather the economic fallout from the pandemic. Community members from throughout Innovia’s service region convened to identify the most critical needs stemming from the pandemic and recommend grants to mitigate the impact. The distributions included $25 million in federal CARES dollars that were awarded in partnership with Spokane County, Spokane Valley Chamber, and Greater Spokane, Inc.
COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Grants
In partnership with All in WA, Innovia Foundation initiated a Vaccine Equity Grant Program, awarding grants of up to $10,000 to trusted, community-based organizations conducting linguistically and culturally-specific vaccine education and outreach to those most impacted by the pandemic, especially Black, Indigenous and communities of color.
Rural Education Engagement
Funded by a grant from College Spark Washington, Innovia Foundation is engaged in a two-year initiative to strengthen support for schools in rural communities. The first phase of the project in spring 2021 included a series of online rural education community conversations. Participating Washington school districts were Riverside, Dayton, St. John-Endicott and Lind-Ritzville. The initiative is designed to build support for a regionwide supported promise scholarship.
Cultivating Potential Scholarship Program
With support from a generous donor, Innovia Foundation launched the Cultivating Potential Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance and mentorship for youth seeking to rise above obstacles that may be preventing them from reaching their full potential. In addition to financial assistance, students participate in life skills training sessions, explore career opportunities and benefit from peer support that results from the cohort experience.
Fiscal Sponsorships
Innovia Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor for charitable activities that are not connected to an existing 501 (c) 3 entity. Currently, Innovia is a fiscal sponsor for Priority Spokane, a collaborative of Spokane County-based organizations aimed at having measurable impact on community identified priorities such as homelessness, domestic violence and improving high-school graduation rates.Â
We also serve as fiscal sponsor for the Pine Creek Long-Term Recovery Organization, leading the efforts to rebuild the communities of Malden and Pine City, Washington, which were devastated by wildfires in September 2020.
Jumpstart Nonprofit Capacity Building
We believe philanthropy must invest in organizations serving those who have been historically marginalized and underserved, ensuring they have the resources needed to reduce inequities and create thriving communities. Together with Premera Social Impact,  Innovia  spearheaded a $55,000 investment in the Network for Good Jumpstart Program to increase the fundraising capacity of nonprofits serving communities of color, rural communities, people impacted by health disparities and other historically underrepresented groups within the region.
Learn More About Jumpstart
This year participating nonprofits included the Carl Maxey Center, Community Resource Envision Center, Heritage Health, Feast World Kitchen, Friends of Stonerose Fossils, Mujeres in Action and Rural Resources Community Action. Paired with a personal fundraising coach and equipped with individualized technology support, Jumpstart helps participating nonprofits expand their outreach and broaden their network of donors.
The program has generated growth for nearly every participant. Collectively, the initial $55,000 investment in the program has transformed into $111,000 worth of net new nonprofit impact. Innovia’s investment in Jumpstart reflects our commitment to build the capacity and sustainability of our nonprofit partners, which are integral to vibrant communities where every person thrives.