Introducing the Kootenai County Weaver Awards

Innovia Foundation is partnering with the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project to recognize and support everyday people in Kootenai County who are bringing neighbors together, building trust and strengthening belonging.

Across our region, we know there are quiet leaders already doing this work — hosting conversations, creating welcoming spaces, helping people across differences connect, and reminding us that strong communities are built relationship by relationship. These are weavers.

Through the Weaver Awards, Innovia will help celebrate and resource local individuals and small groups who are strengthening the social fabric of Kootenai County. Awardees will receive microgrants and opportunities for connection, storytelling and shared learning to help their work grow.

Do you know someone who brings people together? Are you already doing this work in your neighborhood, school, faith community, workplace or local organization? Nominate a weaver or apply today.

What is weaving?

Weaving is the practice of building meaningful relationships that set the conditions for social trust to grow in communities.

It begins with a simple commitment: to see one another as equal in dignity, even when experiences and viewpoints differ.

Weaving invites people to:

• Discover what they have in common
• Learn how their differences can make the community stronger
• Work side by side toward common good.

Weaving can be formal or informal, and it is characterized by four qualities:

• Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood, town, or region
• Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
• Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
• Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards recognize and support everyday people and small groups in Kootenai County who are bringing neighbors together, building meaningful relationships, strengthening belonging and helping trust grow across the community.

Through this opportunity, Innovia Foundation will provide $2,500 microgrants to local weavers — people who are already doing the quiet, important work of connecting others, creating welcoming spaces and helping residents work together for the common good. The awards are designed to be accessible, with a simple application process and straightforward reporting requirements.

Individuals and small organizations may apply or be nominated. Selected awardees will receive financial support, public recognition and opportunities to connect with other local weavers as part of a growing community-wide effort to strengthen the social fabric of Kootenai County.

Why are we launching the Weaver Awards in Kootenai County?

Across Kootenai County, we see everyday people building trust, connection and belonging in quiet but powerful ways. The Weaver Awards allow us to celebrate these local leaders, support their work and help strengthen the relationships that make our communities thrive.

What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?

Each Weaver Awardee will receive a $2,500 microgrant to recognize and support their work bringing people together, building trust and strengthening belonging in Kootenai County.

In addition to the financial award, Weaver Awardees will receive:

• Local and National Recognition: Awardees will be celebrated by Innovia Foundation and recognized nationally by the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project alongside weavers from communities across the country.
• Learning Resources and Tools: Awardees will have access to practical resources, trainings and tools designed to support relationship-building, community connection and local leadership.
• Connection and Support: Awardees will receive support from Innovia and local partners as they continue developing and implementing their community-based efforts.
• Networks and Relationships: Awardees will become part of a growing network of local weavers, with opportunities to connect, learn from one another and participate in gatherings that strengthen belonging across the community.

Who selects the Weaver Awardees?

A local advisory group, made up mainly of local community advocates, will choose the Awardees. These are people who know the spirit of the community and its neighborhoods. They care about weaving a strong social fabric and they know what it takes to do so.

Who is eligible?

The Weaver Awards are designed for everyday people and small organizations in Kootenai County who are bringing neighbors together, strengthening relationships and helping build a more connected, welcoming community.

A local advisory group made up of Kootenai County community members will help select 20 Weaver Awardees to receive $2,500 microgrants. Awardees may be individuals or small organizations whose work reflects the spirit of weaving: local, relationship-centered, welcoming and grounded in care for the community.

Individuals are eligible if:

• You live, work or learn in Kootenai County.
• You are at least 18 years old.
• Your project helps connect neighbors, foster relationships and strengthen belonging in the community.
• Your project does not support a political party or policy.
• Your project welcomes participation and does not restrict involvement based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party or faith.
• Projects may serve specific affinity groups — such as veterans, language groups, women’s groups, student groups or other communities of shared experience — as long as participation is not restricted based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party or faith.

Groups or organizations are eligible if:

• Your organization operates in Kootenai County.
• Your organization’s annual budget is under $250,000.
• Your project helps connect neighbors, foster relationships and strengthen belonging in the community.
• Your project does not support a political party or policy.
• Your project welcomes participation and does not restrict involvement based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party or faith.
• Projects may serve specific affinity groups — such as veterans, language groups, women’s groups, student groups or other communities of shared experience — as long as participation is not restricted based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party or faith.

What makes a good candidate for a Weaver Award?

A strong nomination lifts up someone who is already bringing people together and helping neighbors build meaningful relationships. Weaver Award nominees may be individuals, informal groups or small organizations whose work strengthens trust, belonging and connection in Kootenai County.

