Our Vision
We imagine an Inland Northwest where everyone determines their own paths to healthy, thriving lives, no matter who we are, where we live, or how much money we make. Our goal is a community that embraces many cultures, identities, and beliefs – connected to one another and nurtured by the natural beauty surrounding us.
Our Mission
The Waters Meet Action Fund advances health equity and racial, social, and economic justice in the Inland Northwest through advocacy, action, and a focused effort on shifting the balance of power toward communities most impacted by systemic inequities.
Our Values
We start with community voice, knowledge, and experience in all of our actions. We prioritize deep relationships with our vibrant communities confronting systems of poverty and racism.
Our Background and Purpose
The Waters Meet Action Fund works in close partnership with Waters Meet Foundation. We share a common vision of health equity, have common staff and work with many of the same community partners. We are, however, clearly differentiated in our purpose: our Foundation focuses on funding community endeavors, whereas our Action Fund focuses on participation in political activity and organizing on behalf of those communities.
Key differentiators from our sister foundation:
Endowment
The Action Fund’s endowment was funded through a lawsuit against local hospitals who failed to provide the charity care required in their purchase agreement (read more about the lawsuit). Waters Meet, on the other hand, originated from the sale of Deaconess and Valley Hospitals.
Nonprofit Status
The Action Fund is a 501(c)4 nonprofit. This tax classification allows us to participate in political activity, including lobbying for legislation and donating to political campaigns. The Waters Meet Foundation, in contrast, is a 501(c)3 and is barred from all political activity by this tax status.