Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund is a public charity based in Spokane, Washington, formed in 2019. Its stated work includes improving health care access, promoting health professions education and community health, supporting research, and improving public-policy discussion of local health challenges.
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund at a glance
In short: Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund gave $653K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $652,763
- -39.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +41.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,198
- -57.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,357
- Total assets
- $21,508,131
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 244, Spokane, WA 99210
Phone: (509) 315-1260
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Spectrum ($94K). Together the top 10 received $482K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 79 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in Spokane, Washington. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, including organizations in Spokane, Seattle, and Ephrata.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund gives
- 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $110K (2022) to $1.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $653K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $93,500 |
| Apic Spokane DBA Asians for Collective L Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $78,000 |
| Mujeres in Action (MIA) Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $57,300 |
| Latinos En Spokane Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $52,000 |
| Yoyot Sp'q'n'i Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $43,000 |
| Range Media Spokane, WA | General operations support including story fund, support effort in funding development/launch of the documenter's program | $35,000 |
| Manzanita House Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $32,000 |
| NAACP Spokane Branch Spokane, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $31,250 |
| Byrd Barr Place Seattle, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $30,000 |
| Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation Ephrata, WA | General Operations Support Including General Administration | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,508,131 | $1,356,161 | $1,274,232 | $652,763 | 24 | $1,106,161 |
| 2023 | $19,787,536 | $51,395 | $1,531,582 | $1,083,850 | 17 | $51,395 |
| 2022 | $18,895,512 | $63,594 | $263,480 | $110,000 | 5 | $-148,601 |
| 2021 | $22,406,271 | $2,583,380 | $880,955 | $795,000 | 31 | $663,380 |
| 2020 | $20,598,000 | $942,702 | $367,302 | $255,750 | 2 | $42,702 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated mission is to promote improved health care access, health professions education, community health and wellness, enhanced health care through research, and stronger public-policy discussion of solutions to local health challenges.
Its filing describes the Community Story Fund as resourcing community partners to tell stories about their identity, strengths, needs, or vision, with the aim of informing relationships, investment in community-defined capacity, and advocacy. Other described activities include general operating support, a C4 learning community for policy-level advocacy and base-building, and voter education and engagement.
The grantees’ own stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Spectrum describes its work as creating an LGBTQIA2S+ community gathering space focused on social connection, support, arts and culture, resources, and leadership development. Latinos en Spokane says it builds capacity among Latino community members, leaders, business owners, and organizations through inclusive community engagement. Manzanita House describes providing culturally informed essential services and connections for immigrants. Byrd Barr Place says it advances equity through programs and advocacy; Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation describes work supporting immigrant, Latinx, women, and other underrepresented communities; and The Lands Council describes advocacy, education, and community engagement to preserve and revitalize Inland Northwest forests, water, and wildlife.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the fund reported 24 grants totaling $652,763. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $93,500, with a median of $17,356. The filing lists general operating support among grant purposes, as well as support for Range Media’s Story Fund and its effort to fund development and launch of the Documenter’s Program.
The largest reported grants included $93,500 to Spectrum, $78,000 to APIC Spokane DBA Asians for Collective L, $57,300 to Mujeres in Action, $52,000 to Latinos en Spokane, and $43,000 to Yoyot Sp’q’n’i. Other reported awards included $35,000 to Range Media, $32,000 to Manzanita House, $31,250 to NAACP Spokane Branch, and $30,000 each to Byrd Barr Place and Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jo Ann Kauffman as board chair; Bill Bouten as board vice chair through January 2024; Luisita Francis as secretary; and Kim Pearman-Gillman, Skyler Love, Dean Martz, and Shelly Wynecoop as directors. It lists Thomas E. Smith as president, Lily H. Zhang as chief financial officer through February 2024, and Janae Perkins as senior finance director.
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund is led by Thomas E. Smith, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas E. Smith
President
On filings since 2020
5.3 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $39K (2024)
Jo Ann Kauffman
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Teeters
Policy Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $116K (2024)
Janae Perkins
Senior Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
2.9 hrs/week
$5K (2024)
Kim Pearman-Gillman
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dean Martz
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelly Wynecoop
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Skyler Love
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lily H. Zhang
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
1.9 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $4K (2024)
Bill Bouten
Board Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luisita Francis
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Jeff Thomas (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Rhosetta Rhodes (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David E. Luhn (2020–2021) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Mary Selecky (2020–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Jeffrey Bell (2020) — Interim President · Filing note: Through 92020
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $116K, to Jonathan Teeters (Policy Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund
How much does Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund give each year?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund gave $653K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 17 grants.
What is Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's typical grant size?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's median grant in 2024 was $17,357, and its average grant was $27,198, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund give grants?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (20 grants) and Seattle, WA (3 grants).
Does Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's largest grantees?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Spectrum ($93,500), Apic Spokane DBA Asians for Collective L ($78,000) and Mujeres in Action (MIA) ($57,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund reported $21.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission is to promote improved health care access, health professions education, community health and wellness, enhanced health care through research, and stronger public-policy discussion of solutions to local health challenges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's EIN?
Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3155527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/empire-health-community-advocacy-fund-morg_6ced2498ae9a4965b256b052ead416b5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843155527_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/empire-health-community-advocacy-fund-morg_6ced2498ae9a4965b256b052ead416b5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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