When my father wanted to drop some financial wisdom on me, he didn’t sit me down for a lecture, he told stories. His favorite? The one about how he and my mother arrived in Los Estados Unidos with just $100 in their pockets and a determination to build a better life.

Growing up on a small ranch in rural Mexico, he experienced poverty from a very early age. By 25, with few opportunities and even fewer resources, he made the decision to leave. With my mother by his side and nothing but grit, hope and — as the story goes — a single $100 bill, they crossed the border in search of something more. To drive the lesson home, he’d sometimes pull out a crisp $100 bill from his secret stash under the mattress (the classic immigrant bank) and wave it like a magic ticket — “This,” he’d say, “is all your mother and I had when we arrived in this country.”

As a kid, I had plenty of questions. Just $100? That wasn’t even enough for a week’s groceries! Even adjusted for inflation, back in 1977, it was roughly $524 — not exactly the start-up capital for the American Dream. And yet, my parents made it work. No guaranteed job, no English, no roadmap — just determination, resourcefulness and a willingness to learn.

Now, as I work with my colleagues at Meyer to advance economic justice, I think a lot about my parents' journey. Financial literacy matters, but it’s not the whole story. Hard work and smart choices weren’t enough to shield my family from systemic barriers — barriers that still exist today, keeping too many people from real economic opportunity. The system wasn’t built for everyone to thrive equally, which is why Meyer’s commitment to systemic change, community-driven solutions and direct family engagement in income stability and wealth-building is more critical than ever.

Economic stability isn’t just about a paycheck — it’s about dignity, opportunity and the ability to build something lasting for future generations. Yet, access to wealth-building tools — homeownership, business opportunities, career pathways — is still inequitable, locked behind networks that have long excluded marginalized communities.

This is where Oregon’s nonprofits play a vital role. Through access to capital, financial education, workforce development and policy advocacy, they equip families with vital resources to break through these barriers and build intergenerational wealth.

Through the 2024 Funding Opportunity, we’ve invested in 41 organizations with awards totaling $5.9 million.

A Comprehensive Approach to Economic Justice

Oregon’s BIPOC population is growing, and with it, the need for programs and support tailored to their cultural contexts. Of the grantees within the open funding opportunity in Our Collective Prosperity portfolio, 93% serve BIPOC communities and 73% are culturally responsive.

We know that offering job training helps workers access jobs with high wages and essential benefits. But when it comes to addressing barriers to entry, simply providing career education is not enough. Supporting partners engaged in legal defense and advocacy work aimed at protecting employees from unsafe and unjust work environments is equally important.

The Filipino Bayanihan Center is set to launch a pilot project aimed at providing outreach, advocacy, and legal assistance for individuals employed in the caregiving sector ($100,000). Additionally, the Clear Clinic, in collaboration with the Northwest Workers Justice Project and the National Immigration Project, will expand its Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement (DALE) program ($200,000).

Our grantees are also helping aspiring business owners navigate the barriers to financial success, whether by providing hands-on business development support, access to loans and grants, assistance with navigating government procurement processes and advocacy efforts aimed at securing more resources for BIPOC business owners.

The Oregon Public Health Institute is set to expand its "Right from the Start" (RFTS) Black Childcare Business Accelerator program ($120,000) while Community LendingWorks will maintain its micro-lending opportunities for small businesses in rural Oregon ($150,000).

To build long-term financial stability, we must engage the entire family in multigenerational asset-building. Many grantees under this umbrella equip communities of color with opportunities including workforce development, microbusiness opportunities and supplementary services like individual development savings accounts (IDAs), direct cash programs, and leadership development.

Coalición Fortaleza will expand its economic opportunity programs to ensure that Latine survivors of the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley have access to housing, job opportunities, and income stability ($300,000/ 2 yr). Additionally, Outside In will pilot a basic income program for homeless BIPOC youth ($150,000).

Stable and affordable housing is a cornerstone of financial security. That’s why we’re investing in organizations that partner with tenants, renters and homeowners to strengthen community organizing and advocacy efforts. These initiatives range from tenant rights and fair housing protections to technical assistance for culturally specific housing providers.

The Community Alliance of Tenants will continue to educate, organize, and develop the leadership of low-income and BIPOC tenants ($250,000/ 2 yr). Their efforts support policy initiatives aimed at controlling rental housing costs, increasing the emergency rent assistance safety net, eliminating no-cause evictions, funding legal support and training tenants to assert their rights.

Homeownership is another critical avenue for wealth-building, but too many families — especially BIPOC families — have been historically excluded due to discriminatory policies and unjust urban development practices. Our funding prioritizes organizations that provide people with options, such as traditional home buying models or land trusts, that can create opportunities for long-term wealth building.

Building Prosperity, Together

The impact of Our Collective Prosperity’s grantees extends beyond individual programs — it’s about fostering collaboration across sectors to create systemic change. We’ve learned that many of our grantee partners already incorporate this work into their overall direct services or special projects. By supporting a network of organizations that share knowledge, advocate for policy change and uplift community-led solutions, we’re helping build an Oregon where economic justice is not just a goal, but a reality.

As we move forward at Meyer, we remain committed to working alongside our grantees, partners and communities to dismantle barriers, advance economic justice and build a future where all Oregonians can thrive.

Congratulations to each of this year’s Our Collective Prosperity grantee partners!

