Kalispel Charitable Fund

Since 2000, the Kalispel Tribe has donated approximatley $1 million annually to our local community. The Kalispel Tribe believes in being a strong community partner and strives to achieve that through its commitment to supporting its neighbors. The Charitable Fund was established to support the work of the numerous non-profit organizations of Spokane and Pend Oreille counties. The organizations the Tribe supports are pursuing the same goals as the Kalispel Tribe, as we all work to better the lives of our future generations.

Since 2000, the Kalispel Tribe has partnered with over 300 local non-profits in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties, and has charitable partners in a variety of areas, including social services, healthcare, education, arts & culture and the environment.  Some of those organizations share their thoughts about the Tribe’s positive impact below.

Real Life Ministries Newport

The Kalispel Tribe has supported two programs created by Real Life Newport.  The first is called Community Week. In Community Week, we purchase backpacks and school supplies and give them to children in need in Cusick, Newport, and Priest River.  We have averaged giving out around 220 backpacks each year this program has been operating.  We have given out over 250 backpacks each year since COVID began.  

The Kalispel Tribe has also supported Happy Feet.  Happy Feet gives shoes and socks to children in need. Happy Feet is also available to the community in crisis situations. Real Life Newport has given out over 400 shoes and 2,400 pairs of socks in four years of operation.  This program sets up shoe distribution events in the spring in the Cusick, Newport, and Priest River communities.  Jared Horton – Pastor 

Meals on Wheels Spokane 

Meals on Wheels Spokane is very fortunate to be privately funded because our mission speaks to individuals and organizations.  The generous support we receive from the Kalispel Tribe allows us to honor our senior clients by providing proper nutrition to those who cannot meet that need on their own.  Our service allows seniors to remain in their home and reduce premature out of home placement.    Gail Golden – Fundraising Specialist 

Teen & Kid Closet

For years, Northern Quest and the Kalispel Tribe have supported the mission of Teen & Kid Closet, allowing us to clothe thousands of children in need in our community. 

You have supported fundraisers, from auctions to the family fun run, Socktoberdash, to our first Bourbon & Bacon Bash and you all show up at our events, and allow us to take part in your non-profit showcase, which gives us good exposure to people who may not know what we do and how we help the children and families of our surrounding communities. 

Your continued support helps keep our doors open and helps us go beyond just doing the bare minimum. When we run out of items for our shoppers, the extra money we glean from your contribution allows us to purchase needed items. —Robyn Nance 

Providence Inland Northwest Foundation 

The Kalispel Tribe was the lead donor for our 2012 campaign to modernize and expand the cardiac intensive care unit at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Sacred Heart serves a regional tertiary hospital, providing care for thousands of patients from eastern Washington, northern Idaho and Montana. Our cardiac intensive care unit provides services to the sickest and most vulnerable cardiac patients. The generous gift from the Kalispel Tribe allowed us to not only modernize and expand, but to include in the project a beautiful outdoor courtyard for patients, family members and Caregivers to be able to step outside the hospital environment for rest and rejuvenation. We have some heart transplant patients who are hospitalized for up to three months, so having a space for them to be able to experience nature has an immeasurable impact. Incredible, sacred space would not have been possible with out the extraordinary support we received from the Kalispel Tribe.  —Colleen Fox – Chief Philanthropy Officer 

Operation Spokane Heroes 

Kalispel Tribes annual contribution has been the backbone of Operation Spokane Heroes. This contribution has made a way for OSH to purchase gift cards and support military families in hardship during the holidays over the past years.  And has broadened our influence by serving veterans in much needed ways. Operation Spokane Heroes has an organized approach for distribution of donations:  Veterans and military apply for funding online, many of the service men and women have a case manager or they have advocates to assist in the application process.  —Sandy Kates – Chair