President's Letter

I hope you are having a wonderful summer and enjoying the many incredible places Idaho has to offer. As you know, Idaho is a big place and it’s easy to get in your vehicle and drive directly to your destination, always sticking to the main roads. 

As I travel the state, I have started something new. Whenever I can, I leave the main road and drive into town instead of just passing by. I drive up and down Main Street, stop for a few minutes and walk around.  I never knew there was an opera house in Glenns Ferry. Had never seen the geyser in Soda Springs. Didn’t realize there is a giant lumberjack statue in St. Maries. I found out there is a castle in Weiser. 

In these times, when it is easy to live half our lives on our phones, it becomes even easier to not know your neighbor. Never meet the person who works at the store on the corner. Skip the local event to stream the latest episode of whatever. 

As you know, “community” doesn’t happen by accident. It means knocking on your neighbor’s door or introducing yourself to the new person who just moved in. It means going to that local event and volunteering to help. Doing all the things to bring people together. My little adventures off the beaten path have helped me develop a deeper appreciation of communities across the state and the people who live there. In these times, when things can seem so divisive, little adventures are an opportunity to find out that we all have a lot more in common than we might think. 

By working with people like you, people who care deeply about your community, the Idaho Community Foundation is now approaching $175 million in grants to help care for the people and places across the state. Thank you for all you do for your community, your state and the nonprofits working to keep Idaho such an incredible place. And the next time you’re driving through Arco, stop and get something to eat at Pickles. Make time to stop at the Potato Museum in Blackfoot, as you promise yourself you will every time you pass. Or go to the Raspberry Festival at St. Gertrude’s Monastery in Cottonwood. Maybe we will run into each other there.   

Best wishes,
Steve Burns

Former ICF Board Director Bill Allen passes away

We were saddened to learn that former ICF Board Director Bill Allen passed away in June. Below is an excerpt of Bill’s obituary. Click here to read his full obituary.

After watching his Dodgers win, William “Bill” Allen passed peacefully at his home Friday June 30th with his family by his side. Bill was born in Idaho Falls to Stan and Ila (Cox) Allen, the youngest of four children. While pregnant with Bill, Ila was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

The family lived in Jameston, Idaho until Bill was three years old when they moved to Salmon where Stan’s parents lived, and Stan’s dad worked as a butcher. The Allens moved to a ranch at 17 Mile, where the QB plant is now located. The family moved several times, living at the Ray Skinner ranch, Ray Young ranch and several homes in town including a house on the Lemhi Road across from Stan’s brothers Paul and Jesse near the Allen Bridge.

During Bill’s youth, his mother tried experimental treatments in Washington, ultimately spending the final 5 years of her life being bedridden in a nursing home Idaho Falls until her passing in 1969. Despite her illness, Ila took care of her family as best she could while her health allowed.

During Bill’s high school basketball career, he played his freshman year on JV and the next three years on varsity under Coach and lifelong friend Dean Stokes. In his senior year, Bill helped his team win district by making the winning shot against Madison.

While in high school Bill met Elizabeth “Diz” Snook, the two began dating and went on to spend 56 years together. In 1976, Ryan William was born followed by Jeffrey Clayton in 1979.

Bill cared deeply for the Salmon community and spent countless hours volunteering with various groups. He dedicated himself to the Kiwanis, SMMC Foundation, Idaho Community Foundation, Salmon Education Foundation, Lemhi Valley Community Foundation, Development Workshop, Salmon Elks Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Salmon Jaycees, to name a few. He received the Idaho Business Review’s Excellence in Finance award in October 2022 in recognition for his years of service as a CPA and community leader.

Idaho Community Foundation grant $294K for education

The Idaho Community Foundation has awarded $294,000 to 22 education projects in Idaho through the Idaho Future Fund.

The Idaho Future Fund was established at the community foundation in 2015 by a couple from Blaine County. Grants from the fund are intended to create, sustain or reinvigorate impactful educational programs throughout the state in the areas of preschool scholarships, charter schools, public schools/public school libraries and supplemental educational programs.

The Cascade School District in Valley County will use its $8,000 grant to support its community school strategy. Community schools provide flexible support to students and families through their neighborhood schools.

“The money will provide emergency licensed clinical therapy to students and families in need and assist our students with other needs like clothing, supplies, school nutrition, and more,” said Superintendent Joni Stevenson.

The Oneida County Library will use its $10,000 grant to host a summer reading program in the park to help prevent “summer slide,” when students lose proficiency in academics because of not being in school. More than 300 kids are participating, and each receives a book that will be discussed every week.

“We have no programs that help with summer slide, so this program is vital to our youth,” said Director Kathy Kent. “In addition to giving them a book, they will also be creating their own book each week throughout the summer. The kids treat these books like gold and are so excited to get their very own book to take home.”

See the full list of Idaho Future Fund recipients.

August is National Make-A-Will Month

You may be reading articles and hearing about estate planning more this month than usual because it’s National Make-A-Will Month. It’s a good time to review your estate plans or get your wills and trusts in order if you haven’t done so yet.

Charitable giving is an important part of estate planning. Bold, legacy-making plans are frequently in the news because of the high-profile people who establish them, but everyone can leave a legacy to support favorite charitable causes.

The Idaho Community Foundation’s Legacy Society recognizes those who will shape Idaho’s future through a planned gift.

One advantage of working with the Idaho Community Foundation on a planned gift is that your bequest can be given to the nonprofit(s) you choose over time, rather than all at once. This means the organization can count on annual support from your estate rather than having the administrative complexity and investment burden of a single large gift.

You can work with our team to create a Legacy Society Statement of Intent or with your estate planner.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions we get about planned gifts through ICF:

Q: What assets can be used to make a legacy gift?
A: Cash, stock (especially highly appreciated stock), real estate, life insurance, an IRA beneficiary designation (which can be extremely tax effective), are examples of assets that can be used for a legacy gift.

Q: What if I change my mind about the recipients I named?
A: Once we receive Legacy Society Statement of Intent outlining your intentions, you can change, add or delete organizations that will receive grants. This can be done through ICF directly and doesn’t require contacting your estate planner.

Q: What if the organization(s) I select as beneficiaries cease to exist?
A: We complete due diligence before we distribute grants. If the community organization(s) ceases to exist or is not in good standing as a qualified nonprofit, we will find a replacement(s) doing similar work in the same community. If a cause you select no longer has a need for funding (for example, a cure is found), the fund will support the greatest needs in your community.

We look forward to working with you as you firm up your legacy giving plans, whether this month or any time of year!

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