— Maribel

 

Our Collective Prosperity 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: Close the Racial Wealth Gap

Black American Chamber of Commerce

Black Business Association of Oregon

Clear Clinic ( Collaborative)

Community LendingWorks

Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Evolve Workforce & Multifamily Housing Services

Filipino Bayanihan Center

Habitat for Humanity of Oregon

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber

Latino Founders

Leaders Become Legends

Metropolitan Family Service

MicroEnterprise Resources, Initiatives & Training

National Association of Minority Contractors-Oregon

Living Cully (Collaborative)

Northeast Oregon Economic Development District

Northwest Native Chamber

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc

Street Roots

The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon

VertueLab

Voz Workers' Rights Education Project

 

Goal 2: Support Thriving Families

African Youth & Community Organization

Bradley Angle

Coalición Fortaleza

Community & Shelter Assistance Corporation

Consejo Hispano

FinAbility

Latino Community Association

Oregon Public Health Institute

Outside In

REACH Inc

Rural Development Initiatives

Unidos Bridging Community

 

Goal 3: Promote Housing Justice and Pathways to Homeownership

Community Alliance of Tenants

Fair Housing Council of Oregon

Housing Development Center

Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives

Proud Ground

Sisters of the Road

Williams & Russell CDC

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

I have worked in and around education my entire 22-year career. I’ve coordinated youth programs in a small rural community in Eastern Washington, worked in higher education at public and private colleges, awarded grants to fund educational programs in philanthropy, and led educational initiatives at the state level. I also currently serve on my local school board.

All that is to say I have experienced different sides of the educational world and I’ve witnessed more than a few educational initiatives that began with great promise, only to be abandoned or defunded before they had the chance to yield real transformation.

And yet, stability and commitment are more important than ever as we work to support young Oregonians in school and life. It takes time to see significant change in education and we need to stay the course to allow efforts to mature.

The cumulative impact of historical underinvestment in education, learning losses exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and current efforts to dismantle the Department of Education threaten to further destabilize the structural and funding supports that are in place to ensure equitable access to opportunity. Even with increased funding from the state in the last five years, our student outcomes have not improved and in most cases have continued to get worse.

It’s no surprise that our youth-serving organizations and educational institutions are strongly signaling the need for more support. We received 330 applications for funding through Our Empowered Youth — the most of all three portfolios in our 2024 funding opportunity

I am incredibly proud to announce that we have invested in 47 organizations with awards totaling $7.3 million. Here are some highlights from the awards, followed by the full list of all 2024 funding opportunity grantees. Congratulations to all!

Community-Driven Approach

When we launched the Empowered Youth portfolio last year, we listened to our community, followed the research and considered the educational policy landscape to understand where Meyer dollars could have the greatest impact. One enduring lesson is that our chances of success are much improved when we follow the lead of our communities. That is, when we invest in efforts that empower students, families and educators to advocate for the policies and programs that will best serve them.

A standout example of this is a partnership between the Jefferson 509J School District and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to develop a Native dual language immersion program so that Indigenous students can learn in a culturally affirming environment ($200,000).

A Workforce that Reflects Our Diverse Youth

More than 41% of Oregon’s K-12 classrooms are filled with students of color, yet fewer than 14% of today’s educator workforce share their racial or ethnic backgrounds. Culturally relevant, community-led programs are essential in addressing this disparity. By funding initiatives that support historically underserved students, we are working to close the opportunity gap and ensure that every child has access to an education that meets their needs.

Chemeketa Community College is collaborating with five other community colleges across Oregon to develop a Bachelors of Applied Science in Education consortium. Their shared goal is to develop accessible and affordable pathways for diverse educators in rural communities ($300,000).

Expanding Access in Rural and Underserved Areas

Rural communities face unique barriers to education, from limited financial resources to geographic isolation. Some of the grants that are specific to those communities include: Project Youth+, an organization working to engage first-generation, low-income and under-represented college students in Southern Oregon ($100,000); Four Rivers Community School, a public charter school working to strengthen transitions from early education to college and career for bilingual and bicultural students in Malheur County ($175,000); and the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, dedicated to bringing more BIPOC artists into rural coastal schools and enriching arts education for all students through their K-8 Create program ($140,000).

Addressing Root Causes of Inequities

In addition to direct student support, many of our grantees are working to address the root causes of inequities in education.

The Early Childhood Equity Collaborative is working to improve pay and training for early childhood educators ($90,000). Vision to Learn is advocating for state funding to provide free vision screenings and glasses for all students ($60,000). Better Together Central Oregon is bringing school districts, higher education, social service agencies and community leaders together to improve systems alignment and track student outcomes in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties ($290,000).

Defending Education in a Challenging Political Landscape

I want to close by acknowledging the reality of our world right now. Our democratic institutions are under attack, especially our educational institutions.

Many critical efforts which support our most marginalized and vulnerable students, including children with disabilities, English language learners and students of color are being dismantled under the guise of fairness and equality.

Our team at Meyer is working hard to respond knowing that at the end of the day, our grant dollars can only go so far. So we will work alongside our community and fight to maintain and protect these important programs. We must support each other and advocate for a future in which all of our students can thrive in a just and equitable educational environment.

