Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation wraps up awards of Fast-Track Small Grant; focus now on larger Impact Grants

Area organizations from small towns like Enterprise, Ore., Riggins, Idaho, and Colfax, Wash., to the larger populations of Lewiston, Clarkston, Moscow and Pullman were among the recipients of Fast-Track Small Grants approved in June by the Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation, LCVHF officials have announced.

The Foundation awarded $149,489 to 23 area organizations in June to complete the Fast-Track Small Grants process for 2021. In all, approximately $500,000 was awarded to 70 organizations.

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation funds grants to promote the health, wellness, and disease prevention of residents in a three-state, nine-county area: Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce in Idaho; Asotin, Garfield and Whitman in Washington; and Wallowa in Oregon.

The Fast-Track Small Grant is a quick turnaround grant intended for small nonprofits that focus on health, wellness or disease prevention. The grant application opened March 1 and the grants were reviewed and awarded monthly.

The Foundation’s larger Impact Grants applications opened on June 1 and the application is available on the Foundation’s website at www.lewisclarkhealth.org. These grants are intended for requests up to $75,000. Priority is given to applicants that demonstrate a commitment to long-term vision and projects that address the root causes that affect health, improve wellness, and help prevent disease. Impact Grant applications are due by July 31.

Community Advisors to the Foundation will review the Impact Grant applications and make grant award recommendations to the Trustee. The Trustee will notify the organizations that are selected for funding prior to November 15.

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies from 13 cities in the Foundation’s three-state nine-county service area were among the Fast-Track Small Grant recipients approved in June. The request varied from suicide prevention to a frisbee golf course project. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations were unable to hold their usual fundraisers and requested financial help for their general operating funds.

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation was established in 2017 by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden as part of the sale of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center by Ascension Health to RCCH Healthcare Partners. Those eligible to apply for grants are nonprofit tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) classification from the IRS, and governmental entities or government or public organizations described in I.R.C. § 170(c)(1) (political subdivisions of a state or federal government) or I.R.C. § 511(a)(2)(B) (state colleges and universities), even if it is not described in I.R.C. § 501(c)(3), provided that any grant to such governmental or public organization must be made exclusively for charitable purposes as described in I.R.C. § 170(c)(2)(B), subject to any additional limitations under 26 C.F.R. § 53.4945-5(a)(4), or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws. All proposals must be for health, wellness, or disease prevention to qualify.

Idaho Trust Bank administers the Foundation as its Trustee.

For more information on the Foundation or the grant process, visit the Foundation’s website or contact Idaho Trust Bank at 208-664-6448.

Here is the list of organizations that were approved for Fast-Track Small Grants in June, the amount of the grant awarded, and what it will be used for. The final two on the list were approved in May.

  • American Association of Respiratory Care, Lewiston, $10,000, operating costs to assist clients.
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1443, Clarkston, $10,000, Veterans Center computer services.
  • Suicide Prevention of the Inland Northwest, Lewiston, $10,000, provide services to seven county region.
  • Latah Recovery Center, Moscow, $2,500, remodel for Recovery Community Center.
  • Clearwater County Ambulance, Orofino, $9,800, Zoll cardiac monitor mounting.
  • Friends of the Neill Public Library, Pullman, $7,500, hot spot loan program.
  • Office Moms & Dads, Vancouver, Wash., $5,000 supporting children entering foster care in the Lewis-Clark Valley.
  • Salmon River Senior Citizens Inc., Riggins, $3,300, building expansion equipment.
  • Colfax Rotary Club, Colfax, $2,750, softball field fencing.
  • Union Gospel Mission Association of Spokane, $7,500, crisis shelter in Lewiston.
  • Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association, Orofino, $10,000, purchase of AEDs for C-PTPA camps and vehicles.
  • Whitman Community Hospital Auxiliary, Colfax, $5,000, Ease the Squeeze program.
  • Pullman Senior Citizens Association, Pullman, $9,000, general operations, van lease and newsletter production.
  • Clearwater Economic Development Association/Clearwater Basin Youth Conservative Corps, Lewiston, $2,925, first aid/CPR certifications.
  • City of Asotin Fire Department, Asotin, $9,000, AED updates and replacements.
  • Clearwater QRU, Clearwater, $1,549, new safety equipment.
  • Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance, Coeur d’Alene, $7,500, safe start and safe sleep for northwest babies.
  • Rotary Foundation of Wallowa County, Enterprise, Ore., $9,418 place and support AEDs and support for Imnaha responders.
  • Garfield County Christian Youth Program,Pomeroy,$4,500 safety improvement project.
  • Friends of Phillips Farm, Inc., Moscow, $6,000, Walk in the Woods for Wellness project.
  • Friends on the Parks, Colfax, $5,000, Frisbee golf course project.
  • Latah Alliance on Mental Illness, Moscow, $6,500, mental health advocacy.
  • Friendly Neighbors Senior Citizens, Moscow, $4,747, kitchen upgrades for meal program.

Approved in May

  • Lewiston City Library, Lewiston, $4,764, library access for all.
  • First Steps 4 Life Recovery, Lewiston, $10,000, Ruins 2 Recovery program.