About
Who We Are
The Inland Northwest Business Alliance (INBA) is Spokane's Gay Chamber of Commerce with members in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. We network closely with our sister chamber in Seattle, the Greater Seattle Business Association as well as other GLBT chambers at regional and national leadership conferences. The alliance is an affiliate chamber of National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
The INBA was established in 1994 with a charter group of 25 members as a 501(c) 6 non-profit organization to network and socialize in a safe environment. The INBA is also affilated with the Western Business Alliance, a loose condferation of LGBT Chambers from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
Today the INBA has grown to over 120 members of gay and gay-friendly professionals. INBA Members agree to abide by our Business Standards of Ethics and Conduct. Membership is open to all businesses, professionals and individuals who subscribe to the purposes of the alliance.
What We Do
Every second Wednesday INBA's monthly luncheon, the INBA Business Lunch is a venue for networking, developing contacts and the exchanging of ideas among guests and members in a safe atmosphere. The INBA Lunch always features an informative speaker at each lunch and is the longest continuous LGBT event in Spokane.
Special Events are held for members to meet, network and socialize. Events are also created to provide informational and educational outreach to the LGBT/Allied community.
The INBA publishes the INBA Resource Directory, a comprehensive listing of gay and gay-friendly businesses, professional services and resources in the Inland Northwest.
Through our charitable division, INBA Outreach, annual financial scholarships to students in Eastern Washington are awarded.
Confidentiality
We respect and protect the confidentiality of our members with concerns that their professional careers might be jeopardized by being outed. Our membership list is printed in the INBA Business Directory -only those who place a business listing will be included in the INBA Business Directory. Mailing lists are available to INBA members for their own marketing and promotions for a fee. The mailing list are of INBA members who agree to be on the list.
The Future
The future of the INBA looks bright. Each year more groups and individuals seek us out as a source of inspiration and information about Spokane's LGBT/Allied community. Many of our members sit on other like minded community organization boards to provide leadership and a link to the INBA.
Our membership has seen steady growth since 1995. As the number of dynamic individuals continue to grow within our ranks the INBA board of directors will continue to make membership both desirable and beneficial.
