Innovia Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Innovia is a community foundation formed for the benefit of the communities within their region of operation. Innovia seeks to partner with people and other organizations who want to make the world better by addressing our region's problems, helping those in need and identifying and responding to our region's greatest opportunities.
- Income
- $32.0 million
- Spending
- $22.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 375
- Highest pay
- $361,580, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $11.1 million spent. Donor-Directed Grantmaking: Innovia Foundation's mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. With over 590 individual, family, and corporate funds, this area of investment reflects the grantmaking directed by donors to support a broad range of community interests primarily in our region and Washington state and extending nationally and internationally.
- $4.5 million spent. LaunchNW: With the mission of galvanizing entire communities to ensure that every child finds belonging and travels their best journey from birth to career attainment, Innovia's economic and community vitality initiative, LaunchNW, significantly expanded its reach in 2025. The Promise Scholarship was awarded to its second round of recipients, bringing the number of students receiving the scholarship to 312. The program also expanded into additional counties, with scholarships now being awarded to eligible students in Spokane, Columbia, Stevens (Northport High School), and Garfield Counties. The scholarship is a non-competitive last-dollar award that removes financial barriers to post-high school education and vocational training.(Continued on Schedule O)The Mpower Mentoring Program, in partnership with community organizations, school districts, and universities, provided mentoring, career experiences, and wraparound supports to 1,720 students in eight Spokane County high schools during the 2023-2024 school year. The program expanded to 13 high schools in the 2024 - 2025 school year, reaching a total of 3,500 students mentored. The LaunchNW College Navigator program was implemented in the summer of 2025 and offers comprehensive guidance and support to students pursuing regional colleges, apprenticeships, or trade programs after high school.Navigators provide direct support as students transition into and progress through their post-high school journey, working closely with both students and campus partners to create personalized success plans and foster meaningful campus connections. They help students explore career pathways, access resources, and create opportunities for belonging. Meeting students where they are and guiding them forward with purpose is the most powerful way to break cycles of poverty, unlock lifelong opportunities, and ensure every young person travels their best journey. College Navigators are placed at WSU, EWU, Spokane Colleges, Whitworth University, and Gonzaga University. We continued working with our community to increase FAFSA/WASFA completion through extending and building upon our media campaign, reaching thousands of families in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.FAFSA Opens Doors is a LaunchNW initiative designed to increase financial aid completion and expand access to education and career training across Eastern Washington. The program works with schools, businesses, and community organizations to help students and families understand and complete financial aid applications such as the FAFSA and WASFA. Through workshops, one-on-one assistance, and resources available in ten languages, FAFSA Opens Doors reduces barriers to financial aid and helps families access funding for postsecondary education and workforce training. The initiative also develops and delivers curriculum for student and family workshops that build awareness, understanding, and confidence around financial aid.A key component of the initiative is building community capacity through partnerships and training. Businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders can participate in Educational Access Ambassador (EAA) trainings, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to support employees, families, and students navigating financial aid. Many trained ambassadors also serve as volunteers, supporting FAFSA completion events and workshops in local schools. FAFSA Opens Doors partners with financial institutions and other community organizations to expand outreach and develop regional media campaigns. As part of this effort, inspirational student and parent stories are also shared through Washington Student Achievement Council's OtterBot messaging platform. Together, these efforts create a coordinated regional campaign that increases awareness, expands access to support, and helps more students successfully pursue education beyond high school.Engage In Real Life was launched in August 2024 through a partnership with Spokane Public Schools and the City of Spokane with the goal of getting kids off their screens and engaged in their communities through real life activities. To support this effort, we've partnered with community organizations and cultural centers to link all families within our community to a variety of activities that connect with the diverse populations within our region. As part of this program, 18,734 students within Spokane Public Schools (K-12) were engaged in out of school time activities. Our cultural centers engaged 2,331 youth in activities including arts, athletics and outdoor recreation, community connections, cultural expression, individual youth engagement meetings, job training and skills development, mental health and wellness, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).We continue to support the needs of our communities through All It Takes Is One, a volunteer and mentor campaign. We have taken ownership and management of the Volunteer Spokane Website as it was no longer supported by United Way of Spokane County. The Volunteer Spokane website connects individuals and businesses to local organizations with volunteer and mentor needs throughout our community.LaunchNW implemented a Youth Council in 2025. Youth voice means that we involve our youth in identifying and proposing their own solutions to issues affecting their community. The LaunchNW Youth Council is made up of 20 high school students from across Spokane County. These young leaders shine a light on the challenges important to youth in our community and work together to create or fund meaningful solutions.The Youth Council is more than just an advisory group. The council fosters civic engagement, builds leadership skills, and gives young people a real voice in shaping the future of their community. The impact goes both ways: as students gain confidence and agency, the broader community benefits from their insight, innovation, and energy. Community Heart & Soul: Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven
- $4.1 million spent. Foundation-Directed Grantmaking: Innovia Foundation manages other funds established by generous donors to address the unique opportunities and challenges in our region. Over 165 individual and family funds are used to support the Foundation's five impact areas of Health & Wellbeing, Economic Opportunity, Education and Youth Development, Arts & Culture, and Quality of Life. Innovia Foundation evaluates organizations and then makes grants to best reflect the intended purpose of the funds.
- $570,662 spent. Scholarships: These funds support student educational achievement. Over 75 funds are used to support students from the Inland Northwest with scholarships to attend colleges, universities, or vocational schools in the region and beyond.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.