Avista Foundation's $336K Boosts Northwest Arts and Environment

SPOKANE, WA – December 29, 2025 – The Avista Foundation has concluded 2025 with a significant philanthropic push, awarding a combined $336,150 to 76 non-profit organizations during its third and fourth quarters. The grants span five states—Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, and Montana—and are targeted at bolstering a diverse array of environmental, arts, and cultural initiatives that form the backbone of community life across the region.

This latest round of funding brings the Foundation's total giving for 2025 to over $832,350, underscoring a sustained and growing commitment to the communities served by its parent company, Avista Corp. The grants support a wide spectrum of organizations, from public broadcasting stations to youth stewardship programs and local theaters.

“Community is built every day by those who give their time, energy, and care to others,” said Kristine Meyer, Avista Foundation Executive Director, in the official announcement. “Their service is a testament to the resilience and generosity that define our region, and the Avista Foundation is grateful for the chance to support this important work.”

The Ripple Effect of Strategic Giving

Beyond the impressive dollar figures, the true impact of these grants is measured in the tangible benefits they bring to local communities. The funding enables organizations to launch new programs, expand existing services, and reach more people, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

In Washington, a significant $20,000 grant was awarded to Friends of KSPS, the support organization for the region's public television station. This funding is earmarked to expand arts and culture education. Friends of KSPS is a highly-rated non-profit, holding a perfect 4-star score on Charity Navigator and recognized for its financial health and transparency, ensuring the grant will be effectively utilized to enrich the community. Another Spokane-based recipient, Spokane Word, received funds to help amplify the creative voices of immigrant and BIPOC youth, fostering a more inclusive cultural dialogue.

Across state lines in Idaho, the grants aim to enhance both cultural access and environmental stewardship. The Festival at Sandpoint will use its award to bolster its Community Night, making the popular arts event more accessible to all residents. Meanwhile, the Idaho Trails Association received support to engage young people in outdoor stewardship and trail maintenance programs, cultivating the next generation of environmental caretakers.

Further afield, the impact is just as direct. Oregon's Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center will apply its grant toward a science camp, creatively merging arts with STEM education. In Alaska, the Alaska Development Corporation is tackling the critical issue of affordable housing with its grant, supporting a community land trust in Juneau. At the same time, Perseverance Theatre, Alaska's largest professional theater, will continue its work bringing youth voices to the stage.

A Pattern of Growing Philanthropic Investment

This recent announcement is part of a larger pattern of consistent and escalating investment by the Avista Foundation. Established in 2002, the foundation has now distributed over $17 million in total grants, positioning it as a major philanthropic force in the Northwest. The more than $832,350 awarded in 2025 represents a substantial increase over the previous year, when the foundation gave approximately $563,000 to 125 organizations.

This trend reflects a responsive philanthropic strategy. For instance, in 2020, the foundation nearly doubled its giving from the previous year to $2.6 million in response to the heightened community needs brought on by the global pandemic and regional wildfires. This ability to scale its support in times of crisis demonstrates a deep connection to the well-being of the region.

The foundation’s giving is strategically focused on four key areas: vulnerable and limited-income populations, education, economic vitality, and cultural vitality. The latest grants, while focused on arts and environment, often intersect with these other priorities, such as providing educational opportunities for youth or supporting organizations that contribute to local economic health.

Aligning Corporate Responsibility with Community Needs

The Avista Foundation's work is a core component of Avista Corporation’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. A crucial detail for the public is that all philanthropic funding, including the foundation's grants, is provided by the company's shareholders and is not drawn from Avista utility customers through their rates. This model separates the company's community investment from its operational revenue, framing it as a dedicated commitment to its mission of enabling vibrant communities.

Avista's CSR framework is built on four pillars: environment, people, customers and communities, and ethical governance. The foundation's environmental grants align directly with the parent company's long-standing focus on environmental stewardship, which includes goals for clean energy and reducing carbon emissions. By funding organizations like the Idaho Trails Association and the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, the foundation extends this corporate ethos to the grassroots level.

This philanthropic work is complemented by other corporate initiatives, such as Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) in Eastern Washington. This separate fund invests up to $5 million annually in community-driven projects that advance clean energy goals while addressing socioeconomic disparities, demonstrating a multi-pronged approach to community partnership.

Empowering the Grassroots

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Avista Foundation's strategy is its support for organizations of all sizes. The Q3 and Q4 grant lists include awards ranging from $400 for the Friends of Whitepine Grange in rural Montana to enhance its community picnic pavilion, to the $20,000 grant for Friends of KSPS.

This approach ensures that smaller, grassroots organizations—which are often the lifeblood of rural and underserved communities—receive the support they need to continue their work. For many of these non-profits, a grant of a few thousand dollars can be transformative, enabling them to maintain operations, launch a new project, or leverage the funds to secure additional support.

One leader of a non-profit that previously received funding noted the long-term nature of the relationship, stating the Avista Foundation has been "one of our biggest, most loyal supporters through the years." This sentiment highlights the role of the foundation not just as a donor, but as a sustained partner in the non-profit sector's success.

As the foundation prepares for its next grant cycle, which opens January 1, 2026, for health and human services proposals, its ongoing investment continues to be a vital force in shaping the social, cultural, and environmental fabric of the Northwest.