Company Profile
Inland Northwest Community Foundation
Company Overview
Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. We have awarded more than $60 million in grants and scholarships in our region since our inception in 1974.
As the community foundation for the Inland Northwest, we serve 10 counties in Eastern Washington and 10 counties in North Idaho. Our services help people who care about our region accomplish their charitable goals.
Community foundation staff and volunteers work with individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations to establish charitable funds to support the causes they care about within our region and beyond. We work with our donors, nonprofits and community leaders toward a common goal to improve the quality of life in our communities.
We professionally manage and invest the donors' charitable dollars and assist them in awarding grants and scholarships from their funds. We make sure the money is being used as the donors intend and we monitor the use of the funds to ensure that they are making a difference.
Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF) is accredited by the Council on Foundations and is your community foundation for the Inland Northwest.
Company History
Our Roots
In 1974, as Spokane was preparing to host the World's Fair, a group of concerned citizens saw a need for a foundation that could continue revitalizing the communities of the Inland Northwest. 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.
Our Reach
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Foundation’s understanding of “community” grew, and we 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 territory expanded to include 10 counties in Eastern Washington and 10 counties in North Idaho. The name was changed to Foundation Northwest to reflect the expanded region. In 2006, the Foundation conducted 500 interviews with community members and developed a comprehensive strategic plan. This launched another period of major growth. Our name was rebranded to Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF) to clearly identify that we are the community foundation and a public entity, not a private foundation.
Our Growth
Inland Northwest Community Foundation celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015 with more than $110 million in assets and nearly 500 funds established by individuals, families, nonprofit agencies and corporations. The charitable funds at INWCF provide grants to support community development and environment, health and human services, education (including scholarships) and arts and culture.
Our Present
Read more about our growth and current initiatives on our website: www.inwcf.org