SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Spokane County United Way announced its closure after more than 100 years of community service, citing economic challenges and unexpected leadership transitions that leave dozens of local nonprofits scrambling to replace critical funding.
For organizations that relied on United Way funding, the closure creates immediate financial uncertainty. Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, an organization that United Way has supported over the years, says this feels like a loss for the non-profit community.
“The closure is just sad because I know it’s not just us,” said Brian Newberry of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho “We’re standing here in West Central and there’s so many nonprofits impacted by it. YMCA is just down the way. We all were beneficiaries of the generosity of the United Way. So for me, it’s been sadness.”
The closure affects multiple organizations across Spokane County that depended on United Way grants and funding allocations. SNAP, another local nonprofit, acknowledged the significant impact of the closure.
“With their closure, SNAP now faces the challenge of replacing the critical funding that United Way once provided,” the organization said in a statement. “As our community’s needs continue to grow, we will be relying even more on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and partners who believe in our work.”
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