Mr. C.W. Moore migrated west to Washington in a covered wagon in 1851.  In 1860, he partnered with B.M. DuRell to carry merchandise to the outlying country.  The business prospered and the men followed the gold strikes to the Idaho Territory.  Mr. Moore eventually set up shop in Ruby City where he met and married Catherine Minear.  The Moores moved to Boise when Moore and DuRell chartered the First National Bank of Idaho, the first such charter in the northwest and only the second west of the Mississippi River.  Mr. Moore actively participated in the early business and civic development of Boise, where his family and the Bank grew and prospered.

Laura, the Moores’ second child, was born and raised in Boise.  She married J.W. Cunningham, who served as president of the Bank.  Laura Moore Cunningham was dedicated to her community.  She served as a director of the Children’s Home Society for over thirty years, was active in the Boise Red Cross, and strongly supported Boise Junior College.  Governor Smylie’s comments in her obituary reflect the community’s admiration for Mrs. Cunningham: “This great lady has been a part of Idaho life for so very long that it will be hard to imagine her absence.  Her contribution to civic enterprise was the highest tradition of gracious citizenship.”  

Mrs. Cunningham continues to serve the Idaho community through this foundation, founded in 1963.  Her family’s subsequent gifts and continued volunteer leadership have augmented and sustained the Foundation.  The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation is one of Idaho’s oldest and largest charitable foundations.  The Foundation provides over four hundred fifty scholarships to Idaho students at community colleges, technical colleges and universities every year.  The Foundation also funds nonprofit organizations throughout the State of Idaho through a competitive grant process every year, strengthening our communities and the state as a whole.  

management

Since 1963, the Foundation has been managed by volunteer Directors. They have a real "do it yourself" ethic. Initially, the Foundation focused on scholarships and grants in the Boise area, including the Red Cross and Children's Home, both of which Laura Moore Cunningham had volunteered for. Harry Bettis expanded the grantmaking to more rural areas in the late 1960s.  Joan Carley really worked on professionalizing the process, attending conferences and bringing back what she learned to formalize the application process and provide a high level of accountability and due diligence. Laura and Janelle continued forward with Joan's work, moved the entire application process to an online platform, reducing paper waste, streamlining records retention and due diligence, and making the process easily accessible. They made this website, still managed in house by Laura, providing more access and visibility to the public. Laura and Janelle updated the investment policies and practices, doing the Foundation’s first RFP for investment services, resulting in more robust and cost efficient investment management, still with active involvement of Foundation leaders.  All three Directors read every application, a task that has grown immensely over the last ten years. 

HISTORY