— Michael

 

Our Empowered Youth 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: Build Power for a Thriving Education

Afghan Support Network

Better Together Central Oregon

Black Educational Achievement Movement

Black Parent Initiative

Children's Institute Early Childhood Equity Collaborative

Disability Rights Oregon

Eastern Oregon University Foundation

Elevate Oregon

Jackson County Community Services Consortium

Muslim Educational Trust

Oregon Trio Association

Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center

Project Youth+ College Dreams

Southern Oregon Child and Family Council

Vision to Learn

Young Roots Oregon

 

Goal 2: Close the Opportunity Gap

Chemeketa Community College Collaborative

College Possible

Columbia Gorge ESD Collaborative

Four Rivers Community School

Get Schooled Foundation

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest

Jefferson County School District 509J

Josephine County Foundation

Marshallese American Network for Interacting Together

Neskowin Coast Foundation

Northwest Alliance for Alternative Media and Education

Northwest Regional Education Service District

Portland All Nations Canoe Family

Reading Results

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Youth Empowerment Project PNW

 

Goal 3: Build an educational system that reflects our students

Be BLAC Foundation

Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization

Clackamas Education Service District

Eugene School District 4J

Mentoring Individuals Into New Territory Through Education

Multnomah Education Service District Collaborative

Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native PLC

Northeast STEAM Coalition

Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators

Portland Community College Foundation

Portland State University Foundation*

Samoa Pacific Development Corporation

The Fathers Group

Transponder

United Way of Southwestern Oregon

Without community, there is no liberation. — Audre Lorde

For too long, Black communities have faced chronic underfunding, creating competition for scarce resources and tokenizing organizations instead of fostering true collective power. We recognize that no single organization can uplift community alone. That’s why, in our latest round of funding through Justice Oregon for Black Lives, we leaned into the power of collaboration — asking organizations to join forces, dream bigger and build together.

Now, we’re proud to announce $5.7 million in multiyear grants to 13 collaboratives working to create lasting change for Black Oregonians. Some of these groups have long-standing relationships, while others used this opportunity to deepen their partnerships and reimagine what’s possible when resources are shared, not competed for.

The proposals we received reflect the nuance, complexity and richness of our communities. Black Oregonians are not a monolith, and these grants uplift a range of approaches to systemic change — from education and economic justice to housing and healthcare.

Below, we highlight a handful of these projects, offering a glimpse into the transformative work ahead.

Fostering a Diverse Educator Workforce

Oregon’s education system faces a stark representation gap: while students of color comprise 40% of the statewide student population, only 12% of educators share similar backgrounds. In the Reynold’s School District where HOLLA School is located, the number of students of color jumps to 70%. Studies show that students with at least one teacher of the same race have improved academic performance, better attendance and lower rates of suspension.

HOLLA School is addressing this challenge through a Grow Your Own Teacher Pathways collaborative with the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators, Pacific University and Portland Community College. This initiative provides tuition-free, mentored pathways for BIPOC participants to earn teaching degrees and licenses, breaking down barriers to educator certification and fostering a more representative educator workforce.

Cultivating Food Sovereignty and Economic Justice

Black farmers own less than 1% of the nation’s farmland, while their white counterparts own approximately 95%. In Oregon, one in five Black families experiences hunger, with food insecurity rates nearly triple those of white households. These disparities stem from historical inequities in land access, agricultural support and economic opportunity.

To combat this, the Feed’em Freedom Foundation has joined forces with the Black Food Fund, Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, Black Oregon Land Trust, Black Futures Farm and Mudbone Grown to form the Black Agricultural Ecosystem (BAE). BAE is creating pathways to shared services, agricultural education, community-based land access and healing through culturally connected land practices.

Through this collaborative, these organizations reduce duplicative efforts, strengthen networks and create sustainable solutions for food security and economic justice. Working together shifts the nonprofit paradigm from competitive to cooperative — creating a powerful ecosystem of linked programming that reinforces the impact of the other — ensuring Black agricultural communities in Oregon thrive.

Building Climate Resilience for Black Homeowners

Systemic inequities make it harder for Black homeowners to access energy-efficient upgrades. Studies show they are quoted 8% higher prices for solar installations than white households and have less access to local installers. For low-income families who spend nearly three times as much on energy expenses than the average household, this financial burden means less money for other basic needs.

To address these disparities, the African American Alliance for Homeownership, Taking Ownership PDX and Constructing Hope have launched the Sustainable Black Community Collaborative (SBCC). SBCC not only provides free energy-efficient home upgrades and steeply discounted solar installations for Black homeowners, their job training program also ensures this work is installed by a workforce that reflects the community it serves.

Healing Through Community and Connection

Black communities in Oregon make up just 2.5% of the population and often face cultural isolation, fueling feelings of hopelessness. Historical and present-day inequities compound these challenges, impacting overall health and wellness.

The Black Parent Initiative, in partnership with Black Men’s Wellness and Be the Healing, is addressing this through a statewide healing symposium. Inspired by Dr. Joy DeGruy’s work on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, the multiday event connects participants to culturally specific healthcare providers, practitioners and community resources.

Collaboration is Fundamental for Long-term Progress

In all these projects, one thing is clear: collaboration is key to building thriving ecosystems by and for Black Oregonians. The collaborative model underscores the importance of shared goals and collective action and will serve as part of Justice Oregon’s grantmaking going forward. By leveraging the expertise and resources of each organization, collaboratives can utilize a more holistic approach to systemic change.

