Program areas at INWCF
LaunchNW: Innovia's economic and community vitality initiative, LaunchNW, achieved significant milestones in 2023. Using a promise scholarship as an incentive, LaunchNW aims to remove financial barriers to post-high school education and vocational training for students in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, while expanding integrated cradle-to-career supports. In 2023, LaunchNW announced phase one of the scholarship for select students at Spokane high schools in 2024-2025. In partnership with local nonprofits, school districts and universities, the Mpower Mentor Program launched at eight high schools across Spokane County. (Continued on Schedule O) A FAFSA/WASFA completion campaign produced by Innovia reached thousands of families in our region with information about the importance of FAFSA/WAFSA to access post-high school education and training opportunities. 5% Campaign: People in Eastern Washington and North Idaho are expected to leave $42 billion by 2029 to beneficiaries upon their death, according to an Innovia funded wealth-transfer study. In 2020, we launched the 5% Campaign to capture 5% of that future wealth - approximately $2 billion - into philanthropic investments that will increase the financial resiliency of local communities. In 2023, we launched Wave 5 of the 5% Campaign and expanded educational programming aimed at professional advisors and nonprofit leaders. We engaged experts on planned giving and endowment building, providing further tools and resources to community leaders through a series of free webinars and networking opportunities. Using messaging from the 5% Campaign, two community endowment funds were established: One benefiting Columbia County and one benefiting Garfield County. Curious Conversations Leadership Event: In May 2023, Innovia hosted the "Curious Conversations Book Club and Author Event Series." Hundreds of people across Innovia's 20-county service region participated in book clubs featuring the works of acclaimed Pacific Northwest writers. First, clubs delved into Monica Guzman's "I Never Thought of It That Way" a guide to getting curious - not contentious - with those who hold an opposing viewpoint. Second was Erin Jones' "Bridges to Heal US," a handbook for healing and racial justice amid divisive times. At a culminating live presentation with Guzman and Erin Jones, book club participants and other community members posed questions, gathered insights and sparked new conversations on difficult topics like race, equity and justice.Leadership Councils: Leadership Councils play a vital role in the Foundation's work by providing representation from 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.Disaster Response & Recovery: When disaster strikes, Innovia works closely with communities to minimize the impact. In 2023, two wildfires in Spokane County, the Oregon Road Fire and the Gray Fire, consumed 20,000 acres and destroyed 369 primary homes more than any other fire in Washington state history. Innovia and generous donors partnered to establish response and recovery funds with more than $1.2 million. Grants to nonprofit organizations provided for critical needs like food, clothing, gas cards, propane, and emergency shelter. Future distributions will support Spokane Region Long-Term Recovery Group as it leverages additional resources to help residents recover and rebuild.
Foundation-Directed Grantmaking: Innovia Foundation manages other funds established by generous donors to address the unique opportunities and challenges in our region. Over 140 individual and family funds are used to support the Foundation's five impact areas of Health & Wellbeing, Economic Opportunity, Education and Youth Development, Arts & Culture and Quality of Life. Innovia Foundation evaluates organizations and then makes grants to best reflect the intended purpose of the funds.
Donor-Directed Grantmaking: Innovia Foundation's mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. With over 500 individual, family, and corporate funds, this area of investment reflects the grantmaking directed by donors to support a broad range of community interests primarily in our region and Washington state and extending nationally and internationally.
Scholarships: These funds support student educational achievement. Over 68 funds are used to support students from the Inland Northwest with scholarships to attend colleges, universities, or vocational schools in the region and beyond.