Find answers to frequently asked questions about LaunchNW
Innovia Foundation is the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho with a mission to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. LaunchNW is an initiative of Innovia, stemming from the strategic framework to ensure that every person thrives. Learn more about the Foundation at Innovia.org.
Visit our scholarship page here to view our current year eligibility criteria.
There are two parts to LaunchNW funding: (1) the LaunchNW Promise Scholarships and (2) implementation. Scholarship funding is raised by public and private donors, businesses and other regional partners into a scholarship fund held at Innovia Foundation.
Implementation dollars are secured separately and already include investments from sources like the American Rescue Plan Act funding from Spokane County, City of Spokane Valley and City of Spokane, funding from the Washington Student Achievement Council, and funding from the Ballmer Group.
If you would like to make a life-changing donation today, you can contribute to the endowed scholarship fund hosted at Innovia Foundation here.
LaunchNW benefits all people in our region by increasing opportunity, prosperity, and growth. The initiative’s community governance model requires collaboration with the community it serves, providing a seat at the table for all voices. Other communities in the U.S. with similar programs (such as Say Yes Buffalo) have seen increases in post-high school education, volunteerism, community service, and voting, paired with decreases in unemployment, reliance on government assistance programs, and government spending on remedial services and interventions.
LaunchNW unites businesses, educational entities, nonprofits, government, and communities to build holistic solutions that support youth in our community.
Building upon the powerful existing foundations of student support, LaunchNW braids and pools funding, identifies other sources available to the community (such as unclaimed federal dollars), and brings additional resources to our region. Learn more about who we are.
No. LaunchNW Promise Scholarships help to “fill the gap” between existing aid and a student’s full cost of tuition or attendance. Students will be required to complete a FAFSA or WASFA to apply for a LaunchNW scholarship. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) and other financial aid applications are a crucial step to opening doors to a post-high school education and career.
LaunchNW convenes partners who support and facilitate students as they apply for federal and state aid, as well as institutional grants and scholarships of all types. Learn more about the opportunities FAFSA/WASFA unlock.
LaunchNW is a community and economic vitality initiative that offers promise scholarships to students who need it most. Additionally, these dollars work in tandem with wraparound supports for youth so they can travel their best journey from birth to job attainment. LaunchNW is committed to collaborative governance, meaning every sector of our community is represented at the decision-making table. A disruption to business as usual, LaunchNW is a transformational investment in the future of our region.
This initiative is designed to be sustainable. It commits to using data and community input to align resources, demand accountability, and drive results.
LaunchNW is a collective impact initiative. The collaborative governance structure of LaunchNW is designed to involve local leaders to ensure each community’s unique needs are addressed. These leaders not only have “a seat at the table,” but they are actively involved in the decision-making for the initiative.
LaunchNW also hosted a series of town halls in the summer of 2022 to engage and collect input from over 300 local community members. Numerous task forces are also seeking community input as they progress through their work, which you can learn more about in our e-newsletter.
Data privacy is very important to us. LaunchNW adheres to Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines to protect the privacy of student educational records. Learn more about FERPA here.
Visit our get involved page to explore a full list of opportunities.
