The Avista Foundation
The Avista Foundation is the corporate foundation of Avista Corporation that provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving communities of Avista Utilities in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, parts of southern Oregon, Sanders County, Montana, and Juneau, Alaska. The website is the foundation's official portal for philanthropy applications and hosts annual returns and Form 990-PF filings.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A registered nonprofit with programs serving communities inside Avista’s service area (primarily eastern Washington and nearby Idaho/OR/AK), seeking modest operating or project support or participating in employee matching/volunteer programs.
Good Fit
- • Programs located in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, parts of southern Oregon, Sanders County MT, or Juneau AK.
- • Requests for community-facing programs (education, food security, youth development, homeless services, local arts) or capital projects with clear local impact.
- • Grant sizes that match the foundation’s mix of many small awards and occasional larger capital gifts.
- • Participation in employee matching or Dollars-for-Doers campaigns.
Geography
Giving is multi-state (grants observed across about 14 states) but heavily concentrated in the home state, which received roughly 75% of dollars; the footprint is regionally focused around Avista’s service territory.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded hundreds of distinct organizations in the latest year (417 recipients and 607 grants), with a large share of small awards and many different program types, indicating a broad and diverse recipient set despite some larger capital grants.
New Applicants
A public online application process exists and the latest year shows substantial turnover (about 250 new recipients, ~60% new), so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to join the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
