Building Inclusion: Charitable Funds Help Lease Crutcher Lewis Support Diversity in Construction

An employee-advised grant program funds workforce development to change the face of the construction industry.

Maya Berns-Janousek thrives as a construction foreman, supervising subcontractors and teams of up to 100 workers at busy commercial job sites.

Yet, this path was far from her original plan. “When I was in college, I didn’t know anything about construction,” Maya recalls.

While taking a break from college to work and reevaluate her direction, Maya attended a panel discussion and film screening hosted by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., which trains and empowers women to work in skilled trades. Intrigued, Maya joined the program and found a pathway to union membership, apprenticeship and a position with Lease Crutcher Lewis. Coming full circle to the company that helped fund her Oregon Tradeswomen training, she started as a layout carpenter − preparing the framework of a building according to blueprints – and climbed the ranks to foreman.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. provides training and career navigation for women seeking to enter skilled trades.

“Generations of women before me had a harder time than I have had, and I’m really proud that I'm able to do what I do now,” says Maya, now nearly a decade into her construction career. “It’s a career path that can really set you up for success. It’s a pipeline to well-paying jobs that can support a family. I know there are barriers to entry, but I think Oregon Tradeswomen really helps alleviate those barriers.”

Maya’s career shift came at a time when demand for skilled labor was surging. And women now earn 95.5% of what men do in construction, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – significantly narrower than the U.S. average gender pay gap of 83.6%. Yet it’s a field that hasn’t always welcomed women, who today make up only about 10% of the construction industry workers in the United States.

Commercial construction firm Lease Crutcher Lewis is doing its part to make the industry more inclusive of women and other underrepresented populations. The employee-owned firm with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest has more than 300 salaried employees and operates under a stated purpose to improve communities. 

The company demonstrated its commitment to fostering diversity by establishing donor advised funds with Oregon Community Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The funds, which the company refers to collectively as the Lease Crutcher Lewis Foundation, focus on building a more inclusive workforce in construction.

Grants from the funds support historically underrepresented people by granting funds to nonprofits and higher-education institutions that help build a more diverse skilled trades workforce.

In 2024, the Foundation funds supported and awarded grants to Oregon Tradeswomen, Portland YouthBuilders, Constructing Hope, Girls Build and POIC. Seattle-based organizations included YouthBuild and Sawhorse Revolution.

Portland YouthBuilders provides training and long-term support for young people entering technology and construction trades. Their programs serve students aged 17-26, including people of color, women and LGBTQ+ individuals – many of whom face significant barriers. These students often have histories of trauma, poverty, school dropout, homelessness, substance abuse, violence at home or involvement with the justice system.

“Support from Lease Crutcher Lewis is vital for training the next generation of young people in entering the trades who would otherwise not have a chance to go,” says Portland YouthBuilders Development Director Tonia Kovtunovich. “Lease Crutcher Lewis is a true partner in our work. They’re not just giving us money on their terms. They were very open from the very beginning – echoing what OCF has been saying – that general operating support is like gold to us nonprofits, and that we know best how to utilize the funding.”

In fact, all grants the Lease Crutcher Lewis Foundation grants come unrestricted, providing the organizations with flexibility to fund operations and their greatest needs. Since its launch in 2021, the foundation has awarded a total of $315,000.

Volunteerism and philanthropy are baked into the culture at Lease Crutcher Lewis. A 12-member staff committee decides which nonprofits will receive grants and recommends other ways for employees to get involved through events and volunteerism (employees can use work time to volunteer). And the company matches each employee’s charitable contributions up to $500 each year.

Images near the entrance of the Lease Crutcher Lewis office in downtown Portland showcase the company's commitment to its workforce.

Amanda McCaffrey, preconstruction manager at Lease Crutcher Lewis and co-chair of the company’s foundation advisory committee, reflects on the partnership with OCF. “Setting up a donor advised fund was something that we had not done before, and we trusted that OCF could help guide us through that process,” she says. “OCF is very organized and very communicative. We felt very supported. I appreciate, as somebody who is very new to working with nonprofits, I don’t feel embarrassed by asking questions. It’s really nice to just be able to reach out.”

For Maya, her success is a testament to the impact of community-driven support and an industry that’s striving to become more inclusive. “I love that my company supports organizations diversifying the construction workforce. That makes me feel really proud.”

Maya Berns-Janousek supervising a job site.