91 grants & PRIs for $14.3 million
Since inception in 1982:5,674 grants & PRIs for $463.4 million
At today's program meeting, our trustees awarded four grants for $801,250, which took the total amount MMT has awarded since it began operating in 1982 to more than $400,000,000.
We want to pause a moment and acknowledge this milestone. When the Trust opened its doors in 1982, it had a corpus of $120 million and expected to grant about $5 million or so each year. This month, the corpus stands at about $622 million, after having made more than $400 million in grants and program-related investments. Last year MMT awarded more than $30 million. So we have officially exceeded our own expectations!
The awards this month include:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area
Portland
$350,000
For a grant to build a club in north Portland's New Columbia development. (In addition to this grant award, we made a program-related investment in the club for an amount to be determined.)
CCI Enterprises
Milwaukie
$150,000
For training and equipment to enhance the productivity of workers with disabilities.
Loaves and Fishes Centers
Portland
$151,250
To increase the organization's capacity to provide meals to seniors in Clark County.
Vale Senior Citizen Center
Vale
$150,000
To help build a new senior center.
At the November program meeting held Nov. 21, MMT made nine grants for $658,489. This brings the total number of awards made since MMT began operating in 1982 to 5,180, with nearly $400 million granted ($399,747,588 for those who prefer precision).
November grants included:
Association of Oregon Community Development Organizations
Portland, OR
$57,920
To support implementing a new business strategy.
Clackamas County Children's Commission
Marylhurst, OR
$200,000
To expand a facility for a Head Start program serving Clackamas County.
Clackamas Women's Services
Milwaukie, OR
$100,000
To provide domestic violence safety planning for underserved women and children.
Deschutes Basin Land Trust
Bend, OR
$99,130
For planning and capacity building to help this organization prepare for major conservation actions in the Deschutes Basin.
Farmers Conservation Alliance
Hood River, OR
$26,439
To develop a business plan and determine realistic returns expectation on a social business venture.
Jeff Morris Fire and Life Safety Foundation
Portland, OR
$10,000
To conduct organizational strategic planning.
Oregon Center for Environmental Health
Portland, OR
$65,000
To develop and implement action plans to substitute toxic chemicals, products and practices with safer alternatives in the City of Portland and Multnomah County government operations.
Pine Valley Presbyterian Church
Halfway, OR
$20,000
To buy the building that houses the thrift store, the only clothing store serving rural eastern Baker County, whose proceeds fund employment programs for young women.
Youth Guidance Association
Portland, OR
$80,000
To help renovate the organization's residential treatment center.
We have added a graphic to our website that maps out the architecture of our website. We realize we include a vast amount of information on our site, and we hope this will help you figure out how to find what where.
View the map here:
Click on the word graphic in the text.
we think our visitors might find useful...
>>> Advocacy is not a four letter word.
From Oregon Center for Public Policy: Nonprofit organizations often mistakenly assume their 501(c)(3) status prohibits involvement in public policy debates. The fact is, nonprofit lobbying is both legal and important! Your organization just needs to know the rules. The Oregon Center for Public Policy invite you to a one-day workshop about Worry-Free Advocacy for nonprofit managers, staff, board, and volunteers, conducted by attorneys from the Alliance for Justice.
Workshops will be held in Portland on Tuesday, December 19, and in Redmond on Wednesday, December 20. Look here for more information and to register.
>>> Heading to Salem
From Chalkboard Project: Now that election season is over, Chalkboard is preparing to work with leaders during the upcoming Oregon legislative session to implement proposed K-12 education reforms.
Chalkboard is promoting legislation to enhance early learning opportunities, provide more ongoing professional support to teachers and principals, increase financial accountability and savings throughout the K-12 school system, and stabilize school system funding. Proposals in these areas are based on significant research about what practices will actually work to raise student achievement and what school improvement steps Oregonians have set as a priority.
Look here for more information about Chalkboard's legislative strategies.
>>> 2007 Nonprofit Software Development Summit
From Aspiration Technology: The 2007 Nonprofit Software Development Summit will be a first-of-its-kind convening to bring together the range odevelopers, technologists, managers, eRiders, integrators, users an other practitioners who self-identify under the umbrella of "nonprofit software development". The event will provide an opportunity both to gather as a community and to take stock of the field, while building connections and capacity. The Summit will be hosted in Oakland, California on Feb. 11-23, and will involve several developers working in or with nonprofits in Oregon and Washington.
Go here for more information, including a preliminary agenda and background.
>>> Got a Voice
I want to share another highlight from the Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington conference a couple of weeks ago. A young man from Sisters High School, who had participated in the Sisters Folk Festival through the Americana Project (check it out here), brought the crowd to its feet when he sang a song he wrote, Got a Voice. I predict Travis Myrick has a great future and it's a pleasure to introduce you to him. Visit his myspace site.
Trust us, Travis has a voice!! Check out the lyrics to his amazing song!
And that's the thought we'd like to leave you with today...
Marie
As we draw to the end of what seemed to be an especially long and brutal election season, we thought this would be a good time to share some words of hope and optimism with you. Several of us in the office attended the Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington Conference in Eugene late last week. One of the conference highlights was an address by University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer. If you attended the Oregon Community Foundation's Annual Meeting Luncheon this past May, you heard a similar message. Here is a link to the address he gave in Eugene last week. We think it might come in handy as you think about your state and its future in the days and months and years ahead.
Marie
At the October program meeting, MMT awarded 32 grants for $1,178,829. Eight of the grants were made under the Responsive Grant program and 24 under the Grassroots Grants program.
These awards bring the total for the current fiscal year, which began April 1, 2006, to 219 grants and program-related investments (PRIs) for $12,461,674. Since MMT began operating in 1982, it has awarded 5,171 grants and PRIs for $399,089,099. Looks like we may just pass the $400 million mark in November!
Responsive Grant grants awarded in October included:
Artists Repertory Theatre
Portland, OR
$200,000
For upgrades to the organization's theater facility.
Columbia Dance Ensemble
Vancouver, WA
$50,000
To create a facility for dance instruction and performance.
Grass Commons
Eugene, OR
$18,500
To continue the development of Open Source knowledge management software.
Native American Youth and Family Center
Portland, OR
$150,000
To support leadership development, education outreach and board training.
Open Meadow Alternative Schools
Portland, OR
$200,000
For staff and management team development designed to ensure the school's long term stability.
Rotary Foundation of Woodland
Woodland, WA
$50,000
To help consturct the community skate park.
