My 25 years as a community organizer, campaign strategist and nonprofit executive director have given me an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by frontline communities — the groups most affected by the climate crisis and environmental injustice. The knowledge these communities possess is essential for fostering a stronger connection with our environment and one another.
In transitioning from nonprofit leadership to philanthropy, I wanted to honor those frontline perspectives, continue to build community power and foster the deep transformative relationships essential for change. In my first year at Meyer, I’ve been able to do much of that. I’ve had opportunities to influence funding decisions, promote systemic change and support numerous organizations in their vital work.
I am honored to guide Our Resilient Places, one of Meyer’s three topical funding portfolios. This body of work prioritizes holistic and community-informed approaches to how we care for our environment. It has an explicit focus on the necessary transition from an extractive economy (one that exploits and depletes) to a regenerative economy (one based on community care and balance).
By investing in organizations that center environmental justice, we work to ensure that Oregon’s lands, water and historically marginalized communities are resilient in the face of the climate crisis.
Fueling the Ecosystem
We're thrilled to announce a significant step forward in our commitment to climate and environmental justice: through our 2024 Funding Opportunity, we’ve invested in 41 organizations with awards totaling $6.9 million.
This year's grant recipients are working tirelessly on issues ranging from land rematriation and traditional ecological knowledge to youth empowerment and biocultural restoration. What truly stands out is the dedication to centering the experiences and expertise of frontline and Indigenous communities.
One shining example of this is the Pandion Institute, which empowers tribal youth through transformative outdoor experiences that promote well-being and cultural and environmental stewardship ($75,000). Their work cultivates a generation of leaders deeply connected to their heritage and the natural world. Pandion's history, rooted in a 2021 collaborative effort to bring Native youth back to their homelands, exemplifies the power of community-driven initiatives.
Similarly, Nvn-Nes-a Land Trust, founded in 2023 by Siletz tribal members, focuses on the return of homelands into Native hands and the revival of traditional stewardship practices ($92,500). Their mission to facilitate land rematriation and provide safe access to traditional homelands is a powerful act of environmental justice and cultural revitalization. By supporting the families traditionally responsible for land stewardship, they are ensuring long-term, sustainable management of these vital resources.
Vesper Meadow also highlights the importance of biocultural restoration and community engagement ($167,000). Founded in 2018, Vesper Meadow has become a hub for decolonizing restoration and community education. Their work, which includes supporting the Indigenous Gardens Network and co-producing a Fire Ecology curriculum with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, demonstrates the deep connection between ecological health and cultural well-being.
The Power of Collaboration
Notably, seven of our 41 grants went to collaborative projects — the most in any of the three portfolios. These grants, awarded to two or more groups working together, underscore the power of collective action. By bringing together diverse organizations, we can achieve far greater impact than by working in isolation. Collaboration allows for the sharing of resources, knowledge, and networks, creating a more robust and effective response to complex challenges. These collaborations are building "the bigger we," fostering stronger networks and unified efforts for systemic change.
With focuses ranging from air quality to urban heat islands, these grants are not just about addressing immediate issues; they are about building long-term, systemic change. By investing in collaboration, we are laying the groundwork for a more just and sustainable future. This work is urgent, especially in the state of Oregon, where we are witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change, from increased wildfires and extreme weather events to habitat loss and threats to biodiversity.
Reframing Resilience through Community Strength
Oregon’s unique ecosystems and diverse communities make it both vulnerable and resilient. We have a responsibility to protect our natural heritage and ensure that all Oregonians have access to clean air, clean water, and healthy environments. The urgency is palpable, and the need for action is now. The initiatives supported by these grants are critical to addressing these challenges and building a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
The 41 grants awarded this year represent a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change. We are incredibly proud to support these organizations and their vital work. Together, we can build a future where climate and environmental justice are not just goals but realities. The dedication, passion, and expertise of these grantees is inspiring, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will have on our communities and our planet.
— Huy
Our Resilient Places Grantees
2024 Funding Opportunity applicants submitted proposals under one of the following portfolio goals. Here are the awarded organizations organized by those goals.
Goal 1: Affirm BIPOC communities’ relationship to place
Black Farm Bureau - Black Food Sovereignty Coalition
Black Oregon Land Trust
Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts
Confederated Lower Chinook Tribes and Bands
Confluences
Enercity Collaborative
Feed’em Freedom Foundation
Friends of Trees (collaboration)
Lomakatsi Restoration Project
Long Tom Watershed Council
Necanicum Watershed Council
Nez Perce Tribe
Nez Perce Tribe (collaboration)
Nvn-Nes-a Land Trust
Pandion Institute
Sustainable Northwest
Understory Initiative - Vesper Meadow
Wallowa Land Trust Inc
Goal 2: Build power with frontline communities
City of Portland
Colloqate Design - Organize, Advocate, Architecture
Gorge Grown Food Network
Neighbors for Clean Air - Breath Oregon (collaboration)
NW Energy Coalition - Community Power for Energy Justice (collaboration)
Oregon Latino Health Coalition
Oregon Rural Action Inc.
Rogue Action Center
The Kijani Collective
Willamette Partnership - Oregon Water Futures (collaborative)
Goal 3: Move towards a Just Transition
350Deschutes
Cascadia Wildlands
Community Energy Project Inc
Ecotrust
Oregon Environmental Council
Oregon Environmental Council - Building Resilience (collaborative)
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility Inc
Oregon Walks
Strategic Energy Innovations
Suma
The Blueprint Foundation
Verde - Move Oregon Forward (collaborative)
Wallowa Resources