Ripple effect of giving felt throughout community

Whether it's a butterfly or a ripple, one small action can have a huge impact on a person, a family or a community.

In the realms of business, philanthropy and nonprofit work, those ripples touch more lives than most may ever know.

"When businesses support nonprofit organizations financially and with volunteerism, the ripple effect is substantial," said Rachel Peterson, executive director of United Way of North Idaho, a nonprofit that works in collaboration with other nonprofits and local partners to improve multiple aspects of community members' lives — education, finance, health and more — with a special focus on those in the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population.

Peterson said it's common for business organizations to sponsor events, give undesignated funds or offer grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations, which bolsters a nonprofit in two of the most challenging areas: finance and labor.

"This allows the impact to be greatly multiplied, creating a ripple effect throughout the community and creating a longer-lasting impact," she said.

Seeing the gaps between businesses and nonprofits, www.volunteernorthidaho.org was created earlier in 2025 to connect businesses, individuals and agencies in need of volunteer support, Peterson said.

"This is a free resource to all in our community, thanks to our partners in the project," she said. "We would love to see more businesses and individuals log on and volunteer. There are over 50 agencies onboarded now and growing weekly. The tag line of our volunteer site is, 'All it takes is one.' One dollar, one hour, one person — this inspires others and makes a difference today in the community."

United Way annually hosts a Day of Caring, bringing together crews who roll up their sleeves and volunteer to fill a number of needs. This event causes a ripple effect as many businesses support the community by allowing staff participation, Peterson said.

"Sending hundreds of volunteers into the community and United Way of North Idaho organizing the work is obviously a huge lift to nonprofits and our community," she said. "What is often overlooked is the benefit to the individual and the business. The benefits of volunteerism are numerous, including improved mental health. The benefits for business organizations is also often underestimated. Businesses that have employees who volunteer together are known for a better culture, team mentality and earn a lot of goodwill within the community."

The Day of Caring has been so successful United Way of North Idaho will be doubling up and offering a spring and fall Day of Action in 2026, Peterson said.

“When individuals, businesses and agencies all come together to provide a real lift and opportunity for long-term change in circumstances for the people in our community, the ripple effect can last for a generation or longer," she said. "That is the framework of United Way, that we would all work together to better lives and our community by living united.”

North Idaho College's Center for New Directions assists single parents and displaced homemakers on their journeys to financial stability and self-sufficiency. Louisa Rogers, who runs the program, said many of the participants she serves have gone through tremendous hardships, but something they all have in common is their dedication to continue progressing forward in life, despite their circumstances.

"They want to be self-reliant, break patterns of generational poverty and addiction and create safe, stable homes for their children," she said.

However, they can’t do it alone. The nonprofit that has provided the most assistance to Center for New Directions participants is Charity Reimagined, whose mission is to see potential, not poverty, and help community members by investing in their talents in order to raise them out of poverty and into stability.

As a board member for Charity Reimagined, Rogers sees need and impact from multiple sides.

"When we think of philanthropy, we think of donating money to an organization. Monetary donations are essential; nonprofits rely on financial support to keep their doors open. But philanthropy can be so much more than this," she said. "When businesses look what they specialize in and ask, 'How can we use this skill to help our neighbors in need?', that is when the magic happens. We see a beautiful example of this through the work happening at Charity Reimagined."

Charity Reimagined launched in 2018, recognizing that the best results happen when the community as a whole gets involved to support those in need. Born out of this realization, its members began connecting with local businesses, gaining trusted business partners in their fight against poverty.

"These business partners have stepped in and offered discounts on car repairs, dental work, vision and more," Rogers said. "These businesses understand the complexity of human experiences. They believe in second chances and redemption. They have decided they want to be part of the good work happening and use their skillsets to contribute to positive change within the community." 

An example of this is Lake City Auto partnering with Charity Reimagined to offer car maintenance classes for community members who have never learned the basics of car ownership.

A single mother Rogers works with attended one of these classes.

"This woman grew up in the depths of poverty, in a household battling addiction," Rogers said. "As a young adult, she entered into her own addiction, which led to homelessness and her children entering the foster care system. It took years of struggle before she was able to take control of her life, gain sobriety, earn her GED, find stable and safe housing and enroll at NIC as a first-generation college student. She was excited to be part of the car maintenance class because no one had ever taught her even the most basic aspects of car maintenance."

A few months after the class, steam began to pour from the hood of the woman's car while she was driving. Although she panicked at first, she remembered what she learned in the class, checked the coolant, saw it was low and added the appropriate coolant to the engine.

"She called me to share what had happened, excited and empowered," Rogers said.

Lake City Auto took the time to invest in community members by teaching this class, Rogers said.

"They used their special skillset to offer support, education and mentorship, free of cost," she said. "This is a beautiful example of how businesses can partner with nonprofits to create change in our communities."

When businesses or community members who have unique gifts and talents hear about or witness collaboration with nonprofits, it helps create momentum for more businesses to get involved.

When she began at the Center for New Directions, Rogers asked a local photographer if she would donate her skills and talent by taking professional family photos for single mothers.

"Another photographer heard about the family photoshoot and reached out, offering to help," Rogers said. "She has since taken professional headshots, senior photos and family photos for many of my single mothers and their kids. I believe people want to help one another — sometimes we just don’t know how to help. When a business connects with a nonprofit in the fight against poverty, the nonprofit will certainly have ideas for how they can use their gifts and talents to contribute."

Rogers recommends nonprofits communicate their causes in ways that resonate with local businesses and identify how specific businesses can make the greatest impacts.

"And then, the nonprofit should be bold and make the ask!" she said. "When a business donates their gifts and talents to those in need, their revenue will likely increase. Customers want to support businesses who have integrated a charitable aspect into their business model! It is a win-win."

Businesses should be intentional when they decide what nonprofit to support, Rogers said. She quoted John D. Rockefeller: "Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient become independent of it.”

"Businesses should research the nonprofits within their region and donate money and talent to the organizations they align with," she said. "This takes some effort and investigation, but giving with intention allows the business to truly feel connected to the cause. I also strongly suggest that businesses ask the nonprofits they support to come and share the mission with their staff. This invites the staff to be part of the change, giving them buy-in to the partnership, allowing them to know about the fruit of their efforts."

    Peterson
  

    Rogers
  

    Michelle Garrett volunteers to fold blankets at Newby-ginnings of North Idaho in Post Falls during United Way of North Idaho's 2018 Day of Caring.