Sacred Art of Living Education and Retreat Center
Bend, OR
$250,000
To help train healthcare professionals, caregivers, volunteers, and clergy in quality end-of-life care.
City of Scio
Scio, OR
$25,399
To support a bookmobile to serve rural residents.
October 2006 Grassroots Grants included:
Archaeological Legacy Institute
Eugene, OR
$14,770
For equipment and supplies to improve this cultural archaeology organization's electronic communications and media distribution.
Astoria Public Library
Astoria, OR
$15,000
For technical assistance to develop a strategic plan.
Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis
Corvallis, OR
$14,895
To support after-school activities in the teen center.
Cascadia Wildlands Project
Eugene, OR
$8,300
For equipment to improve community presentations by this environmental conservation organization.
Coos County Logging Museum
Myrtle Point, OR
$10,382
For facility improvements at this rural museum.
Douglas Resident Training Facilities
Roseburg, OR
$6,000
To replace windows in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities.
JD Zellerbach Elementary PTA
Camas, WA
$15,000
For a service learning school garden project.
Joint Forces Dance Company
Eugene, OR
$7,450
To support school dance performances that integrate persons with and without disabilities.
Klamath Ice Sports
Klamath Falls, OR
$15,000
For bleachers for this rural ice arena.
Lord Leebrick Theatre Company
Eugene, OR
$7,049
For a new ticketing system for this community theater.
Media, Arts and Technology Institute
Portland, OR
$11,700
To expand this organization's media arts and technology education program.
Multnomah Education Service District Foundation
Portland, OR
$2,575
For equipment for students participating in the Outdoor School residential science and environmental education program.
My Sister's House
Troutdale, OR
$1,500
To install a shower in a transitional home for women and children.
Oregon Coast Children’s Theatre
Lincoln City, OR
$10,000
To support an arts education and performance outreach program for school children in rural and underserved communities.
Oregon State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
St. Paul, OR
$8,539
To renovate the Newell House living history museum to create an all-weather outdoor class space.
Our Peaceful Place
Clackamas, OR
$11,500
To increase fundraising for this agency that operates a drop-in center for poor and homeless persons.
Prineville Hospital Foundation
Prineville, OR
$10,050
For blood bank equipment for Pioneer Memorial hospital, which serves several remote communities in Central Oregon.
Profile Theatre Project
Portland, OR
$14,967
To upgrade the theater's lighting system.
Quilts from Caring Hands
Corvallis, OR
$2,500
For supplies to make quilts for children who have survived traumatic experiences.
Rural Organizing Project
Scappoose, OR
$15,000
For a youth leadership mentoring program.
Salem Repertory Theatre
Salem, OR
$3,725
For high school matinee performances in Marion County.
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
Ashland, OR
$9,328
To develop a strategic plan for this rural land conservation organization.
Wallowa Land Trust
Joseph, OR
$15,000
For community conservation workshops for residents of the Wallowa Lake Basin.
Western Idaho Training Company
Ontario, OR
$4,700
For furnishings for two group homes for residents with developmental disabilities in Ontario, Oregon.
Warne H. Nunn has announced his resignation from Meyer Memorial Trust's board of trustees, effective January 1, 2007. He will then assume the position of trustee emeritus. Warne has served on the board since the Trust began operating in 1982. Warne described the profound experience the Trust has had on his life: "I will be ever grateful that Fred Meyer had enough confidence in me to select me as a trustee. This experience has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. It has been a unique and amazing privilege to support the efforts of hard-working and creative people from more than 2,000 non-profit organizations committed to improving the quality of life in this region. I will leave the Trust with the feeling of warmth and gratitude."
MMT Trustee and Board Chairman John Emrick summed up Warne's role at MMT: "Warne has given more than 24 years of tireless leadership and service to the Trust. He has always had an open ear and open heart for nonprofit organizations in our region, and has been an especially strong champion of small organizations in rural communities. More than anyone, he has served as the Trust's goodwill ambassador in every corner of our area. His compassionate and cheerful presence at the Trust will be greatly missed."
The trustees have selected George J. Puentes to replace Warne beginning January 2007. George, who resides in Salem, is President of Don Pancho Mexican Foods, which employs nearly 250. His company is the third-largest minority owned business in Oregon and is among the top 500 Hispanic-owned companies in America. George has been extremely active in wide range of non-profit, government and community affairs. He has served on the Salem City Council, is a board member of foundations focused on education and affordable housing, and is currently on the Federal Reserve Bank Board of San Francisco, Portland Branch. George has received numerous awards for his outstanding accomplishments in business and commitment to community.
George will begin his service to the Trust as trustee-elect during the next few months of transition.
We are painfully aware that many activities we announce for nonprofits in these messages are held in the Portland metro area. And we recognize that it is very difficult -- if not impossible -- for organizations in other parts of the state to participate, which makes us feel even worse.
We are excited when we can announce events or activities that are statewide or located in other regions. Which is the case here:
>>> Chalkboard Project announces legislative priorities
Chalkboard Project -- a statewide effort "uniting Oregonians to make our public schools among the nation's best" -- has announced its 2007 legislative priorities that focus on four key areas where actions can begin improving education immediately. Lots more information about this project that MMT helps fund is available here.
>>> 18th Annual Oregon Nonprofit Leaders Conference, Ashland, Oct. 16-17
The theme of Southern Oregon's largest nonprofit event this year is "Leading Boldly: Your Board, Your Staff, Your Dollars" and will bring together representatives from more than 200 nonprofit organizations and 25 grantmakers from across the Pacific Northwest. Go here for more information and to register.
At the September meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 9 grants for $1,736,000 in its Responsive Grant program, bringing the total amount awarded this fiscal year to nearly $11.3 million. (During the September meeting, MMT considers large capital requests.) At this point, nearly 50% of funds awarded this year have been in human services, 16% in public affairs and social benefit, 10% in arts and culture, 10% in conservation, 9% in education, and 6% in health. (These figures do not include MMT's ongoing substantial support of initiatives like the Chalkboard Project and Oregon Small Schools because the grants were actually awarded in prior years.)
September grants included:
Athena Library Friends Association
Athena, OR
$150,000
To help build a new public library in Athena.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Portland, OR
$115,000
To help implement 10-year restoration programs in two Oregon watersheds.
Catholic Community Services Foundation
Keizer, OR
$325,000
To create community-based group foster homes for children in Marion County.
John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
Eugene, OR
$100,000
To help purchase a building for a performing arts and music education center.
