Community Stories

Community is our middle name. Our work reflects the spirit of community and we're inspired by stories of generosity and transformative work leading to better lives for all Oregonians.

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Latino/x Serving Oregon Nonprofits Strengthened by $1.2M Investment

Statewide
Health and Well-being, Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement, Homelessness and Housing

Oregon Grantmaking Students Rank Mental Health as Top Concern

Statewide
Community Engagement

Oregon Small Business Innovations Receive $907,500 Investment

Creating a Greater Sense of Belonging

Statewide
Health and Well-being, Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement

Oregon Community Colleges Upend Their Approach to Math to Make It Add Up for Students

Statewide
Education

Accessible Housing Investments Create Opportunities for Independent Living

Statewide
Health and Well-being

No-Stoplight Town’s General Store “Pulls People Together” with Art and Music

Central Oregon
Arts & Culture, Community Engagement

Fire Lessons Live On in Rural Oregon

Statewide
Land and Nature, Emergency Response

Conexiones Summit Explores Wealth Building in Latino/x Communities

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality

Collaboration Carves a Path Through Water Challenges In Central Oregon

Central Oregon
Land and Nature

What’s Ahead for Oregon’s Affordable Housing Shortage? Ernesto Fonseca Weighs In

Metro Portland
Homelessness and Housing

2024 – 26 Fields Artist Fellows Announced

Statewide
Arts & Culture

OCF Investments Create New Hope and More Housing for Oregonians

Statewide
Homelessness and Housing

Empowering Communities Through Collective Real Estate Ownership

Metro Portland
Economic and Community Vitality

OCF Scholarships Propel Students and the State to Success

Statewide
Education

Celebrating a Decade of Reaching Creative Heights in Oregon

Statewide
Arts & Culture

Community Connects, Reflects and Celebrates at OCF’s 50th Annual Meeting

A Gift Beyond Measure: OCF Volunteer Impact

Statewide

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Rios to Rivers

Statewide
Education, Land and Nature

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Talent Maker City

Southern Oregon
Arts & Culture, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: The Children's Museum

Southern Oregon
Education

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: 50 Years of Community

Statewide

The Capacity to Do Good: After a Year, OCF President CEO Lisa Mensah Looks Forward

Statewide

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Scholarships

Southern Oregon
Education

Keeping the Promise: Public-Private Partnership Pays Dividends in Pendleton With Promise Inn

Eastern Oregon
Homelessness and Housing

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Bridging Cultural Gaps

Central Oregon
Education, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Community 101

Statewide
Education, Community Engagement

After the Fires and Floods: Oregon Community Foundation works to support disaster-recovery efforts throughout the state

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Emergency Response

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Maslow Project

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement, Homelessness and Housing

Developing Partnerships: Oregon Community Foundation grants help Harney County organization build, sustain relationships

Eastern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: A Safe Oasis in a Child Care Desert

South Coast
Education, Community Engagement

New Life in a Child Care Desert: After a decade of work, and with OCF help, Pendleton Children's Center opens its doors

Eastern Oregon
Education, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Creative Heights

Southern Oregon
Arts & Culture, Community Engagement

Grants Cause a Ripple Effect: Oregon Community Foundation promotes Indigenous lifeways through art and community building

Statewide
Arts & Culture, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Washed Ashore - Art to Save the Sea

South Coast
Community Engagement

Avel Louise Gordly Scholarship for Oregon Black Women Fund

Statewide
Education

Life Must Be Lived as Play: Partnership provides inspiration to make big dreams come to reality

North Coast
Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Sherm’s & ACCESS Give Back to the Community

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Cottage Grove Community Foundation

Southern Willamette Valley
Education, Economic and Community Vitality

Growing from the Ground Up: Partnership provides community support while fostering philanthropy

Central Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality

Reimagining Libraries: How Oregon Community Fund partners with state’s libraries to meet changing needs

Statewide
Education, Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Fields Artist Fellowship

Southern Oregon

Oregon Community Foundation’s Northeast Oregon Heritage Fund helps preserve Indigenous lifeways

Eastern Oregon

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Oregon Library Innovation Fund

Southern Oregon

A Lifeline for the Liberty

North Coast
Arts & Culture

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Reed and Carolee Walker Fund

