North Coast
Tillamook Balances Purpose and Profit
The dairy farmers of Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)—the cooperative behind the storied Tillamook brand—take giving back seriously. Every year, TCCA returns 4% of its net income to the community as part of its commitment to balancing purpose and profit. As a Certified B Corporation, TCCA considers the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers and community as well as the environment.
A cross-functional group of employees and farmers guides giving toward the communities of Tillamook, Portland and Boardman (where TCCA operates), with a focus on security, healthful children and agricultural advocacy.
TCCA distributed grants throughout 2019, but at the end of the year, it faced a challenge: Calculating its income and giving target didn’t allow much time to make additional direct gifts to meet its annual goal.
TCCA solved this problem with the help of an OCF advised fund. The fund can receive gifts through December 31—allowing precise giving to meet the 4% annual goal—with grantmaking the following year. Suggesting grants through MyOCF also streamlined their bookkeeping.
In 2020, TCCA put the new fund to work as part of its giving strategy, awarding grants aligned with its priorities and helping people cope with the impacts of COVID-19.
“We have a long-standing partnership with OCF, going back a long time with Patrick Criteser, our CEO,” says Paul Snyder, executive vice president of stewardship, referencing Patrick’s service on OCF’s board since 2015. “Frankly, based on our relationship and OCF’s expertise, we never considered anyone else.”