Mid-Willamette Family YMCA
Albany, OR
$150,000
To help install a pool in the organization's new facility to improve programming and service to the community.
Neighborhood Partnership Fund
Portland, OR
$500,000
To help implement a four-county Portland metro effort to provide housing and social services to homeless families.
Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts
Portland, OR
$100,000
To help purchase and build out space for Blue Sky Gallery.
Shangri-La Corporation
Salem, OR
$200,000
To help this organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities acquire a new headquarters.
Willamette Riverkeeper
Portland, OR
$96,000
To help develop and evaluate water temperature trading programs as a conservation tool and convene a series of habitat roundtable discussions.
Our United Villages, probably best known for its ReBuilding Center on N. Mississippi Ave. in north Portland, is winner of Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum's 2006 Best Nonprofit Award. The award was presented at the statewide entrepreneurial community's "celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in action" at the Oregon Convention Center Thursday evening. Recipients are selected in several categories.
MMT Executive Director Doug Stamm presented the award with these words:
"In 8 short years, a dream and $30,000 charged to a credit card has grown to an Portland operation that employs 55 people who earn at least $10 per hour and have full medical and dental benefits. Our United Villages is a nonprofit organization that funds 100% of its operating expenses through earned income: selling its own services and products. No foundation grants, no donors, no corporate sponsors. It also happens to operate the largest nonprofit building material re-use center in North America. Beyond its financial self-sufficiency, this organization's programs demonstrate how a wasteful practice (sending used building materials to landfills) can become a public asset that benefits families, communities, and both the economy and environment. And it has enough money left over each year to donate $60,000 in materials to local community groups. In addition to this award today, Our United Villages was recently honored with the 2006 Oregon Ethics in Business Award. And I have a feeling this is only the beginning...
Our United Villages. Why Oregon loves dreamers with credit cards."
Congratulations!
We are so excited to welcome back three returning students and one new freshman from De La Salle North Catholic High School, a school in north Portland whose students help pay their own tuition through internships at area employers. Returning students include:
Cynthia Hendricks,
Brian Walsh,
and Tanika Russell-Gums. New this year is Starlinda Morris. The students share the job of administrative assistant, with each student working five days per month. Students put in extra classroom hours the days they're not working so they don't lose instruction time.
Two-thirds of students at De La Salle North Catholic High School receive scholarship assistance. The school has grown from 70 students in 2001 to 245 currently enrolled and from 17 to 55 employer sponsors. (The Trust supported the school with a $400,000 grant in 2001.)
De La Salle North Catholic was the second high school in the United States to adopt this model of education, first developed at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. There are now 11 schools in the Cristo Rey Network with the shared goal of providing quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to young people from low-income families who otherwise could not afford such an opportunity. Member schools have their own identity and offer a curriculum that is tailored to the students' needs and includes the Corporate Internship Program developed in 1996. (The school model was featured on Sixty Minutes in October 2004.)
We've gathered together a few items that have arrived in our inbox this week and hope you find them useful. (Our apologies if you already received announcements about these from other sources.)
>>> Digital Storytelling Workshop, 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Portland Community Media
Amy Hill, Community Projects Director at the Center for Digital Storytelling (http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html, will discuss how Silence Speaks workshops blend creative writing and facilitative multimedia production methods to support individual reflection and healing from violence and trauma, as well as broader community awareness/organizing for prevention. Hill will show a selection of short digital videos created in Silence Speaks workshops (see www.silencespeaks.org) and will answer questions about all aspects of the project (technology, funding, outreach, recruitment, follow-up, and creative uses for showing stories). Following the screening, Hill will gauge your interest in bringing digital storytelling to Portland.
Portland Community Media is located at 2766 N.E. MLK Jr Blvd. in Portland.
If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to Amy Hill at amylenita@storycenter.org. For more information about digital storytelling, please contact Amy by email or at (510) 653-2580.
>>> Nonprofit Career Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Portland State University
Hosted by Idealist.org/Action Without Borders and sponsored by NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, Nonprofit Career Fairs are planned in several U.S. cites over the coming months where nonprofit organizations, job seekers, and career service professionals at local colleges and universities can meet face-to-face. Since 2001, 60 fairs in 25 cities have attracted more than 3,000 organizations and 30,000 job seekers. If you would like to attend the Portland fair, contact fairs@idealist.org or visit this website.
Idealist is an international organization that "connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives." It recently opened a Portland office! In addition to the career fair, this organization's website is a cornucopia of useful information for nonprofit organizations.
>>> Did you know there is a movement underway to establish Oregon Nonprofit Association, a virtual association of Oregon nonprofits?
Nonprofit leaders from throughout the state will be inviting Oregon's 12,000 public benefit nonprofits to be part of Oregon's first statewide nonprofit association. Jan Eggleston, Executive Director of the Deschutes Children’s Foundation, and Jay Bloom, President of Morrison Child and Family Services, are serving as co-chairs for the initial steering committee for the Oregon Nonprofit Association.
ONA plans to:
--Connect Oregon's 12,000 nonprofits electronically
--Create a master calendar to provide information about training opportunities and of training resources for nonprofits
--Share public policy updates
--Facilitate discussion and resource sharing
--Explore opportunities for cost savings through association plans for Directors and Officers and General Liability insurance
--Continue the work of Oregon Involved, helping Oregonians connect and get involved in every community
Keep abreast of what's happening here.
We will have more things to tell you over the next week, but that's enough for today. Hope you are enjoying the return of the rain!
Later,
Marie
This month Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 11 grants and 2 program-related investments (loans) for $1,852,362, bringing the total amount awarded during the current fiscal year (which began April 1) to $9,666,845.
Since MMT began operating in 1982, it has awarded $396,294,270 in 5,131 grants and PRIs.
August grants and PRIs include:
Camp Myrtlewood
Myrtle Point
$14,000
For improvements at this multipurpose camping facility.
Clatsop Community Action
Astoria
$33,000
To help renovate a basement into an emergency food pantry.
Columbia Riverkeeper
Hood River
$150,000
To increase volunteer involvement, improve water quality and generate civic engagement around issues affecting the Columbia River.
Emil Fries Piano Hospital and Training Center
Vancouver
$100,000
To increase the fundraising and recruitment capacity of this vocational school for students who are blind or visually impaired.
Gales Creek Camp Foundation for Children with Diabetes
Portland
$25,000
To renovate the arts and crafts hall and physician's cabin at its summer camp facility.
Grass Commons
Eugene
$15,000
To help develop Open Source knowledge managment software.
