Foundations guide the giving journey

by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

Conversation surrounding the appeal of North Idaho usually centers on the area’s natural wonders: the crystal blue waters, towering green mountains, and plethora of incredible wildlife are often listed as the top attractions when people confess their love for Sandpoint and the surrounding countryside.

Still, beauty is but one facet of what makes North Idaho a place worth living. The second greatest factor is undoubtedly the feeling of community, and the people who make it so. Generosity is a cornerstone of that community, which boasts dozens upon dozens of nonprofits tackling local issues like land conservation, housing and food insecurity, educational funding, animal welfare, access to the humanities, and much, much more.

There’s no question that when North Idahoans see a need, someone is stepping up to fill it. That work takes charitable contributions, and for those wondering about a way to make the most difference with their dollars, there are organizations whose sole purpose is to guide givers on their generosity journey.

One of those organizations is the Innovia Foundation. Based in Spokane, Washington, but serving both eastern Washington and North Idaho, the Innovia Foundation has been a part of allocating more than $1.5 million in grants to benefit causes in Bon- ner and Boundary counties over the past three years, according to North Region Rural Engagement Officer Dig Chrismer.

“Those grants are the result of scholarship awards, donoradvised funds, designated funds, and community grant programs—including our incredible partnership with the Equinox Foundation for its annual grants program,” Chrismer said, noting that Innovia relies on local community members to make grant decisions.

Among the groups supported with those efforts have been the Community Resource Envision Center, Better Together Animal Alliance, Priest River Ministries, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, 9B Trails, GROW!, and the Community Coalition for Families, “to name just a few,” Chrismer added.

She said several nonprofits have also established endowments with Innovia, including the Panida Theater and Panhandle Alliance for Education. Ultimately, she said understanding that donors give through—not to—Innovia is a vital key to understanding the power of charitable foundations.

“Our local expertise makes it easier to connect donors to the causes that matter most to them in the community, and since Innovia can also accept various types of assets, like real estate,

PHOTO, PREVIOUS PAGE: PERSONNEL WITH THE IDAHO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION VISITED SANDPOINT IN APRIL TO MEET WITH FOLKS INVOLVED IN LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS; THEY WERE, FROM LEFT IN FRONT ROW, PETER FAUCHER, NORTH ADVISOR; SARAH WISSENBACH, SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR; LISA BEARG, SENIOR ADVISOR; AND STEVE BURNS, PRESIDENT AND CEO. AMONG THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND GROUPS ON HAND WERE, MIDDLE ROW, DYNO WAHL OF POAC; MARY JO AMBROSIANI, PRESIDENT OF BONNER HOMELESS TRANSITIONS AND A DONOR THROUGH THE AMBROSIANI PASTORE FOUNDATION; AND ROSE OLSON AND PHIL HOUGH OF FRIENDS OF SCOTCHMAN PEAKS WILDERNESS. BACK ROW, TOM CHASSE AND ERIC PAULL WITH THE PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION. THIS PAGE, ABOVE: DIG CHRISMER WITH INNOVIA. STAFF PHOTO. BELOW: U-CAN IS ONE OF MANY AREA NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM PHILANTHROPICAL DONATIONS. COURTESY PHOTO stock, IRAs, etc., we can help donors maximize their charitable giving opportunities,” Chrismer said. “Overall, our job is to educate nonprofits, donors, and professional advisors to understand these unique ways of giving that ultimately transform lives and communities.”

Another organization working to help North Idahoans make the most of their giving power is the Boise-based Idaho Community Foundation, which, over the past 35 years, has granted more than $165 million in all 44 Idaho counties. In 2022 alone, ICF helped distribute $611,000 in fundholder donations to causes in Bonner County, as well as $44,000 in Boundary.

Jennifer Kronberg, a spokesperson with ICF, said those interested can open a donor-advised fund or other charitable giving fund to support Idaho-based nonprofits, schools, and other groups, or have the option to give collectively, meaning your charitable gift “can be pooled with hundreds of others to make a much bigger impact than giving by yourself.”

“With our deep community knowledge, we’ll help you design a charitable giving plan that fits your needs and makes a meaningful difference for Idaho,” she said.

In North Idaho, the possibilities abound.

Learn more at www.innovia.org or www.idahocf.org.