This is just as true in philanthropy. We are committed to deepening our connection with funders and will return to our participatory framework that allows for partnership within the community. By working together, we not only amplify our impact but also create sustainable solutions that foster a more resilient future for Black communities.

Congratulations to each of the Justice Oregon for Black Lives collaborative grantee partners. For more information on these or other Justice Oregon awards, visit our award database.

Two leaders from the Black Agricultural Ecosystem stand on the Oregon shore

Last year saw a historic rise in the number of displaced people around the world and, tragically, a similarly unprecedented increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric. With these hateful sentiments come rumblings of new, exclusionary policies, both nationally and here in Oregon.

Since 2018, the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative (OIRFC) – a group comprised of The Collins Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust – has provided grants to organizations working to counter anti-immigrant narratives and foster long-term inclusion and belonging for Oregon’s immigrant and refugee communities.

Having been part of this work at Meyer since the beginning, I can say that the last six years of funding have led to critical successes. However, after primarily supporting work reacting to negative policies or practices, we asked ourselves if we should be more forward-thinking in our grantmaking. We got an answer in a series of grantee partner listening sessions last year. We heard a pressing need for funding to better mobilize, leverage and scale the collective impact of the immigrant and refugee community over the long term.

That’s why I’m particularly pleased to announce the latest round of OIRFC grants: A suite of funding specifically focused on organizations and coalitions in the advanced stages of movement building.

While the OIRFC had originally allocated $675,000 for this initiative, we were overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of organizing taking place. Thanks to additional contributions by the Oregon Community Foundation and Meyer, we were able to increase the total budget to $1,096,174.

After careful consideration, the OIRFC selected the seven projects below to receive funding in this initial round. These groups display a clear commitment to scaling their movement-building efforts. Please join me in celebrating these organizations, both for the work they have done in service to the community and for the critical work ahead of them.

They know what others sometimes forget: Immigrants have always been a part of Oregon’s story. They have played an integral part in building and sustaining our state’s economy and culture. They are part of what makes Oregon healthy and whole and, when we vilify them, we are only hurting ourselves.

Movement Building Grantee Partners

Adelante Mujeres (Women Rise Up) has a rich history of engaging the Latine/x and immigrant community by providing educational resources and acting as a forum for community advocacy. Through this project, they will strengthen their ability to unite with others in the broader community who are committed to advancing social and economic justice for the common good.

Bienestar (Well being) started 42 years ago providing dignified housing for migrant farmworkers. Now it develops multi-family rental properties that are safe, low-cost alternatives in an increasingly unaffordable housing market. They will use these funds to provide training and skill-building support for residents who can then raise their voices to advocate for equitable housing policies.

For more than 30 years, Community Alliance of Lane County has organized residents to advocate for racial justice, immigrant rights, human dignity, economic justice and educational equality. The organization’s leadership development program, Voces Unidas para la Justicia, works with and trains Latine/x youth and families so they can advocate for equitable education policy. They are now partnering with Escudo Latino, another community-centered leadership program for the Latine/x community. Their work will be focused on the education system of Springfield, Oregon.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon works to engage diverse communities of faith in direct service to people living on low incomes and those marginalized and impacted by structural injustice. It offers a mix of social services to low-income immigrants. These funds will help the organization build upon its current coalition and community partnerships to establish immigration status as a recognized social determinant of health.

Oregon Latino Health Coalition has worked for almost 20 years to advance the health of the Latine/x people through policy, advocacy and prevention. This project will build capacity for Salud es Poder, a movement-building initiative to ensure a healthcare expansion policy to offer Oregon Health Plan benefits to people of any age or immigration status.

Oregon Rural Action Project is a grassroots and culturally diverse community-led organization based in La Grande and working across Eastern Oregon. They promote social justice, agricultural and economic sustainability, and stewardship of the region’s land, air and water. They aim to build a rural movement in eastern Oregon to advance greater health, food and resource equity; farmworker rights; and environmental justice.

The Next Door offers culturally relevant, community-centered programming for youth and families. Programs like equity and outreach training support further engagement in promoting resilient community health, effective public education and thriving economic development systems. This project seeks to advance civic equity through education and advocacy in the Mid-Columbia Gorge.

— Sally

Representatives from this round of OIRFC grantee organizations gathered at Meyer's HQ in March 2024.

This post has been updated to reflect the total funding amount for the planning phase of these collaborative grants: $2.6 million.

To achieve Black liberation, we must build power within Black communities; calling on one another to form interdependent networks of nourishment and celebration. We’ve heard this often from our conversations with folks on the frontlines: our impact could be so much larger if we had the time and resources to collaborate with one another. Some groups have found innovative ways to make this happen, but many still need dedicated space, staff and funding to fully realize goals.

In our latest round of funding for Justice Oregon for Black Lives, we’ve reimagined our approach, asking organizations to form collaboratives that will sustain thriving Black ecosystems in Oregon. By removing barriers to maintain long-term partnerships, collaborative funding enables groups to bring their breadth of expertise to tackle systemic issues. These partnerships will allow organizations to learn from one another, share data and strategize, building upon the momentum set forth by those who came before us.

We believe in the strength of the collective. Social justice movements of the past and present knew this to be true as well.