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality

Community 101 Turns 25, Oregon Community Foundation's Youth Program Marks Milestone

Statewide
Education, Community Engagement

Fairview Trust Makes Biggest Investment to Date

Statewide
Health and Well-being

Speaking up for Small Nonprofits with Big Goals

Southern Oregon

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: The Ford Family Foundation

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality

Wallowa Resources, Along With OCF, Racks Up Long List of Successes From Humble Beginnings

Eastern Oregon
Community Engagement, Land and Nature

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Outdoor School

Statewide
Education, Land and Nature

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute shares tribes’ rich history

Eastern Oregon
Arts & Culture

Making a Bigger Impact, with OCF

Metro Portland

Program putting healthy smiles on childrens faces

Eastern Oregon

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Housing Stability

Statewide
Homelessness and Housing

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Women in Philanthropy

Statewide
Community Engagement

Amid a Changing Climate, OCF’s Focus on Resilience for People and Place Persists

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality, Land and Nature

Continuing Our Investment in Strong Local Press Across the State

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Statewide Expansion

Statewide

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Ready to Smile

South Coast
Health and Well-being

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Lisa Mensah Five on 5

Statewide
Community Engagement

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Happy Smiles

Southern Oregon
Health and Well-being

KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: From Vision to Impact

Southern Oregon

Oregon Community Foundation by the Numbers: Six Remarkable Statistics that Prove the Power of Philanthropy

Eastern Oregon
Arts & Culture, Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement

50 Years of Oregonians Helping Oregonians: OCF's Origin Story

Statewide

Capacity Building in Action

Metro Portland
Education

Expanding Opportunity for Oregon Entrepreneurs Who Help Their Communities Thrive

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality

Growing OCF Support for Indigenous Artists, Educators and Culture-bearers

Statewide
Arts & Culture

Project Pools Resources to Strengthen Oregon’s Child Care Sector

Statewide
Emergency Response

With GO Kids, OCF Works With Communities to Expand Opportunities for Oregon Children

Statewide
Education

Born and Raised to Volunteer

Southern Oregon

College, Classes, and Community Grants

Southern Willamette Valley

A Lifetime of Generosity

Metro Portland
Education, Health and Well-being

Partnership Boosts Scholarships Programs

Southern Oregon
Education

A Vital Community Resource

North Coast
Education, Health and Well-being

Employees Drive Company Giving Program

Southern Willamette Valley

Fund Honors a Legacy of Service

Eastern Oregon
Arts & Culture

Solar Power and a Place to Call Home

Central Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Homelessness and Housing

Funds Boost Emergency Responder Workforce

Northern Willamette Valley
Education, Health and Well-being

Endowment Funds Help Libraries Build Community

South Coast
Education, Health and Well-being

Creating New Paths to Affordable Housing and Home Ownership

Statewide
Homelessness and Housing

Designing Scholarships for Maximum Impact

Statewide
Education

LGBTQ+ Focus Provides New Take on ‘Our Town’

Northern Willamette Valley
Arts & Culture

Building Resilience for Oregon’s Essential Lands, Waters and Rural Communities

Statewide
Land and Nature

Supporting the Stories that Reveal Oregon’s Invisible Indigenous

Statewide
Arts & Culture

Community Voices: Gabriela Peden, Central Oregon Latino Partnership Program

Central Oregon
Education, Health and Well-being

Community 101 Student Philanthropy Program Expands Horizons

Statewide
Education, Community Engagement

New Grant Program Funds Mentoring, Training and Coaching for Entrepreneurs

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality

Valuing and Supporting Artists Through the Fields Artist Fellowship

Statewide
Arts & Culture

New Scholarship Funds Close the Opportunity Gap for Rural Lane County Students

Southern Willamette Valley
Education

Oregon Community Foundation Deploys $70,000 to LGBTQ+ Organizations

Statewide
Health and Well-being, Emergency Response

Community Voices: Al Barkouli

Metro Portland

Indigenous Resilience, a Pandemic and a Water Crisis

Statewide
Health and Well-being, Arts & Culture, Economic and Community Vitality

Supporting Education in Lakeview

Southern Oregon
Education

Deepening Belonging in Beaverton

Metro Portland
Health and Well-being, Economic and Community Vitality

Bridging Divides in Bend

Central Oregon
Education, Economic and Community Vitality

Interdependence in Wallowa County

Eastern Oregon
Education, Health and Well-being, Economic and Community Vitality

Community Voices: Jessie Hecocta, Southern Oregon Leadership Council

Southern Oregon
Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement

Community Voices: Ashley Espinoza, OCF Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council Member

