Spokane Arts Fund
Spokane Arts Fund is a public charity based in Spokane, Washington. It supports arts and culture through grantmaking, programming, advocacy, and professional development, and describes its regional role as amplifying Spokane as a cultural hub and catalyst for the Inland Northwest.
Spokane Arts Fund at a glance
In short: Spokane Arts Fund gave $94K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Washington. 100% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $93,750
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +37.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,523
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $89,328
- -68.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (11 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Spokane Arts Fund
- Review Cycle
- The October 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. deadline was the SAGA Round 3 deadline and has passed. The website lists annual round deadlines of February 1, June 1, and October 1, with awards announced April 1, August 1, and December 1, respectively.
- Deadline
- The October 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 978, Spokane, WA 99210
Phone: (509) 321-6444
Website: https://spokanearts.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Spokane Arts Fund
Who Spokane Arts Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Stage Left Theater Association ($10K). Together the top 10 received $88K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 32 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website invites SAGA applications from groups based in the Spokane region. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2024 went to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Spokane Arts Fund open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 11 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $9K. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2022) to $94K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $94K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stage Left Theater Association Spokane, WA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| James Pakootas Spokane, WA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Franklin Elementary Parent Teacher Group Spokane, WA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Heartworks Spokane, WA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Community Colleges of Spokane Spokane, WA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Kindling Productions LLC Spokane, WA | Program Support | $8,000 |
| American Institute of Architects AIA Spokane Spokane, WA | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Space Queers Spokane, WA | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Dom and Bomb Spokane, WA | Program Support | $8,000 |
| Fat Gratitude Productions LLC Spokane, WA | Program Support | $6,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Spokane Arts Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $89,328 | $1,148,820 | $1,326,424 | $93,750 | 11 | — |
| 2023 | $278,937 | $1,457,357 | $1,196,577 | $75,000 | 8 | $1,699 |
| 2022 | $39,907 | $349,836 | $617,196 | $58,500 | 7 | $20,344 |
| 2021 | $298,205 | $936,614 | $825,792 | $65,500 | 6 | $9 |
| 2020 | $222,848 | $1,200,120 | $1,101,848 | — | — | $20 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to amplify Spokane as the cultural hub and catalyst for the Inland Northwest through arts leadership, advocacy, networking, and support. Its filing also describes efforts to build appreciation and understanding of the value of the arts and cultivate the success of artists and arts organizations.
Through the Spokane Arts Grant Awards (SAGA), the website invites applications from artists, arts service organizations, organizations and collectives, community-based arts programs, and culture and heritage groups based in the Spokane region. Supported disciplines include visual, performing, literary, ear-oriented, media, and folk or traditional arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Spokane Arts Fund reported 11 grants totaling $93,750. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $10,000, with a median of $8,000. The filing lists program support as the purpose of each itemized grant. Notable awards included $10,000 each to Stage Left Theater Association, Franklin Elementary Parent Teacher Group, Heartworks, and Community Colleges of Spokane; $8,000 each to Kindling Productions LLC, American Institute of Architects AIA Spokane, Space Queers, and Dom and Bomb; and $5,500 to Spokane Art School. The filing also lists a $10,000 award to an individual recipient.
The website states that SAGA planned to award a total of $166,000 in 2026. Requests of up to $10,000 are considered in three annual rounds, and awards are non-renewable. Applicants use the online category-specific application portals. The website offers application templates and samples, information sessions, grant-writing seminars, and one-on-one application training. Its eligibility guidance says significantly contributing artists must represent themselves and be directly or appropriately compensated; proposals relying on artists’ work without appropriate compensation are ineligible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brooke Kiener as board chair; Steven McDonald, Karen Stratton, Garret Daggett, Stephanie Curran, Melody Heaton, Bethany Letcher, and Elisabeth Hooker as board members; Shelly Wynecoop as director of grantmaking; and Shantell Jackson as director of programming.
Spokane Arts Fund is led by Melissa Huggins, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 3 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melissa Huggins
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$81K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Brooke Kiener
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shantell Jackson
Director of Programing
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$36K (2024)
Shelly Wynecoop
Director of Grantmaking
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$84K (2024)
Shelby Allison
Asphalt Arts Manager
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$61K (2024)
Elisabeth Hooker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Stratton
Board Member
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Curran
Board Member
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Garret Daggett
Board Member
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melody Heaton
Board Member
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven McDonald
Board Member
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bethany Letcher
Board Member
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerri Danowski
Operations & Marketing Manager
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Meg Winchester (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Carly Cortright (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Ej Iannelli (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Joyce Cameron (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Reid Johnson (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ruth Fitzgerald (2020) — Board Member
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 $84K, to Shelly Wynecoop (Director of Grantmaking). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Spokane Arts Fund
How much does Spokane Arts Fund give each year?
Spokane Arts Fund gave $94K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $75K across 8 grants.
What is Spokane Arts Fund's typical grant size?
Spokane Arts Fund's median grant in 2024 was $8,000, and its average grant was $8,523, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Spokane Arts Fund that year got $9K on average.
Where does Spokane Arts Fund give grants?
Spokane Arts 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 (11 grants).
Does Spokane Arts Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Spokane Arts Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (11 grants).
Who are Spokane Arts Fund's largest grantees?
Spokane Arts Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Stage Left Theater Association ($10,000), James Pakootas ($10,000) and Franklin Elementary Parent Teacher Group ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Spokane Arts Fund?
Spokane Arts Fund reported $89K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does Spokane Arts Fund fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to amplify Spokane as the cultural hub and catalyst for the Inland Northwest through arts leadership, advocacy, networking, and support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Spokane Arts Fund?
Spokane Arts Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check spokanearts.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Spokane Arts Fund's EIN?
Spokane Arts Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-0998745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spokane Arts Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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