Idaho Community Foundation: Investing in the Future of North Idaho

At our October 21 meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene welcomed Emma Hoagland, Community Engagement Associate for North Idaho with the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF). Emma shared how the Foundation connects generous donors with nonprofit organizations, helping build stronger communities throughout Idaho.

Emma brings considerable experience in the nonprofit sector to her position. Earlier in her career, she worked with Safe Passage in North Idaho, supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She subsequently held positions in public health and grant administration before joining the Idaho Community Foundation in November 2025. Her background gives her a valuable perspective on the challenges facing nonprofit organizations and the importance of community partnerships.

What Is the Idaho Community Foundation?

The Idaho Community Foundation is a statewide charitable organization dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities by connecting donors with causes they care about.

Headquartered in Boise, the Foundation maintains a regional presence throughout Idaho, including North Idaho, to ensure that charitable giving responds to the unique needs of local communities.

Emma described the Foundation as functioning somewhat like a charitable bank. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations contribute funds, which the Foundation manages and invests. Depending on the type of fund established, grants are then distributed to charitable organizations according to donors’ wishes or identified community needs.

Many of these funds are established as permanent endowments, allowing charitable gifts to continue supporting worthwhile causes for generations. Other funds provide more immediate support for community needs.

The Foundation offers several ways for donors to make a difference, including donor-advised funds, designated charitable funds, scholarships, nonprofit agency funds, and regional community funds.

Importantly, donors who wish to support North Idaho can direct their charitable contributions to benefit organizations right here in our region.

Forever Idaho: Supporting Local Nonprofits

One of the Foundation’s signature initiatives is its Forever Idaho Grant Program, which provides financial support to nonprofit organizations addressing a broad range of community needs.

The program is particularly valuable because its grants generally provide unrestricted funding. This gives recipient organizations the flexibility to use the money where it will have the greatest impact, whether that means supporting ongoing operations, purchasing equipment, expanding programs, or responding to emerging needs.

Emma shared some impressive results from the North Idaho region:

• $315,000 distributed during the 2026 grant cycle
• 40 nonprofit organizations receiving grants
• Individual awards generally ranging from $2,000 to $10,000
• Approximately $1.2 million distributed over the past four years

These grants support organizations working in education, health and wellness, housing, community services, the arts, and other areas that improve quality of life throughout North Idaho.

The Foundation relies on regional councils composed of local community members who understand the needs of their communities and help recommend where grant funding can make the greatest difference.

A Familiar Connection: Specialized Needs Recreation

One of the organizations benefiting from the Foundation’s charitable work is Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR), an organization with particularly close ties to our Kiwanis Club.

SNR provides recreational and social opportunities for individuals with special needs, promoting personal growth, independence, and meaningful community connections.

The Idaho Community Foundation and its local affiliate, the Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation, have supported SNR’s mission. Most recently, the local foundation helped facilitate charitable contributions totaling more than $18,500 toward SNR’s Building Belonging Campaign and its planned facility at Cherry Hill Park.

Our Kiwanis Club has long valued its relationship with SNR and the opportunities it provides for individuals of all abilities to participate fully in community life.

Seeing another organization invest in SNR’s future reinforces the importance of collaboration among community service organizations, charitable foundations, and local donors.

Idaho Gives: Four Days of Statewide Generosity

Emma also introduced Idaho Gives, an annual statewide fundraising event organized by the Idaho Community Foundation.

Idaho Gives brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual donors for four days of online giving. Through the Idaho Gives website, donors can discover Idaho nonprofits, learn about their missions, and make contributions directly to the organizations they wish to support.

The event does more than raise money. It increases public awareness of the nonprofit organizations serving Idaho communities and helps those organizations connect with new supporters.

The results demonstrate the generosity of Idaho residents.

During Idaho Gives 2026, North Idaho donors contributed $776,603 to 112 nonprofit organizations, with participation from more than 3,000 donors. That represented an increase of more than $317,000 over the previous year.

The next Idaho Gives event is scheduled for May 3-6, 2027.

Community members interested in supporting local charitable organizations can learn more at www.idahogives.org.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Collaboration

The presentation was particularly relevant to our Kiwanis Club because our mission of improving the lives of children and strengthening communities aligns closely with the work of the Idaho Community Foundation.

While the specific opportunities for collaboration remain to be explored, there are clear areas of common interest, including youth development, education, community service, and support for local nonprofit organizations.

Whether through charitable grants, joint initiatives, or simply connecting organizations with shared goals, there may be opportunities for our club and the Foundation to work together to accomplish even more for our community.

We sincerely thank Emma Hoagland for joining us and sharing the important work of the Idaho Community Foundation. We look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring opportunities to work together in service to North Idaho.

Photograph: (left to right) Kim Cummings, Emma Hoagland, Matt Palmer