2012 Giving in Oregon Report Released

OCF Releases 2012 Giving in Oregon Report: Oregon continues to rank in top 20 states in charitable giving

The Oregon Community Foundation recently released the 2012 Giving in Oregon report. The report includes information on trends in giving in every county in Oregon. With the assistance of the Giving in Oregon Council, OCF has been publishing this report for more than a decade in order to track philanthropy and its effects on the nonprofit sector.

Despite lower than national average incomes and a higher than average unemployment rate, Oregonians give more than the national average.

Although Oregonians continue to be generous, contributions to nonprofits have not yet rebounded to pre-recession levels. Therefore, nonprofit agencies have had to renew their focus on their core missions in the face of lean economic times and an increased need for their services.

Giving in Oregon offers an objective analysis of donations to 10,369 Oregon nonprofit organizations in 2010 (the most recent data available), representing 68% of the state’s registered 501(c)3s.

Report highlights include the following:

Individual giving by Oregonians shows signs of recovery from the recession.
Oregonians, across income levels, are giving more generously than national averages.
Oregon continues to rank in the top 20 states for charitable giving.
Nonprofits in Oregon reported almost $1.5 billion in charitable contributions in 2010.
Nearly 90% of charitable contributions were reported by nonprofits in just eight counties (Benton, Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington Counties).
Nearly one-third of contributions reported by Oregon nonprofits were reported by education organizations.
The last decade of generous giving and volunteering has helped to improve neighborhoods, expand educational opportunities, build stronger health care services, and strengthen communities. Together, these activities made a measurable difference for thousands of Oregonians.

Read the full report HERE.

Northwest Area Foundation Announces New Board Members

Jim Laducer of Bismarck, N.D., Lynda Bourque Moss of Billings, Mont., and Nicholas Walrod of Portland, Ore., have been elected to the Northwest Area Foundation Board of Directors. Each will be seated and begin a three-year term at the regularly scheduled Board meeting in February 2013.

Jim Laducer, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is the sole proprietor of Laducer & Associates Inc., an information technology company in Mandan, N.D. that employs more than 300 people. He is a founder of the Turtle Mountain State Bank in Belcourt, N.D., the first privately held Native American bank in the country. He also owns Apple Creek Country Club in Bismarck, N.D. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Laducer is the recipient of many awards for his contributions to economic development in North Dakota. Among his honors, Laducer was the 2007 North Dakota Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2000 he was awarded the North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Small Business Partner.

Lynda Bourque Moss is finishing her second and final term in the Montana State Senate. She formerly held executive director positions at the Foundation for Community Vitality and the Western Heritage Center. An artist by training, Moss has initiated several collaborative regional and international programs involving nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies. In the Montana legislature, Senator Moss worked on policies ranging from historic preservation and social justice to planning and health care. Moss has served on many different boards of directors including Friends of Montana PBS, Montana Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council, and the American Association of Museums.

Nicholas Walrod is a principal of 3x5Special Opportunity Partners, a venture capital firm. The grandson of the late philanthropist John Gray, Walrod is a founding board member of the Gray Family Foundation. He is also executive director of the Yarg Foundation, a private family foundation focused on Oregon land trusts. He has served on many boards including the Board of Governors and Pacific Northwest College of Arts and is the founding board member of Gorge Grown Food Network and Oakland Leaf, an organization dedicated to community transformation through creative education for youth and families. In addition, Walrod is an accomplished tennis player who competed in the NCAA National Championship in 1995.

“Jim, Lynda and Nick bring a wealth of experience and skill to the Foundation,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation. “We eagerly welcome them to our Board as we refine our efforts to make prosperity possible for all in our region.”

To read the full release click HERE

The Oregon Community Foundation - Accepting Applications for the Nike Employee Grant Fund

OCF’s Nike Employee Grant Fund is accepting online grant applications through December 1, 2012!  Please help us spread the word.

This is Nike’s “backyard” program, which means that applicants must be in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill or Columbia County in Oregon or Clark County in Southwest Washington.  60% of the grants will be awarded for projects that use sport or physical activity to leverage other community benefits, while 40% will be awarded for projects with the potential for long-term impact on our environment, health and/or well-being of children and families. 

Grants are between $5,000 and $20,000 and will be awarded via two grant cycles per year, with $250,000 to $300,000 available for distribution each cycle. 