Hacienda Community Development Corporation
Portland
$130,000
To increase the organization's capacity by diversifying funding streams and resident services.
KIDS Intervention and Diagnostic Service Center
Bend
$175,362
For a media and outreach campaign for child abuse prevention in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.
Oregon Donor Program
Portland
$100,000
For a public awareness campaign to promote a new statewide organ donor registry.
Pacific Forest Trust
San Francisco
$500,000
To support acquisition of privately held land in the Cascade Siskiyou National monument planning area to protect its conservation values.
Technical Assistance for Community Services
Portland
$305,000
To increase the organization's financial sustainability and to advance the formation of the Oregon Nonprofit Alliance.
Westwind Stewardship Group
Otis
$175,000
For a short-term bridge loan to acquire property for conservation and environmental education.
Exactly what are the "dog days of summer" you ask? (We had to look it up too, which prompted us to ask ourselves: What are we thinking using phrases whose meaning we don't even know!?! But we decided to forgive ourselves because, after all, these are the dog days of summer...) See below*
>>> A few items of interest about MMT:
Please don't forget to take part in the conversation seeking input about Meyer Memorial Trust's future. This is your opportunity to weigh in as MMT develops strategies for achieving greater social impact in our region. If we don't hear from you, we won't know what you think. Read the discussion so far and please contribute your thoughts!
A new Message from Meyer Memorial Trust's Executive Director Doug Stamm has been added to our website. This message provides a good background to the strategic planning we are undertaking.
The Audit of Meyer Memorial Trust's 2005-06 fiscal year has just been completed and has been added to our website.
>>> Community resources we thought you'd want to know about:
CNRG is the Community Nonprofit Resource Group, the Portland area's "online hub for connecting people, sharing information, and building the community of nonprofits." Organizations can post information about community trainings, events, volunteer opportunities, jobs & internships, and news.
The Institute for Nonprofit Management at Portland State University offers certificates in nonprofit management, nonprofit development, financial and volunteer management, and a Master of Public Administration Degree with a Concentration in Nonprofit Management. More information, including a schedule of classes that begin the week of Sept. 25, 2006, is available at the INPM website.
>>> Knowledge we hope will come in handy some day:
*Straight from wikipedia: "The Dog Days or the dog days of summer are typically the hottest and most humid times of the year. They are a phenomenon of the northern hemisphere where they usually fall between July and early September. They get their name because the period this occurs is often during the time the star Sirius, known as the Dog Star (and the brightest star of all as seen from Earth), both rises after, and sets before, the Sun and is hence lost in the latter's glare. This period of invisibility, for Northern Hemisphere observers, is caused by the fact that the position of Sirius in the celestial sphere is well to the south of the ecliptic."
Shouldn't it be the "dogless days of summer" then?
I know, I know, time to let sleeping dogs lie...
Until next time,
Marie
Meyer Memorial Trust has engaged FSG (Foundation Strategies Group) Social Impact Advisors to support MMT in a strategic planning process designed to significantly enhance our ability to acheive greater social impact for Oregon and SW Washington. This project will be the most comprehensive and deepest look ever at MMT's activities, and represents a significant commitment by our foundation to make our work matter.
FSG Social Impact Advisors is a nonprofit organization that works with foundations, corporations, governments and nonprofits to accelerate the pace of social progress by engaging civil society in three ways:
-- Advice (offering consulting services on strategy, evaluation and operations)
-- Ideas (distilling and sharing learning from research and client work to benefit the entire field)
-- Action (creating and launching new initiatives to strengthen the field)
A significant portion of FSG's work with MMT will identify the philanthropic needs and opportunities in our region. This research will also be shared with other foundations and nonprofit organizations in order to assist them in increasing their social impact. As part of this work, FSG will solicit community perspectives on MMT's existing capability to create value (both with grantmaking and beyond grantmaking) as well as where and how programmatically MMT can best create value going forward.
We consider this a tremendous opportunity to enchance our ability to create greater value in the Oregon and SW Washington community for years to come.
>>> OSCAMP –
Did you know that OSCON (Open Source Convention) is happening at the Portland Convention Center as we speak? OSCON is an annual convention for the discussion of Open Source Software organized by the publisher O'Reilly Media. This year it is exploring how being open influences and informs business, filling in the knowledge gap about what's possible with open source and how to get it done.
Unfortunately, most nonprofits can't afford the price of OSCON admission, even though there is a good discount for nonprofits. Fortunately, an amazing young man – Brandon Sanders – from the Portland area has organized a free complement to OSCON. OSCAMP takes place at the convention center as well, running parallel to OSCON. OSCAMP is a grassroots cooperative effort that seeks to organize the fringe of activity that has grown up around OSCON over the past few years so it "can rock even more."
>>> Oregon Involved –
Oregon Involved is a statewide effort to make it easy to get involved in nonprofit organizations by:
--Celebrating the positive impact nonprofits make in every community.
--Making it easy to connect with nonprofits working in local community and around the state
--Providing tools to help Oregonians already involved as volunteers, donors, board members, staff and --participants help nonprofits succeed.
More information is available at its website.
>>> Giving in Oregon –
Oregon Community Foundation recently released "Giving in Oregon: Tenth Anniversary Report on Philanthropy." The report finds significant growth in Oregon philanthropy over the past decade, despite several major downturns in the state's economy. The report examines giving by individuals, businesses and foundations and compares Oregon philanthropy with the rest of the nation. It also describes challenges faced by Oregon's nonprofit organizations.
A copy of the report is available here.
>>> Intensive Fundraising Training Opportunity for nonprofits in Portland metropolitan area –
TACS (Technical Assistance for Community Services) will offer its 4th annual Fund Development Capacity Building Program to help 10 - 15 community-based nonprofits build their individual donor fundraising capacity. If your organization is located in Multnomah, Clark, Washington or Clackamas County and is a small to mid-sized human service nonprofit, you may be eligible to apply. More information is available at the TACS website.
Application deadline is September 15. The program begins in November.
Okay, I think that's enough for one message, don't you?
Later,
Marie
Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 15 grants for $2.1 million and one Program-Related Investment (loan) for $1 million at the July program meeting. These awards bring the total grants and PRIs for our current fiscal year (which began in April) to nearly $8 million.
Since MMT began operating in 1982, we have made 5,118 awards for nearly $395 million.
July awards included:
AIDS Housing of Washington
Seattle
$200,000
To help provide housing combined with social services to homeless families in Clark County, a Washington Families Fund project.