The “Big Five” civil rights groups worked together to bring tens of thousands to the March on Washington, advocating for desegregation and voting rights. The Chicago Black Panther Party joined ranks with the Young Lords and Young Patriots, forming the cross-cultural group, Rainbow Coalition, to combat police brutality and substandard housing. Today, the Black Lives Matter movement utilizes a “leaderful” model where grassroots organizations and those at the forefront of injustice collectively lead this ongoing pursuit.

I believe that if there can be some form of reparative action for the Black community here, then it can happen across the United States. And that can benefit all communities, not just ours. If we can start here.

Since 2020, 133 groups across the state have been funded through Justice Oregon for Black Lives, totaling $21.4 million. Now, we seek to deepen our impact by creating space for organizations — that are already doing vital work — to dream big and create lasting, systemic change together.

We are excited to announce the following 14 collaboratives that will receive a total of $2.6 million for the planning phase of these transformational projects.

HOLLA School joins Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators and Warner Pacific University to create a Black teacher recruitment and retainment pipeline.

Building Blocks 2 Success alongside McDaniel High School, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Oregon State University and National Society of Black Engineers Portland Chapter will establish a comprehensive and impactful STEM education ecosystem in Portland with a focus on Black students.

Black Educational Achievement Movement (BEAM), The Blueprint Foundation, Play Grow Learn and other community partners will form an integrated network of community-based organizing to support Black youth in East Multnomah County.

KairosPDX is partnering with Black Parent Initiative, Albina Vision Trust and BEAM to transform the former Portland Public School property in Albina into a Center for Black Student Excellence by forming a youth council to garner input from impacted students on the Center’s function and processes.

A Black Art Ecology of Portland will collaborate with community partners to identify and prepare for a range of long term activities that support the creation and preservation of Black art in all mediums throughout Portland and beyond.

Ori Gallery joins Black & Beyond the Binary Collective, Liberation Medicine School and West Coast Black Circus to create a safety network for Black Trans folks in the Pacific Northwest.

Equitable Giving Circle, The Numberz.fm and AfroVillage will map out the feasibility of building a network of buildings owned by Black-serving nonprofits.

Imagine Black Futures is partnering with The Rosewood Initiative and Black Community of Portland to establish a Black worker center in East Multnomah County.

Leaders Become Legends alongside Constructing Hope and NWXcelerator will establish a green technology pathway center in Gresham.

Feed'em Freedom Foundation joins Black Food Fund, Black Food Sovereignty Coalition/Black Futures Farm and Black Oregon Land Trust to establish a collective thriving of Black food systems.

Unite Oregon is partnering with Black Economic Collective, Keep Growing Seeds and The BIPOC Rise Moor Healing Center to create a Black wellness center in East Portland.

Black Parent Initiative alongside Black Men's Wellness and Be the Healing will plan a 2025 healing symposium on Black trauma and wellness.

African American Alliance for Homeownership (AAAH), Taking Ownership and Constructing Hope will expand access and increase efficiency for clients, support a burgeoning Black workforce in the green technology industry and build awareness around the opportunities for homeowners and contractors.

POIC+RAHS will collaborate with Be the Healing and Journeys Oregon to develop a community safety worker (CSW) model to combat violence in the Black community.

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At Meyer, we talk often about our accountability to communities. That commitment is shown most plainly in how we distribute our grantmaking dollars each year, especially to work that supports those who are furthest away from opportunity.

I am proud to report that our last fiscal year of grantmaking, we have continued to make good on our promises, with nearly $23 million dollars awarded to organizations advancing racial, social and economic justice in Oregon. (An additional $22 million was distributed through grant renewals and other prior commitments.) Overall:

81% of Meyer’s 283 grant awards were dedicated to BIPOC-led or serving organizations.

93% of Meyer’s total grantmaking dollars went to BIPOC-serving organizations.

As we celebrate Pride this month, I also want to share that $3.7 million or 16% of our total grantmaking dollars went to organizations led by or serving the LGBTQ2SIA+ community.

We are also completing our transition to a new grants management system this year, which will improve our ability to understand our community-specific awards data in increasingly nuanced ways.

General Operating, First Time Awardees

In addition to dollars we track for culturally specific areas of work, it’s important that we continue to evolve our grantmaking to better meet the needs of our grantees. Last fiscal year, 36% of our funding or $8.2 million was dedicated to general operating support so that organizations have the freedom and agency to do their best work. As we move forward, I anticipate that Meyer will continue to increase our funding for general operating support.

Meyer has also worked to catalyze new and innovative efforts with funding to 70 first-time awardees. Many of those were funded through the highly participatory, community-informed approach of our Justice Oregon for Black Lives initiative. I expect to share more about how their work is impacting Oregonians in the months ahead.

Taking our Own Test

As part of our continuing work to align our internal and external commitment to equity, I recently took the time to assess Meyer on its own Diversity Equity and Inclusion Spectrum Tool. Created in 2019 by Meyer staff, the tool has been used by thousands of Meyer grantees and other organizations across the country to assess organizational progress on DEI-related policies and practices.

I was surprised and humbled to find that my own assessment of Meyer’s progress put us somewhere between “Launched” and “Well on the Way.”

I asked the staff to take the same assessment, hoping I had been unduly harsh. The result was essentially the same. As we have told other organizations many times, the path towards equity is not always a linear one and the expectation is progress, not perfection.

