The Longest Table

The Longest Table is sponsored by Innovia Foundation. This program funds events across Eastern Washington and North Idaho that create shared experiences to spark dialogue and deepen a sense of belonging, reflecting on a historic national milestone and envisioning a stronger, more united future.

The Longest Table - Innovia Foundation This summer, bring your whole community together through the power of a shared meal. In 2025, Innovia sponsored To-Go & Gather, a free community table event in Pullman, WA The Longest Table is a growing movement built on a simple, powerful idea: sharing a meal.

As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, this initiative offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on where we are today—both as a country and as a region—and to imagine the hopes and possibilities we hold for the future. Longest Table gatherings transform public spaces into welcoming places of connection, where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become friends.

By coming together around the table, participants are invited into conversation that fosters understanding, reduces isolation, and strengthens trust across communities. Beginning in April 2026, Innovia is offering microgrants of up to $2,500 to support community-led Longest Table events. These funds can be used for organizing costs such as tables and chairs, permits, promotional materials, and youth activities.

From small-town main streets to city blocks and campuses, The Longest Table creates shared experiences that spark dialogue and deepen a sense of belonging. As we mark this historic national milestone, these gatherings provide a local way to reflect, connect, and envision a stronger, more united future together. Innovia will fund a minimum of 60 Longest Table events across Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Applications open April 17, with review beginning May 5. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Events must take place between June 1 and September 30.

View a recording of our informational webinar from April 30, 2026. sample application budget INNOVIA Foundation TOOLKIT The national toolkit was developed by The Longest Table, founded in New York. Please contact the Innovia Foundation team with questions about hosting locally.

Changing any of the form inputs will cause the list of events to refresh with the filtered results. We will host Gathering Orofino: Community, Connection & Belonging, bringing together residents for a shared meal designed to foster new relationships and a stronger sense of belonging. The gathering will feature connected community tables, local food, and music.

Guided conversations will encourage longtime residents, newcomers, families, businesses, and community leaders to connect and share what […] We will host a Longest Table community dinner at our Rotary building in late October, bringing together residents, local business owners, restaurants, and community members from Newport and Priest River.

The gathering will feature a shared meal and guided conversation designed to encourage new connections and strengthen relationships across our two communities. This event is […] We will host the Sled Hill Grand Opening Celebration, bringing together community members to celebrate the opening of this new outdoor recreation space and the community support that made it possible.

The harvest-themed gathering will feature a long community table alongside live music, food, games, crafts, guided walks, and other family-friendly activities. This event is […] We will host an Oktoberfest-themed Longest Table gathering at the Elks Lodge in St. Maries, bringing together community members for a shared meal and meaningful conversation.

The event will create opportunities for neighbors to meet, exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and envision a more connected future for the community. This event is organized by a community […] We will host a Longest Table gathering at Westgate Park, bringing together individuals and families impacted by the Spokane Complex wildfires for a shared meal and time in community.

The gathering will provide a welcoming space for those affected by the fires to reconnect, strengthen relationships, and experience support and connection alongside others who have […] We will host a Harvest Chili & Soup Dinner at Moyie Springs City Hall, bringing together residents and families for a shared community meal.

The gathering will feature locally catered chili and soup, shared desserts, and fall and Halloween activities designed to bring neighbors together for an afternoon of food, fun, and community connection.

This […] Thank you to our t-shirt sponsor Heart & Soul Introduction video Getting Started Webinar Series This virtual series is designed to help communities assess their strengths and readiness to successfully implement the Community Heart & Soul Program and prepare their grant application. Viewing all three sessions of the series is mandatory for all grant applicants.

Participants should have reviewed the Getting Started with Community Heart & Soul workbook in advance and have it on hand to reference during the webinars. The Four Elements of Heart & Soul Readiness In this first webinar of the series, we will provide an overview of the grant application process and required elements.

Community representatives will learn how to use the Community Readiness Inventory to identify their community’s strengths and opportunities. This will help to determine where they need to focus in preparation for Community Heart & Soul. Conversations are framed around four elements of readiness: community interest, community leadership, relationships and community culture, and resources.

We will also begin exploring the role of the project coordinator and characteristics of successful coordinators so your community can begin thinking about who may fill this role. Note: It is not required that you identify your project coordinator before the submission of your application, but you should have someone in mind by the time you submit your application.

Community Readiness Inventory Local Institution(s) Resolution Required Reading: Sections 1 and 2 of the Getting Started Community Workbook Who Lives, Works and Plays in Our Community In this second webinar of the series, community representatives will explore who lives, workshop and plays in their community, starting with a conversation about formal and informal groups and the connectors within those groups.

This information becomes the foundation of an important Community Heart & Soul tool, the Community Network Analysis. and it will help you complete the required Community Connections Table, We will also discuss building your core leadership team as you will need to begin gathering support letters from partnering organizations. We will continue our conversation on the roles and responsibilities of the Project Coordinator.

Community Connections Table Partnering Organizations’ Support Letters Required Reading: Sections 3 and 4 of the Getting Started Community Workbook Community Investment in Heart & Soul In this third and final webinar of the series, community representatives will begin thinking about their budget for Community Heart & Soul and consider various types of investment (financial, time, and in-kind resources) that is needed for this work.

Project coordination can be a significant budgetary item for a Heart & Soul effort, and this workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss successful project coordination models that have been implemented in other communities. Required Reading: Section 5 of the Getting Started Community Workbook Heart & Soul Introduction video We are currently accepting applications!

Contact Joshua Kaiel at [email protected] for grant guidelines and application information. Innovia Foundation launched the Community Heart & Soul ® Program to help rural communities throughout its 20-county service area BUILD COMMUNITY through a resident-driven process and TAKE ACTION on what matters most to its residents.