City of Bandon
Bandon
$150,000
To remodel the Bandon senior and community center.
Bay Area Enterprises
Coos Bay
$28,477
To expand the organization's janitorial service program that employs workers with disabilities.
Bradley Angle House
Portland
$192,500
To renovate a former transitional housing facility for use as emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.
FSG - Social Impact Advisors
Boston
$175,000
To conduct statewide foundation social impact analysis and evaluation.
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Portland
$5,000
To support the statewide grantmakers conference.
City of Harrisburg
Harrisburg
$31,900
To help the Harrisburg Actively Reaching Together (HART) family resource center provide social services to city residents.
Malheur County CASA
Ontario
$8,000
To recruit, train and support volunteers as court-appointed special advocates to children.
Oregon Mennonite Residential Services
Albany
$67,643
To construct of a group home in McMinnville to replace an inefficient, inadequate rental property.
Oregon Native American Business Network
Tigard
$150,000
To develop an advanced business curriculum and support for Native American entrepreneurs.
Relief Nursery
Eugene
$300,000
To expand services to prevent child abuse and neglect in Springfield.
Shorebank Enterprise Group Pacific
Ilwaco
$300,000
To support a merger with Cascadia Revolvinging Fund and to expand a fund that makes loans to disadvantaged entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.
Shorebank Enterprise Group Pacific
Ilwaco
$1,000,000
For a program related investment to expand a fund that makes loans to disadvantaged entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.
University of Portland
Portland
$300,000
For an entrepreneurship program in collaboration with Oregon Health Sciences University.
Wetlands Conservancy
Tualatin
$190,700
To expand staff capacity as the organization engages in Oregon's Greatest Wetlands initiative.
The new executive director of N-TEN -- Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network -- is coming to Portland! Katrin Verclas invites you to join her for an after-work gathering of nonprofit techies, nonprofit staffers, tech consultants and others interested in nonprofit technology.
Date: Wednesday, July 19th
Place: The Lucky Labrador Brew Pub (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)
Time: 6-8 pm
Free t-shirts and drinks! And door prizes! Sparkling conversation! It's also your chance to tell Katrin what you want from N-TEN.
Highly recommended! Katrin is a dynamo and incredibly knowledgeable about technology tools for nonprofits. Would love to see you there,
Marie
We thought we would pass on a few announcements that may be of interest to our readers, to wit:
>>> DOUG SPEAKS AT CITY CLUB <<<
The City Club of Portland's Friday Forum took on the topic of "The Business of Philanthropy: New Trend in Stewardship" today. Among the speakers was our beloved leader Doug Stamm (along with Jerry Hudson of the Collins Foundation and Greg Chaille of Oregon Community Foundation, who we are certain are also dearly beloved!) who talked about Social Entrepreneurship. If those of you unable to attend would like to listen in to what these foundation leaders had to say, you can do so online or on cable television or radio. Learn how to exercise those options here:
http://www.pdxcityclub.org/forums-events/friday-forums.php#ListenOnline
>>> FIVE INNOVATIVE NEW HIGH SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED <<<
Oregon Small Schools Initiative (OSSI) has announced new partnerships with organizations in five Oregon communities to develop "new, high achieving and equitable small high schools":
--Oregon Coast School of the Arts in North Bend
--Jefferson County Educational Enhancement Center in Madras
--Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter School in Portland
--Media Arts and Communication Academy in McMinnville
--Medical Magnet High School in Beaverton.
OSSI is jointly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and MMT. Of the 14 schools currently working with OSSI, three have launched small schools while the rest are planning and preparing to do so. The first 14 schools are both existing large high schools that are converting into smaller schools and new schools. OSSI's primary goals are to increase graduation rates, better prepare students for post-secondary education, and close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers.
>>> RECENT PRESS <<<
Recent articles in the Oregonian mentioning MMT (articles are available free online for 14 days from publication) :
With millions in trust's control, director can afford to dream big
Chalkboard Project drawing up school action plan
Vanishing species: voters under 45
Innovation in learning pays off for Beaverton
This was such a confusing work week, what day is it anyway?
Have a wonderful weekend!
Marie
Just thought you would want to know we have added a calendar to our website to keep you abreast of happenings in our office, presentations by our staff, various deadlines, meeting dates and sundry other things we think you might want us to reveal.
The calendar can be accessed directly from our home page and it has its very own space here.
Enjoy these long summer days,
Marie
On June 6, Chalkboard launched the statewide Open Book$ Project, a new online tool that provides clear answers to questions about K-12 public schools use your tax dollars. You can view your own district's spending in five major categories, compare your district to others around the state, and see statewide averages. Check out this new tool at .
We also encourage you to sign up for Chalkboard's monthly online newsletter, Chalk Talk, to stay informed on other key topics, such as the announcement of Chalkboard's 2007 legislative proposals to improve K-12 schools, coming in the fall.
At our June program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 40 grants for nearly $1.4 million. Ten awards were made in the Responsive Grant program, while 30 Grassroots Grants were awarded.
Since MMT began operating in 1982, we have awarded 5,103 grants for $391,4436,188.
General purpose grants in June included:
Columbia Land Trust
Vancouver, WA
$250,000
To implement a 5-year strategic plan to advance conservation goals and organizational capacity.
Families First of Grant County
John Day, OR
$20,878
To improve space for a mentoring program that serves high risk fourth through eighth grade students.
Jewish Family and Child Services
Portland, OR
$90,000
To expand counseling and home care services to people who are elderly and/or disabled.
3 years
Neighborhood Partnership Fund
Portland, OR
$325,000
For financial and technical assistance and leadership development for Oregon's rural community development corporations.
Oregon Youth Soccer Foundation
Beaverton, OR
$15,000
To develop new soccer clubs in low-income communities in outer southeast Multnomah, outer Washington County, and rural southern Oregon.
Prairie City Athletic Complex
Prairie City, OR
$40,000
To support a community project to renovate the school district's track and athletic field.
Sisters of the Road Cafe
Portland, OR
$45,000
For building renovation to expand services to individuals and families who are homeless.
Women's Resource Center of Central Oregon
Bend, OR
$10,000
To provide technical assistance for strategic planning for a center that provides education and counseling to women and men.
Womenspace
Eugene, OR
$195,000
To help buy and renovate a new facility to expand domestic violence services to women and children in Lane County.
Meyer Memorial Trust announces it awarded 15 grants for $2.1 million and one Program-Related Investement (loan) for $1 million at the July program meeting. These awards bring the total grants and PRIs for our current fiscal year (which began in April) to nearly $8 million.
