
GO Kids Program
The GO Kids program has now come to a close. Thank you to all the people and organizations that made this program possible. Stay tuned for a summary of our findings in early 2024.
All Children in Oregon Deserve the Opportunity to Succeed
2022 GO Kids Updates
- December 1, 2022: Oregon Community Foundation helps in closing the 'opportunity gap' granting $2M to 30 Oregon-based nonprofits
- November 30, 2022: Oregon Community Foundation's ‘Go Kids’ Initiative Surpasses $2M in Funding for Oregon’s Underserved Children and Families
- August 9, 2022: With GO Kids, OCF Works With Communities to Expand Opportunities for Oregon Children
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Central OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Eastern OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Metropolitan OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - North Coast OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Northern Willamette Valley OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - South Coast OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Southern OR
- OCF 2022 GO Kids Grants List - Southern Willamette Valley OR
The GO Kids initiative aims to overcome Oregon’s opportunity gap – disparities experienced by children because of where they live, their race or family circumstance – by working with volunteers throughout Oregon.
Goals
- Spotlight the toxic effects of the opportunity gap on children, families and the prosperity of our communities, state and country.
- Trigger ideas for local solutions, and motivate and catalyze action.
- Engage volunteers, partners and civic leaders in innovative and effective place-based efforts to close the opportunity gap.
Principles
- Kids who experience systemic racism and marginalization, lack of resources in low-income families, and an underinvestment in rural and isolated communities are disproportionately deprived of opportunities to learn and thrive.
- Impactful, creative and sustainable solutions for kids come from local community members with lived experience of opportunity gaps and are implemented by organizations trusted by the community.
- Resources for education and the arts create possibilities for kids and families’ futures.
- We value Oregon’s diverse regions and populations, and we seek to advance equity, diversity and inclusion through our funding.
- We are committed to funding across Oregon with grant dollars reaching every region of our state.
- Raising local awareness of opportunity gaps with community leaders and members is an important step toward change.
- Social capital, defined as community relationships and networks, is a powerful resource to complement funding.
- All children in Oregon deserve the opportunity to succeed regardless of their economic status, race, region or other circumstances of birth.
Investment
OCF is investing $3 million from 2019 to 2022, mainly from the Fred Fields Fund. In addition to project management and administration, this investment includes:
- Roughly $480,000 in small grants for research, education, convening and promotion.
- Up to $2 million for larger competitive grants.