50th Anniversary

Celebrating Community

Join us in celebrating 50 transformational years of community impact across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. As your community foundation, we are sponsoring events in every county of our region this year to celebrate our past, present and future together.

Explore our list of events and submit your own below!

Filters

Changing any of the form inputs will cause the list of events to refresh with the filtered results.

Festival of Trees Friends & Family Day

The Hive 207 N 1st Ave, Sandpoint

This year, we are expanding upon Friends and Family Night by turning it into an all day affair. The Saturday right after Thanksgiving, we are inviting Friends and Family throughout Bonner & Boundary County to participate in this fabulously free and festive kick off to the holidays at our new location, the Hive! Get your […]

Free

Ritzville Winter Fest

The Ritz Theatre 107 E Main Ave, Ritzville, WA, United States

Each December, the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce collaborates with local organizations to offer a series of holiday festivities throughout the month. The celebratory gatherings bring families together from across the region to establish traditions and create lifelong memories. This year, Innovia will be sponsoring the annual Children's Movie Matinee with a free screening of "The […]

Free

Photo Drawing

Submit your Innovia event photos for a chance to win a $250 nonprofit grant!

Two ways to enter:

OR

POST TO INSTAGRAM

Post your photo with the hashtag #innoviacelebratescommunity and share what you love about your community in the caption.

FAQS

There are two ways to submit your Innovia Foundation featured event photos to the drawing:

  1. Post the photo to your Instagram page (Instagram only – no other social sites can accept entries) and share what you love about your community in the caption with the hashtag #innoviacelebratescommunity.
  2. Upload your photo to our online entry form here and share what you love about your community.

Entry is free and open to photos taken at Innovia Foundation featured events. Click here for a full calendar of featured events.

Innovia Foundation reserves the right to reject any entry deemed not suitable for consideration due to objectionable content such as the use of profanity, nudity, drug, alcohol or tobacco use, or cruelty to persons or animals. 

Entrants may post or upload multiple photos, but only 1 drawing ticket will be awarded per entrant per event. If you attend multiple events, you may post or upload photos to secure 1 drawing ticket per event attended.

A random drawing of approved entries will be held in four rounds: March, June, September and December 2024. One winner will be selected per round. Winners will be contacted to select their nonprofit of choice to receive a $250 grant.

Contact Rachel Quick, Program Officer – Marketing & Communications at rquick@innovia.org.

Terms and Conditions

Entry is free and open to photos taken at Innovia Foundation 50th Anniversary Featured Events. Visit www.innovia.org/fifty for a full calendar of featured events. Entrants may post or upload multiple photos, but only one drawing ticket will be awarded per person per event. If you attend multiple events, you may post or upload photos to secure one drawing entry per event attended. Innovia Foundation reserves the right to reject any entry deemed not suitable for consideration due to objectionable content such as the use of profanity, nudity, drug, alcohol or tobacco use, or cruelty to persons or animals. 

Your photo submission authorizes Innovia Foundation to use your image in marketing materials. You are responsible for obtaining permission to photograph subjects featured in your submission. All photos must be original work, taken by the entrants. No third party may own or control any materials the photo contains, and the photo must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person. No compensation will be provided for the use of submitted photos, other than prize awards outlined below. Photo credit opportunities may or may not apply and are at the discretion of Innovia Foundation and its media partners.

Meet Our Communities

Serving a 20-county region and six Native American tribes, we are the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

1974-2023

Our History

The groundwork for the Foundation was laid in 1974 as Spokane was preparing to host the World’s Fair. A group of concerned citizens inspired by the change that was mobilized by the World’s Fair, united around the need for a foundation that could focus on continued community revitalization. That year, the Junior League of Spokane founded the Greater Spokane Community Foundation, a new entity that replaced the original Spokane Foundation, which had been established in 1915 with a single trust.  