Since MMT began operating in 1982, we have made 5,118 awards for nearly $395 million.
July awards included:
AIDS Housing of Washington
Seattle
$200,000
To help provide housing combined with social services to homeless families in Clark County, a Washington Families Fund project.
City of Bandon
Bandon
$150,000
To remodel the Bandon senior and community center.
Bay Area Enterprises
Coos Bay
$28,477
To expand the organization's janitorial service program that employs workers with disabilities.
Bradley Angle House
Portland
$192,500
To renovate a former transitional housing facility for use as emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.
FSG - Social Impact Advisors
Boston
$175,000
To conduct statewide foundation social impact analysis and evaluation.
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Portland
$5,000
To support the statewide grantmakers conference.
City of Harrisburg
Harrisburg
$31,900
To help the Harrisburg Actively Reaching Together (HART) family resource center provide social services to city residents.
Malheur County CASA
Ontario
$8,000
To recruit, train and support volunteers as court-appointed special advocates to children.
Oregon Mennonite Residential Services
Albany
$67,643
To construct of a group home in McMinnville to replace an inefficient, inadequate rental property.
Oregon Native American Business Network
Tigard
$150,000
To develop an advanced business curriculum and support for Native American entrepreneurs.
Relief Nursery
Eugene
$300,000
To expand services to prevent child abuse and neglect in Springfield.
Shorebank Enterprise Group Pacific
Ilwaco
$300,000
To support a merger with Cascadia Revolvinging Fund and to expand a fund that makes loans to disadvantaged entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.
Shorebank Enterprise Group Pacific
Ilwaco
$1,000,000
For a program related investment to expand a fund that makes loans to disadvantaged entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.
University of Portland
Portland
$300,000
For an entrepreneurship program in collaboration with Oregon Health Sciences University.
Wetlands Conservancy
Tualatin
$190,700
To expand staff capacity as the organization engages in Oregon's Greatest Wetlands initiative.
We are proud that our website includes the stories of some of the grants we have made and the organizations we have funded. And we will continue to tell stories about the work we fund. In fact, we are working on more videos as we speak. Unfortunately, however, we aren't able to tell stories as fast as we award grants.
Since we can't tell all your stories fast enough ourselves and we are certain you can tell your own story better than we can anyway, we are devoting a section of our website to you. We invite you to share stories of your work with anyone and everyone who visits our website. You can include a link to your website, so visitors can learn more. (Please only include links you are authorized to reference.) While we don't have the capacity to include your videos and other multimedia presentations on our own website, we encourage you to link to your own videos and other materials about the work you do.
We can't wait to hear what you have to tell us... and don't forget to keep checking in from time to time to see what others are up to. We know there are many amazing stories to be told! Who will go first? Second? Third? and so on........
Tell your story by simply filling out the form here.
Thank you so much,
Marie
At its May program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 13 Responsive Grant grants for $1,150,909 to nonprofit organizations in Oregon and 76 Support for Teacher Initiative (STI) grants for $303,689 to teachers in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.
The largest Responsive Grant grant was $235,000 to Food for Lane County for a three-year project to help the organization build its fundraising capacity by increasing its major donors. The smallest Responsive Grant grant was $5,000 to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians to support development of a viable business plan and fundraising strategy for the Tribe's youth education programs.
STIs were awarded to schools in 14 of Oregon's 36 counties and in the only county in Washington where MMT offers grants. North Clackamas School District was a BIG winner, garnering 25% of MMT's STIs this year!
A complete list of Responsive Grant grants is included below. STIs will be added to the Recent Grants section of our website within a few days.
Camp Kiwanilong
Warrenton, OR
$55,340
To help expand and renovate the camp's historic dining hall.
Central Oregon Environmental Center
Bend, OR
$100,000
To enhance services to member organizations and to improve communication and collaboration with the broader central Oregon community.
3 years
Community Transitional School
Portland, OR
$29,000
For a bus to provide homeless students transportation to and from school.
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Springfield, OR
$5,000
To support development of a viable business plan and fundraising strategy for the Tribe's youth education programs.
Essential Health Clinic
Hillsboro, OR
$141,000
To increase the capacity of this organization to provide health care to uninsured residents in Washington County.
3 years
Food for Lane County
Eugene, OR
$235,000
To support a campaign to build the organization’s fundraising capacity by increasing its major donors.
3 years
Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance
Cave Junction, OR
$100,000
For development staff and associated fundraising costs.
2 years
Incight Company
Portland, OR
$100,000
To support educational outreach programs for high school students with disabilities transitioning to college and employment.
3 years
Lebanon First Assembly of God
Lebanon, OR
$30,000
To complete a new facility for storage and distribution of emergency food and clothing.
Library Foundation of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, OR
$150,000
To finish the interior of the new Hillsboro Public Library.
Rinehart Clinic
Wheeler, OR
$110,569
To hire an executive director to work with the board to assure the clinic's long-term sustainability and community service.
3 years
Sherman Development League
Moro, OR
$15,000
For equipment to carry out the public service mission of the senior/community center.
White River Health District
Maupin, OR
$80,000
To help a rural health clinic in Maupin begin operating.
By the way, for those who like tracking statistics, do you realize that this month MMT awarded its (........... drumroll please ............................) 5,000th grant!?! That amazes us! And sometime this year we will pass the (.......... sound of trumpets requested ..................) $400 million mark in dollar amount awarded!! Whew!! No wonder we're tired! ;-)
Here's an opportunity we thought you might like to know about:
OEF Entrepreneurship Award for Nonprofit Organizations
A special award for an Oregon nonprofit that has shown entrepreneurship & creativity
In 2006, OEF will again recognize entrepreneurial achievement among nonprofit institutions in Oregon and SW Washington with a special OEF Entrepreneurship Award.
This award goes to an organization that has shown entrepreneurship and creativity in addressing business and operational issues, achieving strategic goals, and/or creating jobs. This is not an award that will recognize the "good works" an organization delivers to the community. It is meant to honor the unique, entrepreneurial ways of operating that help an organization fulfill its mission. It is given at the discretion of the OEF Board of Directors and is judged by a panel of nonprofit and foundation leaders from across Oregon. The 2006 chair of this panel is our beloved leader, Doug Stamm.
The deadline for submitting a nomination is Monday, June 19.
