Dear SBA Members and Friends,

Over the weekend, we have all watched with profound sadness as the Spokane Area Fires swept through our region. As of this morning, roughly 8,000 acres had burned, approximately 640 structures were believed to have been lost, and evacuation orders had affected about 60,000 people.

Our hearts are first and foremost with the families who have lost their homes, those still waiting to learn whether their property and loved ones are safe, and the firefighters and first responders continuing to protect our community.

Many of you have already asked the same question: How can we help?

With the full support of our Board of Directors, the Spokane Business Association recommends the Innovia Foundation’s Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund as a trusted local channel for giving.

We make this recommendation for several reasons:

Innovia has proven experience. Following the 2023 Gray and Oregon Road fires, its regional fund raised more than $1.3 million, distributed over $840,000, and helped finance eight volunteer-built replacement homes.
Your donation stays focused on local relief and recovery. One hundred percent of gifts to the fund will support vetted nonprofit organizations serving affected families and communities, and Innovia takes no percentage for its operating expenses.
The fund is designed for both immediate needs and the long recovery ahead.

That same spirit is already taking hold across Spokane’s business community. Many businesses are stepping up in meaningful ways—including Washington Trust Bank, which has contributed $50,000 through Innovia Foundation, and STCU, which has pledged to match donations up to $100,000 through its Here for Good Foundation, also managed by Innovia. Others are launching fundraisers, mobilizing employees and customers, opening workspaces, welcoming evacuees, and offering help in every form.

For those looking for ways to help:

Give directly to Innovia
Donate to the Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund:
https://innovia.org/wildfire-response/

Checks may be made payable to Innovia Foundation, with “Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund” in the memo, and mailed to:

Innovia Foundation
Attn: Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund
818 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 650
Spokane, WA 99201

For additional information regarding trusted Spokane Wildfire Recovery resources, visit KHQ:

https://www.khq.com/features/recovery/

Share this message
Please share it with your employees, colleagues, and customers. A short note directing people to one trusted local fund can multiply the impact of our entire business community.

As we all see the images and stories of these fires being shared across the nation and the world, we are also seeing and hearing the remarkable stories of community, commitment, and resilience that so beautifully remind us why we love this community of Spokane and all the people that make it home.

Warmly,

Gavin