Grangeville Community Foundation
Grangeville Community Foundation (GCF) was created by the people of Grangeville for the people of Grangeville. Our vision is to create a vibrant and healthy community now and for future generations.
Gifts from Grangeville supporters are gathered and, in partnership with the Idaho Community Foundation, are placed in an endowment fund. The fund is invested in order to grow the fund over time—a permanent community savings account. A percentage of the fund's earnings are distributed through a locally controlled grantees program.
Our goals also include guiding people toward solving local issues, inspiring community investment, and instilling a tradition of philanthropy in Grangeville families. To learn more, download the GCF brochure. To learn more, download the GCF Pay It Forward brochure.
For more information, email grangevillecommunityfoundation@gmail.com, write us at P.O. Box 487, Grangeville, ID 83530, or contact a board member listed below.
A Brief History
The groundwork for Grangeville Community Foundation was accomplished through the efforts of the Grangeville Horizons Steering Committee. With mentoring and grant funding from 2003-2011, a variety of community projects—from the purchase of a much-needed freezer for the food bank to the installation of holiday lighting at Pioneer Park—were completed. The Steering Committee saw the impacts that small amounts of funding can make in Grangeville and agreed to support the creation of a permanent community endowment with remaining grant funds.
In January 2012, Grangeville Horizons members, Andrea Solberg and Mary Jahn, joined by John Bennett, Mary Schmidt, and Jane Spencer, formalized the development of Grangeville Community Foundation as an affiliate of the Idaho Community Foundation and served as GCF’s founding volunteer Board of Directors.
Since April 2012, Board members have been encouraging Grangeville supporters to join the GCF. Individuals, families, and businesses have answered the call and GCF’s funds are approaching $500,000.
Board of Directors
The current volunteer Board of Directors include:
Patrick Bird
A retired Certified Public Accountant, Pat is the former CFO of Idaho County Power and Light and former Treasurer of ICP. Inc. He served as past president and 25 year member of Grangeville Lions Club and a past board member of the Special Olympics Idaho, Syringa General Hospital, Idaho Infant and Toddler Interagency Coordinating Council, Grangeville Arts, and the Salmon River Canyon Kennel Club. Pat and his wife, Susan, have been Grangeville residents for over 40 years. He can be reached at (208) 451-4972.
Laurie Eckert
Laurie visited the area for over 35 years before moving to Grangeville in 2012 to be near her family. She serves as HR Manager at Idaho Forest Group and is involved with Ida-Lew Economic Development Council, and the Camas Prairie Tech School initiative. She is passionate about creating educational opportunities for the Grangeville area. Laurie and her husband, Ed, met in Grangeville and have been happily married since 2015. Laurie can be reached at (208) 507-2269.
Andrea Solberg
Throughout her 35 years in Grangeville, Andrea, a teacher, has been actively involved in education and community outreach either through employment or volunteer work. She most recently served as co-chair of the Grangeville Horizons Steering Committee and currently serves as chairman of GCF. Andrea and her husband, Don, own the Solberg Agency. She can be contacted at (208) 507-0095.
Jane Spencer
Jane, an attorney, has lived in Grangeville for over 40 years and has contributed to the community in many ways as a volunteer. She and her husband, Craig, own Spencer Ranch. As the GCF Grant Chairperson, she enjoys helping Grangeville organizations reach their goals. She can be reached at (208) 507-0592.
Carla Wilkins
Carla’s interest in rural opportunities for children, especially disabled children, led her to establish a therapeutic toy lending library, and serve as the Idaho County representative on the Regional Board of Health & Welfare. For the past two decades, she has been a volunteer dance instructor and hosts a yearly children’s fishing derby. Carla and her husband, Jeff, own Wilkins Ag, Inc. and she is the former Grangeville Outreach Coordinator for Lewis-Clark State College. Contact Carla at (208) 507-1949.
GCF Funds
GCF Legacy Endowment Fund is a permanent charitable savings account held in trust by the Idaho Community Foundation for the benefit of the community. A percentage of the earnings is distributed in the community through a local grants program; the remainder of the earnings becomes part of the endowment’s principal. Through careful spending and long-term investing, the account grows over time and the distributions gradually increase.
GCF Community Fund is a non-endowed fully expendable fund that allows for immediate distributions and maximum flexibility.
Unless otherwise designated, 70% of all contributions are allocated to the GCF Legacy Endowment Fund and 30% to the GCF Community Fund.
GCF Grants
Grants ranging from $250-$1,000 and are awarded to eligible organizations or individuals within 5 miles of the Grangeville city limits or whose primary purpose is to benefit Grangeville.
Since 2013, GCF has awarded just under $100,000 to Grangeville organizations. This year, GCF expects to award at least $20,000 to Grangeville organizations.
The grant application cycle is open from August 1st through September 30th. Please read the 2022 GCF Grant Guidelines before downloading and filling out the GCF Grant Application Form.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our e-mail address is grangevillecommunityfoundation@gmail.com or contact Grant Chairperson Jane Spencer (208)507-0592 for more information.
