Put your money where
Your heart is

iLocal is a nonprofit organization that advances the charitable and educational goals recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3) by educating Idaho residents about the economic and community benefits of supporting locally-owned small businesses.

Our primary purpose is to educate the public on how local purchasing decisions impact the financial health, job resilience, and civic vitality of Idaho communities. We do this through written content, searchable business profiles, awareness campaigns, and—eventually—public programming. Our educational materials explain the ways in which small businesses circulate more money locally, provide locally-tailored services, and serve as anchors of community independence. This educational function is central to all of iLocal’s activities.

We also serve a charitable function by offering a no-cost digital platform that enables small businesses—particularly those with limited financial or technical resources—to be discovered by the public. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are eligible to participate at no charge. The platform includes a public directory, customizable business profiles, and tools designed to increase visibility without requiring marketing budgets or technical expertise. Participation is open to all qualifying Idaho-owned businesses, and those that wish to self-identify as veteran-, woman-, or minority-owned may do so voluntarily, without obligation or special benefit.

Our charitable target populations include microbusinesses, first-time entrepreneurs, and businesses located in rural or underserved areas of Idaho. These groups often face barriers to visibility and consumer reach despite offering goods and services that strengthen their communities. iLocal’s tools are designed to close that gap by offering equal access to promotional infrastructure, data tools, and cooperative marketing that would otherwise be unaffordable or inaccessible to the smallest businesses.

All of iLocal’s activities are structured to serve public—not private—interests. While small businesses may benefit from increased visibility, these benefits are incidental to our overarching mission: to educate the public and strengthen the capacity of small businesses to contribute to resilient, self-sustaining local economies.

iLocal is a noncommercial, nonpolitical organization. We do not engage in political advocacy or endorse candidates or causes. Our work is focused exclusively on the charitable and educational goals set forth in our organizing documents and reflected in our public-facing programs.