Foundation leader cites impact of Idaho nonprofits

COEUR d’ALENE — Idaho needs nonprofits, said Steve Burns, president and CEO of the Idaho Community Foundation.

And the reason is, they matter. 

Which means, people will be called on to give even more, Burns said. 

“I can promise you the Idaho Community Foundation will be one of the leading forces for helping to grow philanthropy in the state of Idaho,” he said Tuesday morning at the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber’s Upbeat Breakfast. 

ICF passed the $14 million mark in awarding grants statewide this year, including $3 million in North Idaho. Its goal is $20 million by 2028.

Two nonprofits, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and Toys for Tots, recently said donations were down and asked for contributions.

Burns shared a few stories to reflect the impact of nonprofits, of which there are more than 9,000 in Idaho.

He told of a woman and five children who had been living in a cave along the Snake River Canyon until last year, when they went to a nonprofit-operated warming center in Twin Falls. 

"This was the first time they had been warm in weeks,” Burns said to about 75 people at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

He recounted a tale of Hope House, a home for troubled, at-risk children, near Marsing. There is a tradition there that the oldest child rings a bell on Christmas morning to wake up others, so they know to come to a hall where presents await. 

What makes it special is how the children don't rip open gifts in a rush. They wait for each other.

“The kids just inherently know no one opens a present until every other kid in the room has a present,” Burns said. 

He talked about Kamiah teens who attended a conference in Orlando, Fla., through a nonprofit to learn about community involvement. When they returned, they put what they learned into action. They started a teen center, helped build a skate park and community garden and played a role in establishing a drug counseling center for adults.

None of those stories would have happened without nonprofits. 

“Idaho relies incredibly, heavily, on nonprofits,” Burns said. 

This year, the ICF made two significant moves.

The Idaho Nonprofit Center, whose four-day giving event this year passed $4 million, merged into the ICF.

“We realized we’re two organizations trying to accomplish the same thing, and that is grow philanthropy across the state of Idaho," Burns said. 

In May, the Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation was officially rolled out, dedicated to helping nonprofits, schools and community organizations. At its launch party, it raised more than $400,000.

Burns said about 25% of Idaho residents moved here in the past five years. He said the ICF wants to welcome them and let them know how they can help the community where they now live. 

It also plans to continue providing grants to nonprofits.

“They do the work right here in Coeur d’Alene and keep this community as one of the very best places of live in the world," Burns said.