Innovia Foundation works closely with nonprofit organizations and others throughout the region to identify and respond to a wide range of community issues and opportunities. This might be as complex as collaborating with community leaders on a long-range plan for neighborhood preservation, or as basic as funding a program to provide shoes for children from low-income families. In all cases, Innovia Foundation looks to fund solutions that will create measurable, positive change in our region. Awards from Innovia Foundation’s competitive grant programs are determined in partnership with local volunteers from throughout the foundation’s service area. This locally based advisory process ensures that grant opportunities address the changing needs of our communities.
If you have any questions about any of Innovia Foundation’s grant programs, please contact Molly Sanchez at msanchez@innovia.org.
The Community Grant Program is comprised of more than 90 funds established by donors who have given Innovia Foundation the flexibility to make funding decisions that accommodate changing needs and capitalize on timely and compelling opportunities in our 20-county region. This program has one cycle per year and organizations are eligible to submit one application per cycle. The maximum award amount is $20,000. To learn more about this program and review grant guidelines click here.
As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our region, Innovia Foundation continues to make intentional changes to our traditional grant practices. Changes include increasing giving to COVID relief, reducing reporting requirements and other restrictions on existing grants, awarding general operating grants and actively engaging with communities hardest hit by COVID-19.
Knowing that funding requests will far exceed the funding available, we have temporarily revised our Community Grant program for 2021 with a focus on addressing the impacts of COVID-19 and other local crises including summer wildfires. These changes include:
Following this grant round, we will re-assess these guidelines and timeline for future grant cycles in order to be as responsive as possible to rapidly changing needs.
Please review the following 2021 Community Grant Guidelines carefully as the types of funding available, funding priorities and other details for 2021 differ from previous years.
Community Grant Program Timeline
Program Goal
From rural community theaters to large symphonies, Innovia Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations that support the arts as economic drivers, educational assets, civic catalysts and bridges between cultures.
The Arts and Culture Grant Program 2021 will provide flexible funding to support arts and culture organizations adversely impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, with priority given to organizations that have history of fueling local economy.
Grants can be used for general operating support to meet immediate needs (such as rent, utilities, payroll and benefits) or to implement innovative solutions to adapt to COVID-19 challenges (such as strategies to share programming on digital platforms; adaptations to social distancing). To learn more about this program and review grant guidelines click here.
Timeline
This Book public action campaign creates community-wide awareness and ownership for childhood reading success. Childhood reading success is not just a parent issue, it’s not just a student issue, and it’s not just a school issue… it is a community-wide issue. The campaign calls on everyone in the community, other than parents and students, to:
Using familiar adults in the community, the campaign messaging emphasizes that a book, “This Book”, can have significant benefit for a community. “This Book”:
This Book Grants Program provides small grants to rural libraries, municipalities, or non-profit organizations throughout the 20 counties served by Innovia Foundation. Grants through this program may range from $250 to $2,500. Proposals should include intent to use funding for photography, graphic design and printing of community-personalized media assets. Funding may also be utilized for the purchase of items to establish reading spaces for youth in local businesses, such as books, bookcases, rugs, pillows, etc.
An existing toolkit will be made available for community-personalization which includes posters, one-sheets, rack cards, bookmarks, stickers, book lists, reading milestone reference sheets by grade level, and shareable social media posts.
For additional questions, please contact Amy Voeller at avoeller@innovia.org or (208) 771-0174.
Application Dates: Not currently accepting applications. We anticipate reopening this program in Spring 2021.
The Columbia County Children’s Fund provides support to organizations within Columbia County. Applications must address one of the following program areas: Educational enrichment and special needs programs, with preference given to elementary school-aged children. Guidance, counseling and therapy to children and their families. Medical and dental services and/or supplies (glasses, hearing aids, braces) for disadvantaged children. Grants awards are typically less than $4,000.
Application Dates:
Applications will be accepted from April 28, 2020 to June 19, 2020.
The Equinox Foundation is partnering with Innovia Foundation to provide a grant program for the benefit of the communities in Bonner and Boundary counties of North Idaho. This family foundation was founded on the values of wisdom, integrity and environmental stewardship. This program will consider applications from nonprofit organizations addressing a variety of program areas, including:
Grant amounts are typically between $2,000 and $30,000 and are provided for a one-year period.
Application Dates: February 17, 2020 – April 21, 2020. Awards will be announced in early July, 2020. Grant awards are for a one-year period from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021.
There are currently two grant programs open:
Organizations may only apply to one of these grant programs. If your organization operates with a mission that incorporates arts and culture as a primary purpose, you should apply to the Arts and Culture Recovery Grant Program.
If you have additional questions, please contact core-team@innovia.org.
Activities Typically Not Eligible for Innovia Foundation Grant Funding:
Organizations cannot apply for grants from Innovia Foundation’s donor-advised funds.
Requests from locally based organizations are given preference over organizations whose center of operations and/or governance is located outside of our 20-county region. Should you choose to submit an application, you must specifically address how the requested funding will benefit Innovia Foundation service areas and how you will ensure that Innovia Foundation funds will not be used outside our service area.