“Exemplary,” as the tool describes organizations who have fully integrated their internal and external DEI policies and practices, is still a goal for us.

In addition to continuing our efforts in this area, we are also working to develop additional ways to ensure we are applying an antiracist and feminist lens to our grantmaking. We are learning from colleagues in the philanthropic space to inform this effort and I have particularly appreciated the thought leadership provided by Justice Funders, specifically the Just Transitions Framework which inspires and aligns with so much of the change we want to see in regenerative philanthropic practice in Oregon.

As we continue to grow and evolve into the organization we dream of being, I am heartened and inspired to know that our staff, grantees, friends and partners will continue to hold us accountable. I am excited to be a part of our shared progress towards justice.

— Toya

 

Three seedlings in various stages of growth. Stock image.

Justice Oregon for Black Lives has reached a milestone moment. The initiative, launched in 2020, has just passed the halfway mark on its original five-year timeline, with more than $15.9 million awarded to 105 Black-led and Black-serving organizations in Oregon. In addition to announcing the latest round of awards, we thought now would be a good time to check in with Program Officers Allister Byrd and Nancy Haque on the challenges and lessons learned so far. Here are highlights of our conversation, edited for length and clarity:

With all of the local, national and international momentum leading up to the launch of Justice Oregon for Black Lives, what were some of your hopes coming into this initiative?

Allister: My original hope was that we could do some really radical, broad-thinking, innovative stuff. I heard in those initial community conversations [that Meyer held with Black community members and leaders] that although $5 million a year felt like a drop in the bucket for some folks, others felt that nothing like this at this scale had been done before in Oregon. We really had an opportunity to show that if there can be some form of reparative action for the Black community here, then it can happen across the United States. And that can benefit all communities, not just ours. So that was my hope, and that's still my hope for the initiative.

Understanding that $25 million is a significant investment, but that the need and ambition extends far beyond that — how do you measure success and can you speak to some of the challenges?

Allister: First, we’ve got to meet people where they're at right now in order to get to that bigger state. We’ve been fortunate to have the resources to help catalyze a lot of important and exciting work.

I really love this idea that we're not just filling in the hole, but we're actually tilling the soil. We understand that organizations who are actively hiring staff will want to keep growing their capacity, but they can't do that if the funding is not always going to be there. One of the ways we’ll know we're successful is if the things that we do through this initiative live beyond its time frame.

Nancy: How can we make sure that people and organizations have what they need so they can imagine that bigger, better future? One of the reasons I joined Meyer is because this initiative made me believe there's a commitment to racial justice. It's really indicative of what our values are, how we set up this program for success. So the depth of that commitment is reflected in the grantmaking budget. But it’s also about the operating budget, the staffing and other resourcing for the initiative, all of those details as well.

Allister: To be in this role of program officer is challenging. We have to consider what's the level of political education about each of [Justice Oregon’s priority] areas that you have to have in order to actually make informed decisions about funding. That's something that we just have never really had enough time to deal with because we're trying to get the money out. So I think balancing that urgency with what it really takes to support a community-informed process is the tension that we're always navigating. I hold all that, right? Of loving the work, but also not having enough time or capacity to do everything.

Also, launching a tremendously ambitious, community-informed effort at this size and scale is already a tall order. Doing it in the middle of a pandemic brought in a whole other set of challenges. Like so many other organizations, our leadership changed and we had to adjust to that loss and keep on going. (D’Artagnan Caliman, Justice Oregon’s first director, left Meyer in February to join the 1803 fund as vice president of partnerships.)

Tell me more about the importance of community in Justice Oregon.

Allister: We talk with people all day. Not just about their organizations, but about, ‘What are you dreaming about? What else could we do? Who else are you connecting with?’ That is the heartbeat of what we're trying to do here.

The community conversations that we had in May 2021 were also the first time that a lot of Black folks doing work in Oregon, not just Portland, had the opportunity to be in virtual space together. [The opportunity for a grantee] to say, ‘I just started this nonprofit a few years ago and I'm sitting here with Sharon Gary-Smith of the NAACP, and we've never met before, but this is an opportunity for us to convene.’

Just seeing the byproducts that happened as a result of getting folks together in this space has been really, really amazing. That doesn't mean that everybody agrees all the time and the initiative is not perfect by any means, but I see that sort of connective tissue really forming through this and that's been really amazing to watch.

What advice would you give to organizations who want to do this type of work?

Nancy: Decide at the get go what your goals are. Living your racial justice values is setting up that program for success, which means giving it enough capacity and not siloing the work. Yes, there can be this program that can be for this particular community, but you have to think about it in a holistic way. You have to think about how this kind of racial justice initiative fits into the organization and how the whole organization is supporting it.

Allister: I would say, do all of that and then talk to another organization. Do a lot of funder organizing around this so there is an ecosystem supporting it.

Thoughts on the future?

Allister: I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to get to meet amazing Black folks all over the state who are doing really incredible work for their communities. You know, seeing all of the movement that's happening.

Ultimately, I’m trying to help grow the kind of place that I want to live, which is a place where Black people are happy and resourced and where there are cross-racial justice efforts happening. I love that part of this work. I love the people in this work.

Justice Oregon has been known for its high number of first time grantees. In this latest round of awards, what is one organization you are particularly excited about?

