Spokane Parks Foundation

What Spokane Parks Foundation does

Spokane Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1951 that supports parks and recreation across Spokane County, Washington. Operating with a small staff of 6 employees plus a volunteer Board, the foundation serves 110 parks and has cumulatively invested more than $7 million into the local parks system over its 75-year history. Its core mission is fundraising and grantmaking to enhance park amenities, programming, and capital projects that fall outside municipal budget lines.

The foundation's business model centers on individual donations, corporate giving and sponsorships (with tiered levels up to $100,000+), memorial and legacy giving (including $10,000 Memorial Benches and the Hamblen Society planned-giving program), and a small Community Grants program capped at $6,000 per grant. It retains a 10% administrative fee, passing 90% of funds to park programming. Key initiatives include Make a Splash (water safety, with Providence as flagship Legendary Leader sponsor), Summer Parkways (annual community event, with Better Health Together as 2026 presenting sponsor), Paw Park (off-leash dog park development with Spokane Humane Society), the Riverfront Park capital campaign, and Memorial Benches and Trees. Named partners include Providence, Molina Healthcare, Avista Foundation, and Spokane City Credit Union. Leadership comprises Executive Director Yvonne Trudeau and Community Outreach lead Melissa Owens.

Name

Spokane Parks Foundation

Legal name

Spokane Parks Foundation

Website

https://spokaneparksfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Spokane Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1951 that raises funds from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and legacy gifts to support 110 parks across Spokane County through grants, capital campaigns, and recreation programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Park and Recreation Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Park philanthropy
• Community grants
• Memorial giving
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting parks and recreation programs in Spokane County. Administrative fee of 10% or less charged from every gift.
2. Corporate Giving and Sponsorships: Corporate partners invest in parks through sponsorships of programs like Summer Parkways, Make a Splash, and other events. Tiered sponsorship levels from Supporter ($250+) to Presenting Sponsor ($5,000).
3. Memorial and Legacy Giving: Memorial bench program ($10,000), Looff Carrousel animal adoption ($5,000/10 years), promenade pavers ($1,000), fence charms ($150), and planned giving through Hamblen Society.
4. Community Grants: Grants awarded to community organizations for park projects and outdoor recreation programs, maximum $6,000 per project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spokane Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises charitable donations and grants from individuals and corporations to fund park projects and outdoor recreation programs across 110 parks in Spokane County, Washington. The foundation fills the funding gap between what municipal budgets can provide and what parks need, while operating signature programs such as Make A Splash water safety, Summer Parkways community event, Community Grants, and memorial/legacy giving opportunities.

