December 2011 Awards Announced

At the December program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust made 27 grants for more than $4.1 million to a variety of Oregon tax exempt organizations, from statewide advocacy groups to the one-school district in the small community of Arock in far southeastern Oregon. These grants bring the total awarded since MMT began operating in 1982 to 6,687 awards totaling more than $554 million.

One million dollars was awarded to provide emergency food, rent and utility assistance to families in need. As MMT CEO Doug Stamm puts it, "While we have seen some promising signs recently, we know that economic challenges are still taking a big toll on many Oregon families. In fact, Oregon has the dubious distinction of having the highest rate among the 50 states of households where children lack consistent access to food. We've decided conditions require us to go beyond our customary grantmaking and are directing another $1 million this month to help families with food, rent and utility costs this winter. We hope our awards will encourage generous donations from others this season."

MMT also continued its support of education reform in Oregon with $798,000 to support the work of the Chalkboard Project over the next three years and $547,500 to four organizations to continue their ocean conservation work in Oregon's territorial waters over the next two years. An additional grant was awarded to the Latino Network under the initiative that is supporting leadership development in communities of color across the state.

December 2011 Grants List

Emergency Assistance Grants

Oregon Energy Services, Tualatin
Awarded: $300,000
For emergency energy assistance to families outside the Portland metropolitan area
 
Oregon Food Bank, Portland
Awarded: $500,000
To acquire and distribute emergency food through the Oregon Food Bank network
 
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Portland
Awarded: $200,000
For emergency rent and utility assistance in the four-county Portland Metro region through the Community Relief Fund

Continuing Initiative/Special Project Support

Foundations for a Better Oregon, Portland
Awarded: $798,000
To support the Chalkboard Project
 
Oceana, Portland
Awarded: $123,750
For general support of ocean conservation work in Oregon
 
Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia
Awarded: $247,500
For general support of ocean conservation work in Oregon
 
Surfrider Foundation, San Clemente CA
Awarded: $93,750
For general support of ocean conservation work in Oregon
 
Tides Center, San Francisco CA
Awarded: $82,500
To help Oregon ocean scientists to share their knowledge with the broader public
 
Latino Network, Portland
Awarded: $115,000
To implement a statewide, culturally-specific Latino leadership development project.

Responsive Grants

Arock School District, Arock
Awarded: $100,000
To construct a multipurpose community center for this remote Eastern Oregon community
 
Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Tigard
Awarded: $5,000
For technical assistance in cash flow analysis and business cycle planning
 
CAUSA of Oregon, Salem
Awarded: $60,000
To build fundraising capacity for this organization that works to strenghten the voice and civic participation of immigrant Latinos
 
Elevate Oregon, Portland
Awarded: $60,000
To support an in-school mentoring program to increase high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment rates in the Parkrose School District
 
Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington, Portland
Awarded: $15,313
For 2012 membership and operating support for this organization that supports foundations

Hoodland Women's Club, Welches
Awarded: $20,000
To obtain technical assistance from a consultant versed in construction projects and to support its project manager/fundraiser for a few more months

IRCO, Portland
Awarded: $185,000
To help construct a new Asian Family Center serving multi-ethnic children, youth and families
 
Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust, Klamath Falls
Awarded: $275,000
To establish a water transactions program to restore the quality and quantity of water in the Upper Klamath Basin Watershed
 
Lake County Resources Initiative, Lakeview
Awarded: $50,000
To implement Lake County's strategy to become Oregon's most renewable energy county
 
NAMI Multnomah, Portland
Awarded: $75,000
To support a clubhouse that helps individuals with mental illness reintegrate into the community and workforce
 
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Eugene
Awarded: $100,000
To implement programs that reduce pesticide use in Oregon's urban and rural communities
 
Oregon Jewish Museum, Portland
Awarded: $75,000
To support a new curator of exhibitions
 
Pearl Buck Center, Eugene
Awarded: $100,000
To support general operations of this agency that provides vocational, recreational and educational programs for people with developmental disabilities
 
Philanthropy Northwest, Seattle
Awarded: $95,000
To help integrate programs of the PRI Makers Network and More for Mission Campaign in order to increase the programmatic and financial impact of philanthropic investments
 
Portland Audubon Society, Portland
Awarded: $125,000
To establish new giving programs that engage a more diverse base of supporters
 
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland
Awarded: $100,000
To build organizational visibility and capacity
 
Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay
Awarded: $200,000
To build and equip a new Curry Campus to provide local access to workforce training, college degrees and community education
 
Wordstock, Portland
Awarded: $50,000
To provide core support for literary events and programs in schools and communities