Hundreds of communities across the country have implemented the program and experienced outcomes such as: Increased participation in local community-decision making Increased investment in community-supported programs and activities Increased economic development and downtown revitalization Community endowment funds The Community Heart & Soul model was developed over ten years ago and it has been recognized nationally by the American Planning Association as a successful approach to community planning and development.

What is the eligible population range for Heart & Soul communities? Community Heart & Soul is designed for rural communities with populations under 30,000. The model is not used in large urban centers or in neighborhoods.

Has the Heart and Soul model ever been applied to a “community” other than a city or town? Multi-town, regional and county-wide efforts may be eligible if the total population does not exceed 30,000. Who can initiate a Community Heart & Soul process in a community?

The process can be initiated by residents, community-based organizations or units of local government such as a school, municipality, library or hospital district or port. The official grant applicant must be a nonprofit organization or unit of local government or there must be a fiscal sponsor that meets these qualifications. How does Community Heart & Soul interface with other community planning efforts?

Community Heart & Soul does not replace other community development programs or planning processes. It does complement other community initiatives (economic development planning, comprehensive planning, Main Street Programs, etc.). It can also be used to demonstrate a community engagement effort and support for programs and activities.

Many Community Heart & Soul communities have used it to leverage grants and other funding for programs and activities. Can a community focus on a predetermined topic or theme during their Community Heart & Soul process? Community Heart & Soul is a bottom-up, resident-driven process that determines a community’s future based on what matters most to residents in their communities.

The strength of the model lies in the design: there is no agenda being promoted, other than a genuine desire to improve community relationships, planning, and collaborative decision-making through engaging in the process. Community Heart & Soul must not be driven by any political, social, or religious agenda.

Through the process, topics or themes will likely rise to the top of community priorities – and in some cases, this may happen early in the process. For example, workforce development and opportunities for graduating students are common community priorities. Innovia Foundation will work with communities to provide additional resources when this happens through other programs such as LaunchNW.

Innovia will award up to ten $30,000 grants to support community-based project coordinators and actions in the selected communities for up to two years. Participating communities will be required to provide a $10,000 match over the two-year program period. Technical assistance, including program training and assigned certified coaches, will also be provided.

The coaches will provide capacity-building training and facilitation services for program coordinators and community leadership teams. Through this process, residents will learn how to create a network map, analyze demographic data, implement proven outreach and engagement strategies, build more authentic relationships with fellow residents, conduct community interviews, and develop a unique community plan.

This support is free to the community and valued at over $50,000 per year. Innovia Foundation has partnered with Community Heart & Soul to bring its resident-driven planning process to our 20-county service area in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Our partnership with Community Heart & Soul is built on the shared belief that residents hold the key to meeting their toughest challenges through actively listening to what people value most about the communities in which they live.

By inviting residents to take the lead in exploring their community’s past, present and future, Community Heart & Soul builds a community’s capacity to engage residents in planning and determining their future. Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven planning method for communities under 30,000 residents. The method helps identify the “heart and soul” of a community to inform planning and development.

Field-tested in hundreds of communities over the last decade, Community Heart and Soul reconnects people with what they love most about their community and translates those personal and emotional connections into a blueprint that serves as the foundation for future community decisions and actions.

It’s a barn-raising approach to community planning and development and has proven to increase participation in local decision-making and empower residents to shape the future of their communities in a way that upholds the unique character of each place. Communities across the country have used the Community Heart & Soul process to build community relationships, make lasting changes and develop long-term action plans.

Based on three powerful principles—involve everyone, focus on what matters most, and play the long game, Community Heart & Soul is a four-phase, step-by-step process that brings residents together to identify and honor the unique character of their community and the emotional connection of the people who live there. For most communities, completing the four phases takes about two years.

But the completion of the Community Heart & Soul model is just the beginning. It launches a new way of doing business that nurtures a more vibrant and sustainable community far into the future. You will gather a core Community Leadership Team of volunteers inspired to involve everyone and create positive change.

Your team will work together to build awareness, interest, and commitment in all segments of the community. You will complete a Community Network Analysis developed for the program. The Community Network Analysis is all about understanding who lives, works and plays in your community and how best to reach them.

You will be analyzing community demographics and tapping local knowledge to brainstorm ways to engage different groups and networks – especially those who are usually not at the table. In this phase, you will be bringing the table to the community to gather and share personal stories about local experiences and find common ground.

The Community Leadership Team will use this information to develop Heart & Soul Statements that reflect the observations and aspirations of the collective community. These statements will guide activities and results in the next phases. In this phase, you will prioritize ideas for action generated by the community and develop an action plan informed by the Heart & Soul Statements.

You will also revisit the Community Network Analysis to ensure as many people as possible are included in decision-making, aiming for broad and meaningful participation in developing and evaluating options. In this final phase of the Community Heart & Soul Process, you will create a Stewardship Plan that focuses on the transition from visioning and planning to sustained long-term implementation.

Components of this phase include presentations to units of local governments, nonprofit organizations, community organizations and groups to encourage them to adopt the Community Heart & Soul Statements and incorporate them into their plans. Community members, partner agencies and others will work together to find volunteers and resources to see their ideas come to life.

Innovia’s Community Heart & Soul Program is intended to be a foundation-building and complementary program to Innovia Foundation’s other community initiatives, including LaunchNW and the 5% Campaign. It supports our vision of vibrant and sustainable communities where every person thrives. To learn more about this program, please reach out to us at 509-624-2606 or contact Molly Sanchez at [email protected] .