Weaving can take many forms. A good nomination might include a neighborhood gathering, youth mentorship effort, community meal, park cleanup, arts or music program, storytelling project, interfaith gathering, mental health support group, volunteer effort or another activity that helps people connect around a shared purpose.

We are especially interested in projects and initiatives that reflect the four qualities of weaving:

• Local: Bringing together people who share the same neighborhood, town or region.
• Mutual: Creating opportunities for everyone to contribute, participate and benefit.
• Welcoming: Inviting people to join as they are and helping them feel a sense of belonging.
• Continuous: Building relationships that deepen over time through ongoing connection.

At Innovia, we believe vibrant communities are built when people come together to improve their communities and make our part of the world better. A strong Weaver Award nomination should show how the nominee is doing that work in a relationship-centered way — not only meeting a need, but helping people know, trust and care for one another.

How can I use the funds?

We believe weavers know their communities best. The $2,500 Weaver Award is intended to support activities, projects and materials that help bring people together, build relationships and strengthen belonging in Kootenai County.

Award funds may be used for costs that directly support your weaving project, such as gathering supplies, food for community meals, space rental, outreach materials, transportation, childcare, interpretation, arts or storytelling activities, small equipment for shared community use, or other expenses that help neighbors connect around a shared purpose.

As part of the application, you will be asked to submit a simple budget showing how you plan to use the $2,500 award. The budget does not need to be complicated, but it should clearly show how the funds will support a project that benefits the community.

Funds may not be used for:

• Regranting funds to other individuals or organizations
• Items intended primarily for private or personal use
• Purchasing items to be donated to individual people
• Tuition or certification fees
• Political campaigns, political parties or lobbying activities

About Innovia Foundation

Innovia Foundation is the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Since 1974, we have partnered with generous individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen the places we call home. Our mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities, and our vision is vibrant and sustainable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. Through grants, scholarships, community partnerships and local leadership, Innovia works alongside people who want to make our part of the world better.

About Weave: The Social Fabric Project

Weave: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. Weave supports everyday weavers—neighbors who show up for others, bridge divides, and build community. Through storytelling, online learning, community-building programs, and the Weaver Awards, Weave works to repair America’s social fabric from the ground up and lift up the people who are already leading this work in their neighborhoods. Learn more at weavers.org.

FAQ

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards recognize 20 people from Kootenai County who are leading efforts in their community to address local needs with $2,500 awards.

Who can get a Weaver Award?

The awards are for individuals and small groups doing a project that brings people together, foster relationships with one another, and addresses a shared need in the community. The Awards are not intended for large organizations, though people who work for an organization can apply as long as their organization has an annual budget under $250,000. To get an award, you have to live and work in Kootenai County and be 18 or older. You don’t have to be part of a nonprofit organization.

To receive an award from Innovia Foundation, applicants must also be able to show how grant funds will be used to support charitable activities.

How do I nominate someone for a Weaver Award?

Nominating someone is very simple. You only need to answer three questions that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. You can access the nomination form on this page, coming soon. To nominate someone, you must be 18 and older and live, work or learn in Kootenai County. Once you submit the nomination, the person you are recommending will be notified via email and must fill out some additional information for their application to be completed. Please let them know that you’ve nominated them for a Weaver Award so they are expecting an email from us.

How long does it take to complete the application process?

The application has two parts, the nomination by a neighbor and the application by the aspiring Awardee. Each part can be completed in as little as 30 minutes and you can even submit video recordings instead of a written application.

Do you have to be attached to a nonprofit to get an Award?

No. Anyone can get the Award. You don’t have to have a formal organization. Weaver Awards are meant for those who don’t have the time, experience, or resources to apply for traditional awards.

How do you apply and what's the deadline?

Completed applications with nominations have to be submitted by August 31 through the Innovia Foundation Weaver Awards application website. You can apply or recommend someone through the links in this page.

I’m having trouble completing the application or recommendation form, what should I do?

Send us an email at weave@innovia.org and we’ll respond as soon as possible.

What happens after I submit my application?

A group of Kootenai County local advisors will review and select the Weaver Awardees. In the meantime, keep in touch with us at weave@innovia.org to stay connected, join a Coffee & Conversations group, attend a weaver skills session, and meet weavers like you from across our community.

Have additional questions?

Contact us at weave@innovia.org and we’ll be happy to answer them!

If I'm submitting a video application, can I submit only one video?

No, you need to submit a video for each question that requires a video response. It’s the best way to make sure that the judges properly evaluate your answers. Please make sure you respect the guidelines of time limits. We only allow a maximum of 2 minutes per video response.