Product overview

The Spokane Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not offer a traditional software product. Instead, it provides a suite of community programs and fundraising initiatives to support parks throughout Spokane County. The primary programs include Make A Splash in a Kid's Life (water safety and swim lessons), Community Grants (park project funding up to $6,000), Summer Parkways (annual recreation event), Memorial Benches (dedication program), Campaign for Riverfront Spokane (park enhancements), Paw Park (dog park development), and the Hamblen Society (planned giving). These programs work together to fulfill the Foundation's mission of cultivating community health through parks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Make A Splash in a Kid's Life A water safety and swim lesson program for at-risk and low-income youth, providing life-saving swim lessons, water safety clinics, free swim passes, swimsuits, and lifeguard certification scholarships.
• Community Grants Grant program funding park projects and outdoor recreation programs that demonstrate active and committed community involvement and increase accessibility, with maximum awards of $6,000 per project.
• Summer Parkways Annual free community event held on or near the summer solstice where roads are closed to car traffic and opened for human-powered recreation including biking, walking, running, skating, and dancing in the Manito and Comstock neighborhoods.
• Memorial Benches Bench dedication program allowing donors to honor loved ones with a memorial bench in Spokane parks, including a 10" x 2" bronze recognition plaque, site preparation, installation, and future maintenance for a $10,000 donation.
• Campaign for Riverfront Spokane Philanthropic campaign supporting enhancements to Riverfront Park, including the Providence Playscape inclusive playground, Hoopfest basketball complex, and dog park, with gift recognition opportunities for donors through memorial benches ($10,000), Looff Carrousel animal adoption ($5,000/10 years), promenade pavers ($1,000), and fence charms ($150).
• Spokane Humane Society Paw Park Dog park being developed in Riverfront Park on Havermale Island, funded entirely by donations, designed by NAC and AHBL architecture firms based on community survey feedback from more than 1,500 respondents.
• Hamblen Society Planned giving society for donors who have included the Foundation in their estate or long-term giving plan, recognizing those who believe in protecting and strengthening Spokane's parks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $7 million invested in community parks and recreation programs since 1951
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ProvidenceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Legendary Leader partner supporting Make a Splash in a Kid's Life program. Provides free neighborhood pool parties, free open swim opportunities, lifeguard certification and swim lesson scholarships for underserved youth.
• Molina HealthcareflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegendary Leader partner sponsoring Kidical Mass, Summer Parkways, and Make a Splash in a Kid's Life program to provide free family-friendly events all summer long.
• Avista FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegendary Leader partner funding outdoor recreation opportunities and learn to swim programs for children who could not otherwise afford them.
• Spokane Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in construction of Spokane Humane Society Paw Park dog park in Riverfront Park, located on Havermale Island. Contributing to dog park design and fundraising.
• Spokane City Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegendary Leader partner supporting parks and recreation programs in Spokane County.
• The General StorecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegendary Leader partner providing free swimsuits for children in need through partnership with Make a Splash program.
• Better Health TogethercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Summer Parkways 2026 event.
• Physical Therapy AssociatescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPromoter sponsor for Summer Parkways 2026 event.
• NAC ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal design firm partnered to create dog park design based on community feedback.
• AHBLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal design firm partnered with NAC Architecture to create dog park design for Riverfront Park.
• AvistacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter sponsor for Summer Parkways 2026, funding outdoor recreation and learn to swim programs.
• City of Spokane Parks and Recreation DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner working with foundation on Riverfront Park, memorial benches, Paw Park, and park projects throughout Spokane County.
• The Friends of ManitominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Manito Park bench program and memorial bench inquiries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• City Parks Alliance: A cross-city coalition advancing urban parks through research, policy, and programming. Operates as a network rather than a single city foundation but addresses the same urban-park funding and policy challenges.
• The Nature Conservancy: A global environmental nonprofit with significant land conservation and park-adjacent funding activity. Comparable in mission overlap around parks and natural areas, though operating at a vastly larger scale.
• National Recreation and Park Association: The national membership and advocacy organization for park and recreation professionals. A broader industry incumbent in the same space, with overlapping stakeholder community but a national rather than city-level focus.
• Trust for Public Land: A national nonprofit that works to conserve land and create parks across the U.S. Operates at a much larger scale but addresses overlapping mission areas — park creation, conservation, and access — through philanthropic funding.

Direct peers

• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: A parks-supporting nonprofit that raises private funds for park programs, capital projects, and volunteer engagement across a defined park portfolio. Strong functional overlap in park-specific fundraising and program delivery.
• Central Park Conservancy: The flagship nonprofit that fundraises for, programs, and maintains a major urban park system. Same model of corporate partnerships, individual giving, and signature event-driven fundraising for a defined park portfolio.
• Seattle Parks Foundation: A Pacific Northwest city parks foundation that fundraises and grants for parks and recreation programs across a single urban county. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and community-foundation model to Spokane Parks Foundation.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: A city-focused parks conservancy that funds park improvements, programs, and stewardship for an urban park system. Directly comparable as a mid-sized city parks grantmaking and stewardship organization.

Regional players

• Innovia Foundation: A Spokane/Eastern Washington community foundation managing charitable assets and grantmaking across the same geographic region. Closest regional peer for donor competition and cross-funding dynamics in Spokane County.

Others

• Friends of Manito: A Spokane-specific park support organization explicitly named as a partner of Spokane Parks Foundation for the Manito Park bench program. A direct partner and a small-scale peer in the same local park-support ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpokaneParksFdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spokane-parks-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spokane Parks Foundation