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OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Oregon Community Foundation

Contact information:
1221 S.W. Yamhill, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97205-2108
Phone: 503-227-6846
Fax: 503-274-7771

Website: www.oregoncf.org 

Type of foundation: Community

Types of grants: Capital, equipment, fellowships, general/operating support, land acquisition, matching/challenge support, program, scholarships, seed money, technical assistance.

Description: Established in 1973, the Foundation is the largest in Oregon. The mission of the Foundation is to improve life in Oregon through effective philanthropy. The Foundation makes competitive grants through the following programs:

  • Community Grants: Awarded statewide, these grants support children and families, education, the arts and citizen involvement. The Community Grants program awards approximately 200 grants per year. Most grants range from $5,000 – $35,000. 
  • Reed and Carolee Walker Fund Grants: Awarded in Jackson County; focused on disadvantaged children and families. 
  • Ready to Learn: The Oregon Community Foundation gave $1 million over five years (ending in 2009) through the OREGON! Ready to Learn program, focused on raising levels of literacy and language development among young children and providing support for families and child care providers. The Foundation has introduced a new grant program, the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative, focused on supporting parenting education. The Foundation's EQUIP Initiative also works to improve the lives of children by promoting professional development of caregivers and teachers and increasing the quality of early care programs.

The Foundation also offers a number of competitive grant opportunities through its Field of Interest Funds. Some of these Funds are statewide, while others are region-specific and/or focused on specific topics such as the arts, environment and education.

Sample grants:

  • $75,000 to Oregon Public Broadcasting Foundation, Portland, OR for operations and programming for rural Oregon (2007).
  • $50,000 to KBPS Public Radio Foundation, Portland, OR for A Permanent Home on Your Dial capital campaign (2008).
  • $40,000 to Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR for Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra (2006).
  • $25,000 to KLCC-FM, Eugene, OR for general operating support (2006).
  • $20,000 to Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, OR for general operating support (2006).
  • $14,000 to Northwest Documentary Arts and Media, Portland, OR for digital media workshops (2009).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation recognizes the importance of public media by supporting local public broadcast mediums in Oregon. The Foundation has made 100 grants for radio/television projects over the past seven years, totaling more than $1.9 million.   

Eligibility: Giving limited to OR. No support for religious organizations for religious purposes or projects in individual schools. No grants to individuals (except for scholarships), or for annual fund appeals, sponsorship of one-time events or performances, emergency funding, endowments, annual campaigns, deficit financing, scientific research, publications, films, or conferences, unless so designated by a donor.

Deadline: Varies.

How to apply: Application forms, guidelines, and deadlines for the Community Grant Program can be found here. Applications sent by fax are not accepted.  

Giving range: The average gift for radio/television projects is approximately $20,000. The Foundation has made gifts as high as $3 million.

Assets: $887,000,000 (2008) 

Total giving: $64,000,000 in total giving (2008); in 2009, $14.7 million was awarded in discretionary grants (including competitive Field of Interest Fund grants).

View 2008 Annual Report.