This program was created by OEF to recognize creativity and entrepreneurship in nonprofits because OEF realizes that nonprofits face a different set of challenges than for-profit businesses
We at the Meyer Memorial Trust are especially interested in the award because it is a program whose mission is to promote the kind of vision and entrepreneurship that Fred Meyer, whose will established MMT, brought to his own company. To demonstrate our support for this program, MMT is participating in judging applicants for this award. We encourage nonprofits to step forward and apply. You can find out more and download the application form here.
We hope you check this out, we know how many deserving groups there are in Oregon,
Marie
Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 19 grants and one program-related investment totalling nearly $2 million at the April 2006 meeting. These awards bring the total number of grants and PRIs since MMT began operating in 1982 to 4,974 for nearly $389 million.
April grants include:
ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES
Confluence Project
Vancouver, WA
$400,000
For development of the Sandy River Delta site of a multi-site project using art and place to inspire reflection on the Lewis and Clark expedition and its meaning for the past, present and future.
2 years
Friends of HART
Hillsboro, OR
$100,000
To help renovate a building in downtown Hillsboro to create a new theater space.
Liberty Restoration
Astoria
$400,000
For a loan to pay down conventional rate debt and cover construction costs during period before contributors pledges are received.
5 years
Oregon Fire Service Museum Memorial and Learning Center
Salem, OR
$50,000
To help construct a Fire Museum building at the Antique Powerland Museum near Brooks, Oregon.
2 years
HUMAN SERVICES
Farmworker Housing Development Corporation
Woodburn, OR
$200,000
To increase the capacity of this organization to provide housing, resident services, and community engagement to low-income farmworkers.
2 years
Macdonald Center
Portland, OR
$150,000
To renovate the assisted living center that serves poor and frail elderly residents.
Northwest Employment and Education Defense Fund
Portland, OR
$125,000
For continued support for legal and educational services to low wage workers.
Shangri-La Corporation
Salem, OR
$52,000
For equipment for the firewood production and delivery program that provides earned income.
Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality
Salem, OR
$60,000
For a parent organizing project, an annual conference and other activities promoting equity and opportunity for children of color and English language learners in the Salem/Keizer School District.
South Lane Wheels
Cottage Grove, OR
$24,000
For purchase and installation of new energy-efficient windows in a facility housing nonprofit organizations.
Southwestern Oregon Community Action Committee
Reedsport, OR
$160,000
To support a child care and after school program for children six weeks to 17 years in Reedsport.
Women's Crisis Center
Tillamook, OR
$90,000
For technical assistance for staff and board to help build infrastructure for broad based community support.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SOCIAL BENEFIT
Center for Effective Philanthropy
Cambridge, MA
$5,000
To support the center's work in promoting more effective philanthropy.
City of Falls City
Falls City, OR
$50,000
To help build a community center.
Foundation Center
New York, NY
$17,500
For general support for the collection and dissemination of information about private philanthropy.
Grantmakers for Education
Portland, OR
$3,000
For membership dues.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Washington, DC
$5,000
For membership dues.
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Portland, OR
$6,750
For membership dues.
Hispanics in Philanthropy
San Francisco, CA
$3,000
For membership dues.
Neighborhood Funders Group
Washington, DC
$15,000
To promote the use of program related investments.
Today we unveil a project that has been underway for some time now. While we have enjoyed writing stories about the grants we made and projects we funded and publishing them in our annual report and on this website, we recognize that it is time for us to move into the era of digital storytelling. That's what we're doing today...
We have added a new section to our website, reflecting our growing awareness of the importance of storytelling. MMT's Film Festival opens today with short videos of four MMT grantees: Caldera, Northwest Medical Teams, Personal Telco, and Umpqua Discovery Center.
We are most grateful to the wonderful work of Sense of Place Productions, notably Tony Deis (TrackersNW) and Peter Bauer (MythMedia), in producing these premiere works. We also acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Ian McCluskey at Northwest Documentary Arts & Media.
(Please Note: We offer both high and low bandwidth of the videos, recognizing that not everyone has broadband Internet access. We will also be offering our videos on DVDs in the future to those who are unable to view them online.)
We have a number of other video projects in the works; please keep checking for new stories to be added to our Film Festival. So pull up a chair, get out the popcorn, and enjoy watching...
Sometimes we surprise even ourselves! We just held the final program meeting of our 2005-06 fiscal year and for the first time ever, the annual amount of our grants and program-related loans exceeded $30 million--$30,063,247 to be exact! (When the fiscal year began, we expected to award around $26 million.) So it will likely come as no surprise to hear that our assets are at an all time high as well, approximately $593 million. That's what we call a good year!
Since MMT began operating in 1982, we have awarded 4,952 grants for $386,627,425. That's a lot of grants and a lot of money to a lot of organizations that help a lot of people in a lot of places across Oregon and Clark County, Washington, is it not?! Whew!
Next spring will mark MMT's 25th anniversary; let's watch those numbers continue to grow as we approach that milestone. Keep sending us your best ideas and most innovative thinking! Here's the deal: your best work inspires our best work...
The 12 grants and program-related investments MMT made at the March program meeting include:
Contemporary Crafts Museum and Gallery
Portland, OR
$300,000
To relocate the museum to a larger, more visable and more accessible location.
Curry Public Library District
Gold Beach, OR
$150,000
To help build a new library in Gold Beach.
Deschutes County Children’s Foundation
Bend, OR
$250,000
For construction and expansion of two community campuses where nonprofit social service providers co-locate rent-free to better serve those in need.
Disability Navigators
Portland, OR
$95,000
To expand this program that provides access to information about disability resources.
Ecotrust
Portland, OR
$1,000,000
For a program-related loan to reduce the organization's building mortgage costs.
Kids Unlimited of Oregon
Medford, OR
$200,000
To improve the building that houses this activity program for youth from low-income families.
Network for Oregon Affordable Housing
Salem, OR
$1,000,000
For a program-related loan to support expansion of a pre-development loan fund.
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR
$750,000
To help build a new health science center to expand allied health programs on the Klamath Falls campus.
Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation
Portland, OR
$20,000
For a mobile unit to provide free statewide preventative health screening services.
Salvation Army, Medford Corps
Medford, OR
$250,000
To construct 12 transitional housing units and make additional facility improvements at the Hope House.
Stayton Public Library Foundation
Stayton, OR
$150,000
To renovate and expand the library.
Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lafayette, OR
$300,000
For construction of a library and learning center open to the community.
We are beside ourselves with happiness and excitement today, because we now actually have our very own Network Administrator on staff. Aaron Nelson starts today... We are fortunate because Aaron has been providing services to us through Macforce for some time now, but henceforth will dwell among us...
