North Idaho Idaho Gives donations jump to $776,603 for nonprofits

North Idaho donors sent $776,603 to 112 nonprofit organizations during Idaho Gives, a surge of more than $317,000 from last year’s $459,034.32. The money came from 3,033 donors across the region’s 10 counties and landed with groups working on land conservation, emergency response, arts access, disability support and grief services.

For Kootenai County, the jump mattered because it showed which parts of the local safety net continue to draw support when residents decide where to give. Idaho Gives, which ran statewide from May 4 through May 7, has grown into the state’s largest collective giving campaign, raising more than $33 million for nonprofits since 2013. It is a program of the Idaho Community Foundation and is powered by Idaho Central Credit Union.

The Idaho Community Foundation said the North Idaho results reflected a deeper culture of generosity rather than a one-time spike. The campaign’s footprint stretches well beyond Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Hayden Lake, Fernan Lake Village and Dalton Gardens, but the local picture still points to the kinds of organizations that carry day-to-day pressure for the region. Among the nonprofits named as beneficiaries of the momentum were Palouse Land Trust, Riggins Canyon Rescue Corp, Moscow Contemporary, Specialized Needs Recreation and Willow Center for Children’s Grief.

Heidi Rogers of the Idaho Community Foundation said, “North Idaho has always been shaped by people who care deeply about their communities.” Terry Russo of Down Syndrome Connection NW said Idaho Gives “creates momentum, strengthens community connections and helps make year-round work possible.” Those are not abstract claims in a county where nonprofits often rely on a mix of small gifts, volunteer labor and a few concentrated fundraising windows to keep programs running.

The Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation added another layer to that picture on May 6, awarding $10,000 in Idaho Gives Community Prizes to six nonprofits serving the greater Coeur d’Alene area. The prizes went to organizations whose boards achieved 100% giving, a marker that Idaho Community Foundation leaders said signaled strong internal leadership and broad commitment. Heidi Rogers said, “Strong board leadership helps fuel strong communities.”

The Idaho Community Foundation, founded in 1988, awarded its first grants in 1991 and says it has invested more than $200 million across all 44 Idaho counties. It united with the Idaho Nonprofit Center in 2024 to expand statewide nonprofit support. Idaho Gives will return May 3 through May 6, 2027, and North Idaho’s 2026 total gives local nonprofits a stronger base as they head into another year of demand.