Our Mission
Our mission is to improve the lives and future of all people in the Spokane County community. We bring together individuals and organizations with the passion and resources to understand need and ensure opportunities for every individual to reach their human potential.
We work closely with our partners to address the inequalities experienced by low-income and diverse populations, with the aim of providing a stable and healthy home for all individuals, enabling them to fulfill their educational aspirations and strengthen their financial well-being.
United Way of Spokane County is dedicated to fostering connections that transcend cultural, racial, religious, and economic divisions. Today, our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion is pivotal in fulfilling our mission and upholding our values.
United Way of Spokane County is Committed to Accountability and Transparency .
As an independent 501(c)(3) organization and United Way member, we're dedicated to responsible stewardship of funds, striving for measurable results, and upholding the highest ethical standards.
Good Stewards of Your Dollars
We have a responsibility to our donors, partners and the community to ensure that the dollars entrusted to us are invested in ways that produce measurable and meaningful results.
We are an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded and governed by local volunteers to mobilize our community to create measurable results that improve people’s lives. As a member of United Way Worldwide, we annually certify adherence to standards that include comprehensive requirements for financial reporting, governance, ethics, diversity and operations. United Way volunteers, employees and representatives have a responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards. We believe these standards go beyond compliance with laws and regulations – calling us to fulfill higher obligations as stewards of public trust. Our code of ethics sets forth standards and responsibilities toward this end.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
We prioritize equity in our mission to improve lives in Spokane County, opposing all forms of oppression, and embracing opportunities for growth.
We firmly uphold equity as a non-negotiable core value in our mission to enhance lives in Spokane County. We recognize that racism, ingrained in our history and local context, has systematically marginalized and dehumanized individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We acknowledge that systemic racism perpetuates barriers for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), upholding other forms of oppression and unjustly affecting us all. We denounce all forms of oppression and understand that progress takes time, welcoming missteps as chances for growth and learning.
Our guiding principles in achieving equity are:
- Leveraging all of our assets (time, resources, energy) to create more equitable communities.
- Continuing to prioritize funding for community programs that are led by and/or support historically underserved and marginalized populations and communities.
- Expanding and incorporating the voices of our most vulnerable and marginalized communities in decision making by bringing diverse viewpoints to our Board and committees.
- Building, enhancing, and sustaining relationships by listening, interacting, and convening partner agencies and community members.
- Actively engaging those most impacted by the issues, especially members of our BIPOC communities and other marginalized populations.
- Acknowledging that to address our priorities we need to look for solutions at the personal, community, system, and structural levels.
Our Team
There's no team more eager to actively contribute to the betterment of our community.
Liz Bluff
Events Coordinator
Flor Castaneda
Anchor Community Initiative (ACI) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator
Steven Cutter
Vice President of Community Impact
Dan Dent
Chief Executive Officer / President
Dakota Hanna
Resource Development Manager
Tim Linton
Bookkeeper
Marivic Mendoza
Senior Administrative Assistant
Kinzie Michael
Bookkeeper
Bryan Robinson
Marketing Manager
Melissa Smith
Resource Development Manager
Jamie Trudgeon
VISTA Program Director
Pete Velazquez
Vice President of Finance and Administration
Board Of Directors:
Through strong leadership, inspiration, and collaborative teamwork, we strive to create a positive community impact.