Building Community

Community vitality through shared responsibility

Meyer’s investments in community

Oregon is made vibrant by the strength and beauty of its many cultures. When people are part of inclusive and supportive communities — when we can all see and start down promising paths, when we can influence decisions and policies that affect us, and when we have safe spaces to connect with others and express our shared humanity — we can truly thrive. And everyone benefits.

This is why the Building Community portfolio focuses on work that addresses social, political, economic and other injustices. By partnering with organizations, networks and collaboratives — and investing in their ability to engage communities, address disparities, enact policy and embrace equity and inclusion — the Building Community portfolio aims to strengthen the nonprofit sector's capacity for deep and sustainable change that benefits all Oregonians.

Building Community Portfolio Information Session

What our 2021 portfolio-specific virtual information session

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Recent Awards

View recent grants awarded within this portfolio

See a filtered list of portfolio grant awards

Why Community?

Find out more about why building community is a priority at Meyer

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Funding Goals

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Civic engagement and systems change
Connection and belonging

By strengthening civic engagement and public participation in democratic processes, we can shift power and change inequitable policies, institutions and structures that deeply affect our most vulnerable communities. When people are able to see themselves as part of the solution, they work toward the common good and a community that's rooted in equity and justice.

Meaningful connections within and between communities can be achieved with a base of trust and understanding. By advancing DEI, working across differences and building a greater sense of belonging, we increase opportunities to develop a shared sense of responsibility and voice for our common good. In some cases, this may mean identifying and removing barriers that keep people who have been historically marginalized from being heard or served. In other cases, it might mean providing communities time and space for healing or creating connections through artistic or cultural expression, building appreciation for the differences that enrich our communities.