GCF Events
November 2021
For the second year, there was no in-person event in 2021. GCF greatly appreciates the ongoing and generous partnership with Avista Utilities who provided funding support for the sixth consecutive year. And, during the 2021 grant cycle, Idaho Forest Group made it possible for GCF to greatly increase grant funding. GCF board members took a socially distanced approach to awarding 17 grants to Grangeville schools and organizations totaling $25,680. Click here to read the GCF 2021 Newsletter.
September 2021
The 2021 Orrin & Eleanora Webb Community Giving Award was presented to Grangeville Fire Department volunteers at their monthly meeting. “In addition to fighting both city and rural fires, you keep the community informed and educated. In December, you sponsor Santa’s Fire Truck to the delight of residents and on Independence Day, you put on a fireworks display made possible with donations from our community.” said Andrea Solberg, chairman of GCF. The Webb Award was created in 2014 to recognize those who demonstrate the spirit of philanthropy in the community.
November 2020
Although GCF did not hold a grant award celebration this year out of concern for COVID-19, Avista Utilities provided sponsorship funding to GCF for the fifth consecutive year. A very generous donation from Idaho Forest Group made it possible for GCF to significantly increase grant funding and award 14 grants totaling $20,033.61. Click here to read the GCF 2020 Newsletter.
November 2019
At the 2019 Grant Awards Celebration on November 7th, GCF awarded 11 grants totaling $13,428 to Grangeville organizations. A generous donation from Idaho Forest Group allowed GCF to significantly increase grant funding this year. Members of Grangeville Lions Club were honored as the 2019 Orrin and Eleanora Webb Community Giving Award recipients for their many years of community service. The event sponsor, Avista Utilities, made possible a truly memorable and festive evening. Click here to read the GCF 2019 Newsletter.
November 2018
For the third year, Avista Utilities sponsored the 2018 GCF Grant Awards Celebration on November 8th and 13 grants totaling $9,735 were awarded. Also honored at the event was the Human Needs Council who received the 2018 Orrin and Eleanora Webb Community Giving Award. Click here to read the GCF 2018 Newsletter.
November 2017
With the generous sponsorship of Avista Utilities, the 2017 GCF Grant Awards Celebration was held on November 2nd at the Grangeville Senior Citizens Center. There were 17 grants totaling $8,275 awarded. Grangeville Horizons Recreation received a $250 grant for holiday lighting. Committee founders Terra Hill, Karen Ruklic, and Cathy Wassmuth received the Orrin & Eleanora Webb 2017 Community Giving Award. Click here to read the GCF 2017 Newsletter.
November 2016
The Appreciation & Grant Awards Celebration on November 3rd at Grangeville Senior Citizens Center featured Grangeville Police Chief, Morgan Drew, as the guest speaker. During the event sponsored by Avista Utilities, 16 grants totaling $6,037 were awarded. Click here to read the GCF 2016 Newsletter.
May 2016
“I am so honored to be the recipient of this award,” smiled Kathy Stefani at the Grangeville High School concert May 4. Stefani was recognized with the 2016 Orrin and Eleanora Webb Community Giving Award from the Grangeville Community Foundation.
“Orrin would be particularly pleased because he loved music and appreciated it so much when Kathy’s choral groups sang for him,” announced Jane Spencer, GCF board member. “And he appreciated her efforts to make the Grangeville schools music department shine.” Spencer explained how Stefani has taken the effort to make sure every child who wants to play an instrument has an instrument, whether they can afford it or not. “I admire and respect Kathy for all these things, but most of all for the wonderful example she sets for the kids. She shows them the joy of doing your job well, with enthusiasm, quiet competence and confidence. She involves the community as she can,” Spencer added. “Giving of herself is what she does, which is what philanthropy is.”
Included in the night’s awards from GCF was $250 for the GHS music department and $250 for the Grangeville Elementary Middle School music department.
November 2015
GCF awarded nine grants totaling $3,745 at the annual grant award event on November 5th.
Since 2013, GCF has awarded a total of $15,000 to hard-working Grangeville organizations.
May 2015
Grangeville Community Foundation hosted the second annual Orrin and Eleanora Webb Community Giving Award celebration at The Gallery on May 7th. The celebration honored the Webb's generosity to the community and recognized Idaho County Recycling for their successful volunteer recycling program in Grangeville.
Janie Fluharty, who spoke on behalf of Idaho County Recycling, congratulated all the volunteers who came forward in 2009 to start a sustainable, no-cost-to-the-county, permanent recycling solution. The county recycling program now has about 180 volunteers, takes in about 60,000 pounds a month and runs year-round. Fluharty thanked the many local businesses, individuals and organizations who have helped make the program a success. “Without all of you here in the community working toward this, it wouldn’t have happened, so thank you,” she said.
An “on-the-spot” grant drawing was made with Grangeville Elementary Middle School student River Phillips’ name being drawn. He chose for the $250 grant to go to the GEMS art program. His father, Patrick, is the art teacher. River has also been a volunteer at the recycling center in Grangeville for the past two years.