As its name suggests, the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) focuses on all 44 counties in the state of Idaho. It awards grants to nonprofits, schools and other local organizations, as well as scholarships for students, with a mission of enriching quality of life throughout the state.
History and current status
ICF has been on the philanthropy scene since 1988, but its earliest efforts stemmed, in part, from the efforts of a private foundation called the Whittenberger Foundation. With so few grantmakers supporting Idaho at that time, Whittenberger connected with Boise Cascade Chairman and CEO John Fery to build a community foundation. Founding donors were Albertsons Inc., the Boise Cascade Corporation, Northwest Area Foundation and the Whittenberger Foundation. The community foundation moved from a Boise-centered approach to a statewide focus, starting with ICF’s first 31 grant awards in 1991. Today, ICF houses more than 630 charitable funds and holds $218 million in assets. Total grantmaking tops $142 million.
Project Neighborly
One big grant program at ICF is Project Neighborly, which aims to foster inclusion and neighborliness in local communities. The Whatcom Community Foundation inspired this program and offers seed funding for new ideas. It is open to select communities in north Idaho, east Idaho and the Treasure Valley. The annual deadline for this program typically falls in April.
The Forever Idaho Regional Grant Program
Based on a philosophy of community-driven philanthropy, the Forever Idaho Regional Grant Program divides the state into four regions: north, east, southwest and south central. Through this program, donors get to choose their preferred region of the state and/or a specific cause. Donors’ gifts are combined with other contributions for maximum impact. These flexible funds have deadlines in February, June and August.
Other regional and statewide opportunities
In addition to these grant programs, numerous other competitive grant opportunities exist at ICF. For example, the Ifft Foundation Fund and the F.M., Anne G., and Beverly B. Bistline Foundation Fund serve eastern Idaho, while the Bonner County Fund for Arts Enhancement and the Junior Garnier & Bud Ashford Military Veterans Fund serve northern Idaho. The Chobani Community Impact Fund offers opportunities for south central Idaho, while the Perc H. Shelton and Gladys A. Pospisil Shelton Foundation Advised Fund serves southwest Idaho. There are also two education-related funds that serve the entire state.
Overall, this is an accessible and approachable foundation that is crucial to know for educational and charitable groups working in Idaho. If you would like to learn more about ICF and the types of grants it awards to local organizations, check out IP’s full profile of the Idaho Community Foundation in our Northwest Funding Guide.