Southern Willamette Valley
Economic and Community Vitality

Reconciling with Our Past Is Only Way to Help Heal Our Future

Statewide
Education, Health and Well-being

Resilient Landscapes Initiative Helps to Conserve 4,500 acres in Central Oregon

Central Oregon
Land and Nature

Community Voices: Dr. Dalton Miller-Jones, Central Oregon Leadership Council 

Central Oregon
Education, Health and Well-being

Community Voices: Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council

Southern Willamette Valley
Education, Community Engagement

Community LendingWorks: Supporting Oregon’s Small Businesses Through Loans and Grants

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality, Emergency Response

Hygiene and Housing: How Oregon Harbor of Hope is Bridging the Gap Through the Pandemic

Metro Portland
Homelessness and Housing

Oregon Ocean Conservation Fund Protects Coastal Resources

Statewide
Land and Nature

Helping the Unhoused Shelter in Place

Central Oregon
Homelessness and Housing, Emergency Response

Child Care Center Boosted by Grant

Metro Portland
Economic and Community Vitality, Emergency Response

OCF Grant Supports Tribal Center

Eastern Oregon
Arts & Culture, Economic and Community Vitality, Community Engagement, Emergency Response

Meaningful Connections Emerge from ‘Partnering for Black Student Success Summit’

Statewide
Education

Providing a Safe, Caring Place

South Coast
Health and Well-being, Economic and Community Vitality

Comforting Children in Crisis

Southern Willamette Valley
Health and Well-being

Championing Equal Opportunity

Metro Portland
Homelessness and Housing

Helping Students Access Higher Education

North Coast
Education

Taking a Win-Win Approach

Southern Oregon
Community Engagement

Improving Kids’ School Readiness

Northern Willamette Valley
Education

Learning, Libraries and Service: Journey of a Small Town Volunteer

Eastern Oregon
Education

Sustaining Oregon's Libraries

Statewide
Education, Community Engagement

Latino Community Engages in Conservation

Metro Portland
Community Engagement, Land and Nature

Lifelong Passion for Community Service

Southern Willamette Valley
Education

Rolling Up Her Sleeves in the Community

South Coast
Health and Well-being

Giving Youth a Second Chance

Central Oregon
Health and Well-being

Crucial Support for Families on the Edge

South Coast
Health and Well-being, Homelessness and Housing

Community Rallies to Upgrade Multi-Use Facility

Northern Willamette Valley
Education, Community Engagement

Critical Skills Improve Girls’ Outcomes

Southern Willamette Valley
Education, Health and Well-being

Promoting the Needs of Their County

Southern Oregon
Education

Providing Safe and Affordable Housing

Southern Willamette Valley
Homelessness and Housing

Taking Chances with Art

Metro Portland
Arts & Culture

Transforming Oregon Through Impact Investing

Statewide
Economic and Community Vitality

Working Together Toward Housing for All

Statewide
Homelessness and Housing

Expanding Opportunities for Students Through the Arts

Statewide
Education, Arts & Culture

Investing in Youth Learning

Central Oregon
Education, Arts & Culture

Celebrating Community and Philanthropy

Eastern Oregon
Arts & Culture, Economic and Community Vitality

Community Voices: Carlos Salcedo

Central Oregon
Education

Community Voices: Gayle Yamasaki, Southern Oregon Leadership Council

Southern Oregon
Community Engagement

Jugamos Afuera: Let’s Play Outside

Central Oregon
Education, Health and Well-being

Chetco Indian Memorial Brings Hidden History to Light

South Coast
Arts & Culture, Community Engagement

Northwest Youth Corps: From the Ground Up

Southern Willamette Valley
Economic and Community Vitality, Land and Nature

Conserving an Iconic Coastal Landscape

North Coast
Land and Nature

Transforming Schools to Help All Students Thrive

South Coast
Education, Health and Well-being

2024 Annual Meeting: Oregon Is Us

Statewide

Juneteenth Rodeo Brings Oregonians Together

Statewide
Arts & Culture