In the Fall of 2001, a small group of women founded an organization whose mission it was to inspire women with the power of collaborative philanthropy – Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation. Thirty-four motivated women joined during our inaugural year. Today, the membership is more than 400 strong.
Pooled-fund Grants
Individual Grant Designations
Just as our organization has grown, so has our ability to make a difference. We have invested more than $3.3 million in 140 local projects with our pooled-fund grants. These grantees range north to McCall, west to the Oregon border and east to Gooding. One of the unique aspects of IWCF membership is the opportunity to designate $500 of your contribution to organizations of your choice. Those designations, to more than 700 other grantees, brings our total giving to more than $6.2 million.
A portion of each IWCF member’s annual contribution is considered an Individual Grant Designation (IGD). This $500 contribution is directed by the member to be distributed as either two grants for $250 each or one grant for $500. IWCF will make contributions in each member’s name to those organizations qualified by the IRS as having 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, government entities such as schools, public libraries and park departments (as long as the grant furthers a public purpose), and religious organizations.
Members may also designate to the IWCF Pooled Fund, Administrative Fund, or the Susan Smith Endowment Fund.