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Foundation’s understanding of “community” grew, and began to reach beyond the Spokane area. Recognizing that people with common interests and concerns know best how to meet local needs, the Foundation’s service region expanded to include 10 counties in Eastern Washington, 10 counties in North Idaho and 6 tribal communities. 

In 2018, the Foundation rebranded from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF) to Innovia Foundation to reflect the innovative impact that the Foundation creates by building connections with donors, communities, volunteers and partners across the region. 

Aerial photo of Havermale Island before Expo '74
1974
The Greater Spokane Community Foundation is incorporated.
1975
$11,150 is awarded in inaugural grant round.
1977
Foundation hires first Executive Director, Jeanne Ager.
1982
The Pullman Foundation selects the Foundation to continue its legacy and transfers $127,000 to be managed.
1982
The Greater Spokane Community Foundation changed its name to the Spokane Inland Empire Foundation to represent the expansion of their operations in the Inland Empire.
1984
Celebrated 10th anniversary with more than $1 million in assets.
1991
Name is changed to Foundation Northwest.
1994
Celebrated 20th anniversary with more than $7 million in assets.
1999
Celebrated 25th anniversary.
2004
Celebrated 30th anniversary with $39 million in assets.
2006
Name is changed to Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF).
2006
$12 million gift recieved from estate of Margaret Galbraith to fund organizations in North Idaho.
2014
Celebrated 40th anniversary with $87 million in assets.
2018
INWCF is rebranded as Innovia Foundation to bring greater awareness and engagement around important issues in the region—and the important work the Foundation was already doing.
2019
Regional Transfer of Wealth study released showing over $42 billion will transfer generationally over the next 10 years.
2020
Leadership Councils established throughout the 20-county Innovia service region. The Ignite Foundation is launched to accept complex charitable gifts.
2021
Over $6.5 million distributed in COVID-19 Community Response & Recovery Funds. The 5% Transfer of Wealth Campaign is launched. Nearly $40 million in grants and scholarships awarded. Postsecondary education scholarship modeling begins.
2022
LaunchNW is announced as a bold promise to bring communities together to ensure children have opportunities and support to access their post-high school education or career of choice.

Our Impact

800+ FUNDS

Established to benefit local causes

Learn more about funds at Innovia Foundation

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In our region, everyone's gift matters.

Learn more about the 5% Campaign

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50 YEARS

of service to Eastern Washington and North Idaho

Learn more about how we work

LEARN MORE

Community Leadership

to catalyze transformative change

Learn more about our dedication to community leadership

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$124 MILLION

awarded in grants and scholarships since 1974

Learn more about our scholarship or grant programs

GRANT INFO

A Bold Promise

for students, families and communities

Join the community mission

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Our Stories

News

Innovia Foundation Celebrates Community at Ritzville Winter Fest

Innovia is proud to sponsor the Dayton Oktoberfest Fall Family Festival on Saturday, September 28 from 11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Read More →
News

Innovia Announces Heart & Soul® Communities 

Innovia Foundation recently announced the first round of Eastern Washington and North Idaho communities selected for the Community Heart & Soul® initiative.
Read More →
News

Innovia Foundation Awards $6,000 In Grants Through the Columbia County Children’s Fund Grant Program

The Columbia County Children's Fund at Innovia is awarding grants totaling $6,000 to organizations serving youth in Columbia County.
Read More →
Stories

Marvin Soehren (1932 – 2024), A Lasting Legacy of Generosity and Leadership

Josh McKarcher is a hometown hero in Clarkston, WA. His journey from local roots to national aspirations, and back again, is marked by a deep ...
Read More →
News

Innovia Foundation Celebrates Community at Dayton Oktoberfest Fall Family Festival

Innovia is proud to sponsor the Dayton Oktoberfest Fall Family Festival on Saturday, September 28 from 11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Read More →
News

Innovia Foundation Celebrates Community at Marcus CiderFest

Innovia is proud to sponsor the Pine Creek Community Fall Festival on Saturday, September 14 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Read More →

Contact Us

Questions? Call us at 509-624-2606 or email info@innovia.org.

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