Allister: We are so excited to award $6.94 million (including multi-year grants) to 62 organizations in this third round. They are all doing incredible, important work, but if I had to choose one organization, it would be PRISMID Sanctuary. It’s a communal gathering and healing space for Black and Indigenous artists in North Portland, thoroughly curated by musician and composer Esperanza Spalding.

I’d also like to highlight the Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement. They’re celebrating the history of Black leadership in Oregon with a mission to train and support the next generation of Black leaders and to increase the number of Black policy makers, community and civic Leaders across Oregon.

Nancy: I would choose Love is King. I had never heard of this group before the process and I am so inspired by the work they are doing. They bring small groups of Black Oregonians to the Arctic every summer to meet with Indigenous leaders and to see some of the lands and people that are being threatened by climate change. The folks who go on the trips are then paired with a conservation organization and a dozen went to Washington D.C. this year to testify in Congress.

 

Listed below are all of the Justice Oregon for Black Lives Awardees (Spring 2023)

 

African American Alliance for Home Ownership* 

African Heritage Education and Empowerment Community* 

African Women's Coalition* 

Allen Performing Arts Inc.* 

Be-BLAC Foundation* 

Black Circus* 

Black Community of Portland 

Black Oregon Land Trust* 

Black United Fund of Oregon 

Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area* 

Camp ELSO 

Clackamas Education Service District* 

Colostrum Coalition* 

Community Violence Prevention Alliance* 

Equity Splash* 

Ethiopian and Eritrean Cultural and Resource Center* 

Friends of IFCC*

Friends of the Children - Portland 

Get Schooled Foundation* 

Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement* 

HOLLA School 

Jackson County Community Services Consortium* 

JOIN* 

Journeys Foundation* 

Joyce Finley Foundation* 

Kids For The Culture* 

Lane Community College Foundation* 

Lines for Life* 

Love is King* 

Love is Stronger GV* 

NAMC-Oregon 

NE STEAM Coalition 

None Left Behind* 

Open School* 

Oregon Bravo Youth Orchestras* 

Oregon Expungement Relief Project* 

Oregon Pediatric Society* 

Oregon Pediatric Society* 

Ori Gallery* 

PassinArt: A Theatre Company* 

PBDG Foundation 

Portland Community College Foundation* 

Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives 

Portland Housing Center* 

Portland State University Foundation*

Prismid Inc* 

Q Center* 

RACE TALKS: Uniting to Break the Chains of Racism 

Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theatre* 

Sabin Community Development Corporation* 

Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO)* 

Soul District Business Association 

The Fathers Group 

Triple Threat Mentoring 

Unite Oregon 

University of Oregon Foundation* 

Urban League of Portland 

Wild Diversity *

Wildcat Boxing Inc* 

Williams & Russell CDC* 

WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center* 

Youth Empowerment Project Pacific Northwest* 

Youth Organized and United to Help 

 

*First time awardees

Program Officer Elisa Harrigan speaking with a guest at Justice Oregon's info session in August 2022. Credit: Fred Joe Photo

Justice Oregon for Black Lives was born from the depths of overwhelming heartbreak — a response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and multiple other overlapping traumas that fueled a growing movement to end systemic and structural racism. The initiative also recognized the urgency and opportunity we had to transform institutions, systems and narratives in Oregon, a state founded on stolen lands and explicit in its constitutional exclusion of Black people.

As we began developing a set of funding priorities in conversation with community advisors across the state, issues of public safety, education and economic justice were clearly top-of-mind. We also heard about two other important priorities that Meyer had less experience in funding — efforts to promote healing and to increase Black joy. 

In February, we announced our first round of awards from the inaugural Call for Proposals that addressed the first three priorities — Reimagining Public safety, Investing in Education and Economic Justice.

Now, it gives me great pleasure to share the names of the organizations that will be doing the equally important work of Addressing Trauma and Healing and Shifting Black Narrative through Arts and Culture.

I want to emphasize equally important because it truly is. We cannot rise out of the depths of a collective trauma without also committing to the work needed to restore and reclaim our souls and our stories. 

Our team has been heartened by all the different ways that grantees have addressed these outcomes in their applications and we cannot wait to see the lift in hearts and spirits that this work will inspire. We also want to express our gratitude for the patience of these organizations, some of whom have waited a year for funding as we balanced our desire for urgency with our responsibility to design a community-informed, fair and clear process. 

A few highlights of the awards:

Black Art/ists Gathering will realize their vision of increasing Black joy as they host an intergenerational convening of Black artists.

Bridge-Pamoja will have resources to promote healing practice to mend cultural rifts between African and African-American communities in Oregon.

The Community Doula Alliance will support Black doulas in practicing their cultural and traditional birth and postpartum models of care. 

What could be more joyful than a brand new baby coming into this world, surrounded by love and caring? It’s our hope and our future. 

In all, nearly $1.9 million will go to 17 organizations, including eight first-time awardees and four organizations that work outside of the Portland Metro area. We are excited to partner with so many new organizations — to connect with you and to connect you with one another, for an even more powerful and enduring impact on our incredible community.

A full list of awardees is below.

