STCU Launches Here for Good Foundation at Innovia
A valued partner of Innovia Foundation, STCU has established a charitable fund at Innovia to ensure its 89-year tradition of community giving continues in perpetuity.
The newly created Here for Good Foundation, administered by Innovia, will award grants to schools and nonprofit organizations across Eastern and Central Washington, Tri-Cities and North Idaho. STCU created the fund with a $1 million endowment that it hopes to grow to $10 million within 10 years.
“When Innovia was just getting its start, STCU already had a decades-long track record of serving communities,” said Innovia CEO Shelly O’Quinn. “While we have worked closely on many initiatives, we’re pleased to solidify that relationship with the launch of STCU’s Here for Good Foundation, as part of the Innovia family.”
The Here for Good Foundation will focus on the impact areas of education, arts and culture, and economic development. With guidance from an advisory council of STCU employees, an oversight board of STCU officers will review grant requests identified by Innovia.
“While financial support is only part of our commitment to communities, the need is definitely growing. The Here for Good Foundation ensures that we’re always able to respond to critical needs in the communities we serve, based on local knowledge, even as those needs shift.”
To identify the greatest needs and opportunities, Innovia relies on the expertise of its Leadership Councils, comprised of local ambassadors who serve as trusted voices and engaged representatives from each of the 20 counties Innovia serves across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The Here for Good Foundation will provide additional resources to further strengthen our region and address crucial needs.
The Here for Good Foundation’s inaugural grant speaks to the commitment of STCU to build vibrant communities, with $50,000 awarded to permanently endowed funds at Innovia serving Bonner, Boundary, Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties. Each county fund, administered by Leadership Councils, will receive $10,000, with $5,000 immediately available for the 2023 grant cycle and $5,000 endowed for future generations.
Founded by educators in 1934, STCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative. Serving more than 265,000 members at 38 branch locations across a regional footprint shared with Innovia, STCU’s fortunes are uniquely linked to the strength and vitality of communities across the region, said Ezra Eckhardt, President and CEO.
“Those are the communities where our members live, work and raise their families,” Eckhardt said. “Helping ensure their vitality is an investment that benefits everyone, including their local credit union.”
Innovia is honored to partner with organizations like STCU that make generosity a thoughtful part of their strategy and leave a powerful and profound impact on their community.