Great expectations: New Coeur d'Alene foundation off to a good start

COEUR d’ALENE — The Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation is off to a great start. Perhaps even greater than expected.

Within 15 minutes at a Thursday luncheon, nearly $500,000 was pledged to the new foundation dedicated to helping local nonprofits, schools and community organizations. 

Hands rose around the Hagadone Event Center as Justin Schorzman called for commitments, starting at $100,000 and ranging to $2,500.

Many of the roughly 150 at the Celebration of Philanthropy hosted by the Idaho Community Foundation responded.

“It’s something to do for our community,” said Katie Brodie, one of the donors. “It’s to make our community even better than it is.”

Schorzman, acting as an auctioneer of sorts, told the crowd he’s been involved in fundraising for a long time and had not seen anything quite like what he saw Thursday.

“You are all amazing,” he said. “All of you in this room absolutely care and love this community.”

The Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Idaho Community Foundation, is an initiative led by a group of citizens including Mary Sanderson, retired North Idaho physician, and ICF board member Heidi Rogers. 

The foundation will have an advisory committee of residents work with the ICF board to oversee the distribution of grants, “ensuring that funds are allocated to areas where they can make the most impact.”

“I think you all will agree we have the best nonprofits right here in our community,” Rogers said.

She said there are many successful local nonprofits that work hard, serve people in many ways and receive strong support.

“This community is different. It’s special,” Rogers said. 

“Simply, we are a community that cares," she added.

ICF President and CEO Steve Burns said when Rogers and others approached them with the idea of creating a community foundation fund, they loved it.

“This local control approach to giving and grantmaking will be hugely beneficial to both donors and community organizations and represents a model for other Idaho communities to replicate,” he said.

When it was announced that Sanderson had contributed $100,000, she received a standing ovation. 

Later, she said she was delighted with the strong showing of support and was glad to do what she could.

“I think this is a great thing for the community,” Sanderson said.

Rogers, a member of the ICF Board for five years, was equally thrilled.

“It was more generous than I expected,” she said.

Rogers emphasized the potential of community foundations to support diverse philanthropic goals.

“Community foundations are great because they are flexible enough to support everyone’s philanthropic goals no matter what their focus is — arts, recreation, housing, education and more can all be supported through a community foundation,” she said. “Ours will offer all of those options, but will be focused here in the greater Coeur d’Alene area.”

Rogers pointed with pride to what was referred to as the “Backyard Bunch" that kicked things off.

She and the advisory committee recently hosted a backyard gathering of “like-minded, younger professionals committed to bettering the committee’s mission.”

The group was challenged to pledge $50,000 to support the Greater Coeur d’Alene Community Foundation.

“The event felt like a passing of the torch from our mentors and leaders, inspiring and entrusting us to take up the cause and serve our community,” said Bobby Myers, a member of the advisory committee.

Schorzman, a member of the Backyard Bunch, said the foundation will be able to direct funds to nonprofits that are doing great things.

“When I am in a room like this, I am inspired. I’m inspired by the giving, I’m inspired by the sense of community,” he said.

Doug Oppenheimer, ICF board chair, thanked the crowd for its investment in Idaho.

“Let’s continue to do good together,” he said.

Info: info@cdacommunityfoundation.org.

To donate: godonate.akoyago.com/idahocf/fund/cdacommunityfoundation

    Justin Schorzman and Heidi Rogers address the crowd during the Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon at the Hagadone Event Center on Thursday.
  

    A hand goes up during a call for pledges to the new Greater Coeur d'Alene Community Foundation at the Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon at the Hagadone Event Center on Thursday.