All Ages Music Portland — Black Art/ists Gathering — 1st time awardee

All Ages Music Portland

Bridge-Pamoja — 1st time awardee

Columbia Slough Watershed Council — People of Color Outdoors

Communities United for People —  Freedom to Thrive

Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center

Portland Art Museum

The Numberz — 1st time awardee

Allen Temple CME Church — 1st time awardee

Cerimon (Alberta) House — 1st time awardee

Community Doula Alliance — 1st time awardee

North by Northeast Community Health Center

Oregon Black Pioneers Corporation

Portland Community Media-Open Signal + Lion Speaks

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art- Black Artist Ecology Project — 1st time awardee

T & A Grand Theater — 1st time awardee

World Stage Theatre

Though August has been designated Black Philanthropy Month, we recognize that this work is ongoing and requires sustained commitment to thrive. 

In that spirit, I want to note that our 2022 Call for Proposals is now live. One key thing to know is that we are accepting applications for all five community-identified priorities in this round. In response to feedback from our community, we have also extended the window for submitting an application from four to six weeks and will continue to accept applications prepared for other funders, as well as video applications as an alternative to written narratives. More information and resources can be found here. 

Intentionally funding Black joy is just one step on a long road to true liberation. As we move forward together, let’s make this path a well-worn one. 

With gratitude, 

— Allister

Violinists play at a Portland vigil in 2020 honoring the life of Elijah McClain.

“If we want a beloved community,” the late bell hooks once wrote, “we must stand for justice.”

In 2020, amid a once-in-a-century pandemic and the largest popular uprising for racial justice seen in this country in generations, Meyer established the Justice Oregon for Black Lives initiative. It was immediately our biggest single project ever, funded at twice the amount originally suggested, and imbued with goals and guiding principles that we have adapted over time, but never abandoned.

We are thrilled to announce that, in our second round of funding to date, Justice Oregon is granting $4.8 million to 49 state-based and local organizations, including 14 organizations that will receive multi-year funding.

In her recent message on Meyer's new mission statement and the work ahead, outgoing CEO Michelle J. DePass, whose vision and voice brought Justice Oregon to life, wrote, "Justice goes beyond building a flourishing and equitable Oregon. It is a commitment to correction. Our commitment to repair and restore."

Recognizing institutional philanthropy’s role in perpetuating current systems of power, we’re determined to transform this dynamic and ensure our grantmaking honors the values that we’ve set forth. That means holding ourselves accountable to our community and our values, and it informed the participatory grantmaking approach that got us to the vibrant group of organizations we’re supporting through Justice Oregon.

Over the past year, we have engaged in conversations with dozens of community members all over the state, representing every sector from agriculture to the arts. Supported by Meyer staff, our mighty team of two held 10 bi-weekly community conversations with Black facilitators to come to consensus on how to make incremental progress toward Black liberation through five priority funding areas. The list of grantees below represents the first three priority funding areas: economic justice, investing in education, and reimagining public safety. And we're excited that tomorrow we open our invitation-only process for the remaining two funding areas: changing the Black narrative through arts and culture; and, addressing trauma and healing in the Black community.

These conversations reinforced our personal understanding that Black people across Oregon are not a monolith — our needs and vision for the state are informed by the lived experience of our many intersecting identities. What we are all committed to, however, is a vision of thriving Black communities free from the constraints of white supremacy.

As Black History Month comes to a close and Women’s History Month begins, Meyer’s Justice Oregon team is celebrating Black hope and optimism by announcing this inaugural round of grants made with deep input from Black communities and in support of leaders and movements helping to shape Oregon’s future. We are honored that many of this grantee cohort are organizations led by Black women and Black-led and serving organizations of all sizes in our communities.

Throughout the grantmaking process, we’ve worked with a rotating grant review committee of 10 Black leaders — both from the world of philanthropy as well as other sectors — who’ve candidly shared their visions of justice, the needs of Black Oregonians and ways that philanthropy can help right systemic wrongs and be a transparent partner to them in support of a liberated Black future. Their input was integral in determining our 49 Justice Oregon grantees.

—Allister

 

Multi-year funding recipients

African Youth and Community Organization

Albina Vision Trust

Black and Beyond the Binary

Black Parent Initiative

Building Blocks 2 Success

Brown Hope

Imagine Black

KairosPDX

Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO)

NW Accelerator

POIC/Rosemary Anderson

Portland Business Alliance

REAP

Self Enhancement, Inc.

Single-year funding recipients

Black Educational Achievement Movement (BEAM) Village

Beaverton Black Parent's Union

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Black Community of Portland

Black Farm Bureau

Built Oregon

Camp ELSO

Center for African Immigrants & Refugees of Oregon (CAIRO)

Center for Intercultural Organizing

Elevate Oregon

Equitable Giving Circle

Friends of the Children - Portland

Going Home II

HOLLA

I AM MORE

IRCO-Africa House

iUrban Teen

Lewis & Clark Black Pardon Project

Multnomah Educational Services District (MESD)

NE Steam Coalition

North by Northeast Business

Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators (ORABSE)

Play Grow and Learn

Professional Business Development Group (PBDG)

Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI)

RACE TALKS: Uniting to Break the Chains of Racism

Skanner Foundation

Taking Ownership LLC

The Father's Group

The Highland Haven

The Love Coalition

Triple Threat Mentoring

Urban League

World Stage Theatre

Youth Organized and United to Help

 

Justice Oregon announces funding to 49 organizations, including 14 that will receive multi-year support.