Please visit our website to learn more about the fund’s priorities and how to apply: www.oregoncf.org/Nike

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Announcement - Dr. Moses Lee to Join Trust in 2013

The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver, Washington, is pleased to announce Dr. Moses Lee who will join the staff as Program Director beginning in June of 2013.  Moses currently is the Dean of Natural and Applied Sciences & Professor of Chemistry at Hope College in Holland, MI.  He previously served at Furman University in a similar role.  His academic training is in the field of bio-organic and medicinal chemistry.

“We are delighted and honored to have Dr. Lee join our work at the Trust.  He is an accomplished research scientist, a gifted educator and a thoughtful leader.  He will bring a great spirit to our partnership with research universities in the region as well as those institutions committed to undergraduate science education and research.” said Steve Moore, Executive Director of the Murdock Trust.

Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.  His current research is in the development of compounds that recognize and control the function of specific genes, particularly in treating or immunizing for disease.  He will be joining the Trust serving as Program Director with an emphasis on research and science grants programs in the spring of 2013.  Dr. Lee has served on advisory committees and panels for the Murdock Trust.  As well he has advised The Research Corporation, The National Science Foundation and numerous other scientific foundations and programs.  He recently led the Hope College team that received a distinguished Howard Hughes Grant.  In addition to his leadership in undergraduate science research, he has carried an active research agenda.

As per Jack Murdock’s legacy, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust seeks to enrich the quality of life in the five Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Alaska and Idaho by providing grants and enrichment programs to organizations seeking to strengthen the region’s educational, spiritual, and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the trust has awarded more than 4,800 grants and programs, totaling more than $650 million.

For more information on the Murdock Trust, visit www.murdock-trust.org or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Murdock Trust Names Stefanie Narhi as Executive Assistant

The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver, Washington, is pleased to announce Stefanie Narhi who joins the staff as Executive Assistant.  Stefanie arrives at the Trust with 17-plus years of experience in business and nonprofit administration; most recently with OHSU Foundation where she was a central part in the development and progression of their mission.

“We are delighted to bring Stefanie into this important role at the trust,” said Steve Moore, Executive Director of the Murdock Trust.  In addition, she brings a great knowledge of our constituencies.

As per Jack Murdock’s legacy, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust seeks to enrich the quality of life in the five Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Alaska and Idaho by providing grants and enrichment programs to organizations seeking to strengthen the region’s educational, spiritual, and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the trust has awarded more than 4,800 grants and programs, totaling more than $650 million.

For more information on the Murdock Trust, visit www.murdock-trust.org or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Bank of America Announces More Than $274,000 in Grants to Portland Area Nonprofits

Funding Part of Ongoing Support of Community and Economic Development to Benefit Low-Income Individuals in Portland

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced that during the first six months of 2012, it awarded $274,200 in grants to Portland-area nonprofits. The grants focus significantly on neighborhood revitalization, with $158,000 going to local community development nonprofits focused on building and rehabilitating affordable housing facilities, foreclosure prevention services and homeowner counseling, and providing other services intended to help families with homeownership.

“Challenges in the housing sector such as lack of affordable homes can hinder economic recovery and vitality, so I’m pleased to see Bank of America’s leadership in focusing their philanthropic resources on building stronger neighborhoods,” said Steve Messinetti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. “The $75,000 grant we just received will provide enough funding to build an entire new house for a waiting family-in-need. And beyond the dollars, Bank of America’s employees will be helping build the home, too, with volunteering being a part of the partnership.”

The majority of funds are part of a recently announced $22 million in housing-related grants that will impact more than 650 nonprofit organizations serving low- and moderate-income communities in 34 states.

Locally, Bank of America provided grants to 20 nonprofits in the Portland area, including:

Innovative Changes: to provide operating support to reach 1,200 low-income individuals with financial education, credit building, coaching, asset building and small dollar loans in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties.
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East: to sponsor one new house-build in Oregon’s largest Habitat development in the Centennial Neighborhood.
Portland Housing Center: to invest in the HomeOwner Basics program and provide 1,300 individuals with homeownership counsel.
Habitat for Humanity Willamette West: in support of a home in the new Hillsboro development of nine houses for local low-income, hardworking families.

To read the full release, click HERE

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