At the Community Resource EnVision Center, we work with a lot of women. It feels like most of our volunteers are women, and for a long time, our board was predominantly made up of women. Men represent less than a third of the attendees at our executive director co-labs. So we got curious and decided to look into it: are women as overrepresented in nonprofit work as it feels like they are?
Quantifying engagement in nonprofit work is tricky. Many nonprofits don’t track who volunteers or participates on a consistent basis throughout the year. It’s not like anyone is keeping detailed records on who is chaperoning field trips or volunteering for church events. If we had access to these numbers, they would likely tell an interesting story, but they’re nearly impossible to obtain. Instead, we took a look at female involvement through the lens of board membership and paid staff positions. In Bonner and Boundary counties, nonprofits with accessible leadership data report that 58% of workers or volunteers are women.
When you dig further you discover women have long been at the heart of change in our communities. In 1985, it was three women who saved the Historic Panida Theater, a beloved landmark in Sandpoint. A woman behind the creation of Lost in the '50s, now a mainstay event in Sandpoint. Two women, who in 1979 formed the Community Assistance League simply because “the town had very little for women to do, and a lot of areas in need of improvement.” Women who changed the education landscape in this area and founded hospitals. And it was the untimely death of Sandpoint resident Kathy Pelland, known for the way she selflessly gave to so many around her that inspired the formation of Angels Over Sandpoint which since 1997 has raised over $1.5 million for locals in need.
In more recent years, women have continued to lead transformative projects. Katie Cox led the charge to save
Sled Hill
as the Executive Director of Kaniksu Land Trust. Karin Wedemeyer founded the
Sandpoint Music Conservatory, nurturing local talent and creativity. Lois Renk Wythe was the inspiration and the driving force behind the creation of the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society and
North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum. And in 2016,
101 Women was formed, giving away two $10,000 gifts each year to support needy causes and organizations in the area.
Northern Idaho stands out in its nonprofit landscape. A higher percentage of women hold leadership roles compared to general staff, suggesting that women are more likely than men to pursue or be nominated for leadership positions here. Women in Northern Idaho aren’t just leading—they’re transforming our community. From saving historic landmarks to nurturing our arts, culture, and environment, women are leaving their mark in every corner of our region. This is a testament to the unique local culture that makes our nonprofit sector thrive.
Feeling inspired to make a change? Visit us at
crecidaho.com/volunteer to learn how you can plug into our community. Or click on the logo below to get more information on these women led nonprofits!
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