Overview of MMT

As of December 2012, Meyer Memorial Trust had made 7,145 awards for more than $580.4 million since it began operating in 1982.

Overview of Meyer Memorial Trust's Funding Activities

In Fiscal Year 2012 that ended March 31, 2012, Meyer Memorial Trust invested more than $25 million in 246 new grants and program-related investments to nonprofit organizations that operate in and serve Oregon and Clark County, Washington. In addition, its more than $3.7 million operating costs supported the local and regional economy. MMT paid out a total of nearly $31 million in FY 2011, partly to meet commitments made in prior years.

The nonprofit sector is an important but sometimes overlooked part of the United State's economy, accounting for more than 8% of all wages and salaries in the U.S. Nonprofit organizations employ some 13.5 million people, more than manufacturing (12.3 million employees) and more than construction, finance and insurance industries combined (11.6 million employees). Since it began operating in 1982, MMT has provided more than $577 million to the regional economy through the nonprofit sector, primarily in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. We have awarded funds in every one of Oregon's 36 counties and about 80% of cities, communities and unincorporated places in the state. Through our operating budget, we have contributed more than another $49 million to the area's economy since 1982.

The bulk of MMT's annual awards are made through its Grants Programs, while smaller but growing percentages are directed to Program-Related Investments (loans) and MMT's Initiatives in Affordable Housing, Quality K-12 Public Education and Willamette River Restoration. The pie chart on the left illustrates the relative size of the three categories of awards over the past five years.

Since 1982, MMT has awarded funds to 2,687 separate organizations that address a wide array of community needs in many different focus areas: arts & culture, conservation and environment, education, health care, human services, public affairs and social benefit.

The pie chart at the right illustrates the mix of Responsive Grant awards from April 2010 through March 2011 by focus area. Nearly half of the funds MMT awarded during those 12 months went to organizations providing human services, reflecting our prioritizing emergency and basic services in response to the Great Recession and escalating demand. MMT also continued to support education (15%), health (13%), arts and culture (11%) and efforts to protect the environment (9%).

MMT also tracks its awards by the manner in which its funds are used by nonprofit organizations. From April 2009 through March 2010, 35% of responsive grant $ went to capital projects, 27% went to support programs, 22% were used for general operating support and 16% for capacity building projects.

Director of Grants Management Phoebe O'Leary has provided a  more complete summary of MMT's FY2011 grantmaking elsewhere on our website.