When he's not tending to our Information Technology needs, we hope he will serenade and/or feed us, as he is also an accomplished opera singer and chef.
You have every right to expect more new and exciting features to begin appearing on our website because Aaron has arrived.
Today we welcome another new program officer to our team! It's Maricela Urzua's first day here at MMT, and we are most happy to have her. Over the past few years she was a manager for teen pregnancy prevention services and Estrellas Latino Outreach with Oregon's Department of Human Services. She has extensive experience working directly with diverse communities.
Maricela is a wonderful addition to our staff, her warm smile and enthusiastic spirit are already brightening our space.
Not only do we have two new program officers (announced last week), we now have a Project Manager and our finance department has an Accountant! Wow, this is BIG!
Kim Sheng (Project Manager) and Paula Maden (Accountant) both have experience with Friends of the Children. Kim was Chapter Services Manager and Paula was Bookkeeper with the national FOTC office.
In honor of all our new staff, we have undertaken a staff renewal, i.e., we have renewed and refreshed the staff information on our website. Even our oldest staff members now look young! Check us out...
We want you to know we are approachable here at MMT. So you won't necessarily find out what degrees staff members have, what laudits we have been awarded, and so forth. But you will find out what we looked like in grade school.
As fun and approachable as we might be among foundation web sites, we realize we have miles to go before we sleep when we compare ourselves to "Meet the Staff" portions of other web sites (for example, see this website for a hotel in Italy!)
We hope you enjoy meeting our new staff, getting reacquainted with existing staff, and having some fun with us.
Word to the wise: Stay tuned. We might not be done adding to our staff yet.
MMT awarded 15 grants for $1,225,500 at the February program meeting. This brings the total amount awarded during the current fiscal year to $25,598,247 in 323 grants. The March meeting will conclude MMT's grantmaking for the current fiscal year.
February grants include:
Albany Helping Hands
Albany
$105,000
To rehabilitate a residential building for family shelter units and office space.
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
Portland
$300,000
For a loan to buy a building to provide clinical and administrative space and for related renovations.
3 years
Children’s Institute
Portland
$75,000
To continue this organization's work to support early childhood programs in Oregon.
2 years
Dora-Sitkum Rural Fire Protection District
Myrtle Point
$85,000
To expand and renovate the facility that serves as the fire department, library, and community center.
Friends of the Phoenix Library
Phoenix
$60,000
To support the construction of a new library.
2 years
Girl Scouts of America, Western Rivers Council
Eugene
$20,000
To make the basement level of a new building accessible for programs for girls.
Bend Area Habitat for Humanity
Bend
$100,000
To help purchase property currently leased for this affiliate’s building materials resale store.
Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity
Madras
$15,000
To help build an affordable home for a low-income family.
Junction City/Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity
Junction City
$47,500
To help construct two homes for low-income families.
2 years
McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity
McMinnville
$100,000
To support the development of a 12-unit subdivision for low-income families.
3 years
Newberry Habitat for Humanity
Bend
$25,000
To help complete two homes for low-income families.
Portland Habitat for Humanity
Portland
$70,000
To increase the organization's fundraising capacity.
Jefferson County Library District
Madras
$90,000
To establish an inter-library network in central Oregon.
2 years
Samaritan Counseling Center of Portland
Portland
$20,000
To subsidize counseling to children, individuals and families without insurance and with limited means.
Waterfall Clinic
North Bend
$113,000
To add a family nurse practitioner to this safety-net health clinic so it can serve more low-income and uninsured/underinsured Coos County residents.
We’re happy to announce that we have hired two new program officers to fill open positions on our staff. Kim Thomas and Sally Yee join us today! Kim comes to us from her position as Director of Advocacy and Agency Relations at the Oregon Food Bank and Sally most recently served as Program Officer at Portland Schools Foundation.
We’re thrilled to have Kim and Sally on board, they bring vast experience, valuable resources and strong spirits to the Trust.
Meyer Memorial Trust awarded 16 grants for $1,543,300 at its January program meeting. These awards bring the total number of grants to 308 this fiscal year, for a total of $24,382,747. Since it began operating in 1982, MMT has awarded 4,925 grants for $380,946,925.
January grants were awarded to:
CASA of Oregon
Newberg, OR
$150,000
To expand this affordable housing organization's statewide collaborative program that offers Individual Development Accounts to low-income families.
3 years
Audubon Society of Portland
Portland, OR
$100,000
To support Oregon Oceans, an affiliation of organizations working collaboratively to advance ocean conservation goals in Oregon waters.
2 years
Oceana
Portland, OR
$100,000
For a two-year effort to improve the protection and management of marine habitats in Oregon waters.
2 years
Oregon State University Foundation
Corvallis, OR
$90,825
To support the work of COMPASS, which fosters the communication of marine science among scientists, policy makers, the media, and the public.
Surfrider Foundation
San Clemente, CA
$100,000
To increase public awareness of, and help advance ocean and coastal preservation policy.
2 years
Elgin Public Library
Elgin, OR
$25,000
To help purchase a new building for the library.
FISH of Roseburg
Roseburg, OR
$75,000
To build a new facility to provide emergency services to families and individuals in need.
Friends of Timberline
Portland, OR
$128,825
To help restore the ampitheater at Timberline Lodge.
International School
Portland, OR
$75,000
For building renovation to expand school programs for third, fourth and fifth grade students.
Klamath County Library Foundation
Klamath Falls, OR
$120,000
For improvements to the main branch library's children's area and other facility upgrades.
2 years
National Forest Foundation
Portland, OR
$75,000
To promote family-oriented volunteer stewardship programs for restoring national forest and to improve communication among conservation groups and the U. S. Forest Service.
2 years
Portland Art Center
Portland, OR
$50,000
To help support this contemporary arts organization while it diversifies and expands its donor and audience base.
3 years
Salem Leadership Foundation
Salem, OR
$78,650
To expand capacity of area after school child care programs.
2 years
City of Sutherlin
Sutherlin, OR
$125,000
To construct a new wing and upgrade the C. Giles Hunt Memorial Library.
3 years
Wisdom of the Elders
Portland, OR
$50,000
To help develop a K-12 language arts curriculum for Oregon's public and tribal schools featuring American Indian history and cultural arts.
YMCA of Columbia-Willamette
Portland, OR
$200,000
To increase this organization's communication and fundraising capacity in order to increase services to low-income families.
3 years
