OVERVIEW: The Avista Foundation supports human services, health, education, economic development arts and culture and environmental causes in specific areas of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.
IP TAKE: The Avista Foundation is a surprising accessible funder if your organization operates in its Northwestern giving region. This funder gives broadly, makes hundreds of grants a year, and supports organizations of all sizes. Due dates vary by giving area.
PROFILE: Established in Spokane in 2002, the Avista Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Avista, an energy and utilities company serving specific regions of the Northwestern U.S. The foundation makes grants to address community needs in places served by its parent company, including eastern Washington, northern Idaho, portions of southern Oregon, Sanders County, Montana and the Juneau area of Alaska. Grantmaking areas of interest include Health and Human Services, Education and Youth Development, Economic and Community Vitality and Arts and Culture.
Grants for Public Health, Mental Health, Housing and Homelessness
Avista’s Health and Human Services giving area appears to be its largest. The foundation does not articulate specific goals for its giving in this area, but mental health and shelter services for vulnerable people appear to be a primary area of concern.
- The foundation has made grants to human services organizations including Spkane’s Volunteers of America, the United Human Services of Southeast Alaska, Second Harvest Inland Northwest and Family Promise of Juneau.
- Avista’s health giving prioritizes organizations that provide broad access to affordable care. Grants have gone to the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation, Idaho’s Kootenai Health, Operation Healthy Family of Spokane and La Clinica del Valle Family Health Care Center in Medford, Oregon.
Grants for Education
Education grants account for a significant portion of Avista’s giving, with grants supporting a broad range of K-12 and higher education schools and other organizations.
- Giving for K-12 education appears to prioritize the Spokane area. Grantees include Spokane’s Northeast Youth Center, the Spokane Public Schools Foundation and John R. Rogers High School in Spokane.
- Higher education grants have supported the University of Idaho, Washington State University and Spokane’s Whitworth University.
Grants for Community Development, Work and Opportunity
Avista’s Economic and Community Vitality Giving appears to focus on programs that help people develop career-related skills and gain financial stability. It also supports efforts for community improvement and economic development. Grantees include the United Way of Spokane county, the Cheney Depot Society and the Carl Maxey Center, which supports Spokane’s Black community with “business and workforce development” programs that aim to build generational wealth.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The foundation’s Arts and Culture giving tends to go to medium-sized arts organizations that are well known in communities served by Avista. Recipients include the Spokane Symphony Society, the Southern Oregon Historical Society, the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, the Spokane Civic Theatre and the Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho.
Grants for Environment
Environment is a smaller giving area for this funder. Past grants have supported the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, the Dishman Hills Conservancy and the Spokane Parks Foundation.
Important Grant Details:
Avista’s grants range from $20 to $350,000, with most grants staying under the $100,000 mark.
- This funder makes hundreds of grants each year to organizations of every size in its geographic giving region.
- Across all giving areas, this funder appears to prioritize broad access to services and programs for underserved communities.
- The foundation accepts applications via its online application portal, but due dates vary by grantmaking area of interest. Start the process by completing the eligibility quiz here.
- For additional information about this funder’s past giving, see its tax returns.
Address questions to the Avista Foundation via email at contributions@avistacorp.com or by telephone at (509) 495-8156.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
