A Coeur d’Alene communications professional with deep roots in nonprofit service has stepped into the top volunteer leadership role at one of North Idaho’s most far-reaching charitable organizations.
Kristine Miller officially became board president of United Way of North Idaho on July 1, 2026, marking the start of the organization’s 2026-27 fiscal year. She formally received the leadership gavel from outgoing president Patt Richesin during a board retreat on June 24.
Miller serves as a senior communications and marketing leader at Gonzaga University in Spokane and has been a member of the UWNI board since 2023, including time on the organization’s Resource Development Committee. Her presidential term runs two years.
A Focus on Measurable Impact
Miller indicated that transparency and demonstrable results will guide her leadership. “I want to continue building momentum, ensuring that donors, volunteers and partners clearly see how their support translates into real outcomes,” she said in a public statement.
United Way of North Idaho serves five counties across the region — Bonner, Kootenai, Boundary, Shoshone, and Benewah — making it one of the broader-reach community fundraising and coordination bodies in the Idaho Panhandle. For Bonner County residents, the organization plays a meaningful role in connecting local families with health, education, and financial stability resources.
The leadership transition comes at a time when social service networks across North Idaho are under increasing pressure. As Idaho continues to grapple with a physician shortage affecting northern counties, organizations like United Way serve as connective tissue between community need and available resources — helping direct volunteers and donor dollars where gaps are most acute.
Richesin Leaves a Six-Year Legacy
Outgoing president Patt Richesin, who hails from Athol, will remain with the board for one additional year in a past president advisory capacity before concluding a six-year total commitment to UWNI governance. Her tenure was shaped significantly by her professional background: a two-decade career dedicated to supporting rural healthcare access across the region.
Richesin also serves on the boards of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra and Hospice of North Idaho, reflecting a broader commitment to community institutions across multiple sectors. She described the work of United Way in human terms, saying she had been “moved by our ability to understand what it means to meet people where they are.”
Her time as board president helped anchor the organization’s community presence through a period of significant post-pandemic recovery and shifting philanthropic priorities across the region.
Community Giving Remains Central
The United Way of North Idaho model relies heavily on local donors, corporate partners, and volunteers to fund its work across five counties. Miller’s background in communications and marketing positions her well to sharpen how the organization tells its story — a task that nonprofit leaders increasingly identify as essential to sustaining donor confidence and engagement.
For Bonner County residents and businesses, UWNI’s work intersects with local priorities ranging from food access and early childhood education to workforce readiness and emergency assistance programs. The organization’s reach across rural and semi-rural communities makes volunteer leadership particularly critical, since much of the coordination depends on local networks rather than centralized staff.
North Idaho’s charitable sector has remained active in 2026, with community organizations continuing to rally around local causes. Earlier this summer, the Pend Oreille Arts Council recognized Sandpoint artist Connie Scherr as its 2026 Artist of the Year, reflecting the broader civic engagement that defines the region’s volunteer culture.
What Comes Next
Miller’s two-year term as UWNI board president runs through the 2027-28 fiscal year. Richesin will remain available in an advisory role through the coming year before stepping away from the board entirely. UWNI is expected to continue its annual fundraising campaigns and community impact reporting under Miller’s direction, with an emphasis on clearly communicating how donor contributions reach residents across all five counties served. Bonner County residents interested in volunteering or supporting United Way programs can connect with the organization through its official regional channels.