Oregon Community Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $220 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 4 months (from application deadline to notification for Community Grants Programme)
Grant Range: $15,000 - $40,000 (Community Grants Programme)
Geographic Focus: Statewide Oregon, all 36 counties

Contact Details

Main Office (Portland)

Address: 1221 SW Yamhill St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (503) 227-6846
Email: info@oregoncf.org
Grants Support: grants@oregoncf.org
Website: https://oregoncf.org

Regional Offices

Bend: 15 SW Colorado Ave., Suite 220, Bend, OR 97702 | (541) 382-1170
Salem: 530 Center Street NE, Suite 620, Salem, OR 97301 | (503) 779-1927
Eugene: 44 W Broadway, Suite 426, Eugene, OR 97401 | (541) 431-7099
Medford: 818 W Eighth St., Medford, OR 97501 | (541) 773-8987

Overview

Established in 1973, the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) is the sixth-largest community foundation in the United States by asset size, with approximately $3 billion in assets as of 2023. OCF distributed more than $220 million in grants and scholarships across all 36 Oregon counties in 2024, supporting nearly 3,000 funds in partnership with donors and over 1,600 local volunteers. Led by President and CEO Lisa Mensah since 2022, OCF prioritises funding with the most promise for impact, focusing on the arts, education, environment, and health. In 2024, OCF announced a historic $52 million investment in Oregon arts and culture, demonstrating its commitment to addressing critical community needs. The foundation employs 134 staff members across five regional offices and has earned a 4/4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Grants Programme (Twice Yearly: Spring and Autumn Cycles)

Grant Range: $15,000 - $20,000 average; up to $40,000 for exceptional alignment
Application Method: Fixed deadlines through online portal (MyOCF)
Typical Timeline: Spring cycle applications typically open in December with decisions in May; Autumn cycle details announced in June
Purpose: General operating support for organisations serving communities' most pressing needs
2024 Distribution: $5.26 million awarded to 281 nonprofits in Spring 2024 cycle

Black Student Success

Application Window: Typically opens in July with decisions in November
Purpose: Capacity-building grants for Black-led, Black-serving organisations across Oregon

Small Arts & Culture Grants

Annual Investment: $350,000
Grant Range: $1,000 - $5,000
Purpose: Support for small community-driven arts and culture organisations with operating expenses under $100,000

Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Programme

Application Timeline: Typically opens in May with decisions in December
Grant Range: Most grants do not exceed $25,000
Purpose: Flexible funding prioritising organisations serving women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs of colour, those in under-resourced rural communities, or working in under-resourced sectors

Additional Programmes: Specialised county-specific funds, environmental education grants, workforce training support, and designated funds for nursing home care and community development

Priority Areas

Emphasis on Historically Under-Resourced Communities

Small rural organisations (population 35,000 or fewer, not adjacent to metro areas; operating budget under $250,000)
Culturally specific organisations (primarily serving and led by one or more cultural communities)
Culturally responsive organisations
Organisations serving communities that have experienced historical underinvestment

Focus Areas

Arts and culture (significant 2024 emphasis with $52 million investment)
Education
Environment and environmental stewardship
Health and healthcare
Food insecurity and food access
Housing affordability
Community development
Workforce training and entrepreneurship

What They Don't Fund

Individual schools
Re-granting programmes
Lobbyists
Government-funded public entities
Religious organisations (for religious purposes)
Scientific research organisations
Animal-focused organisations
Organisations that received a Community Grant in the previous cycle (two-cycle sit-out period required)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Lisa Mensah, President and CEO

Third president and CEO in OCF's nearly 50-year history (appointed 2022)
Quote: "I am excited to return to my roots here in Oregon; to leverage my expertise and the sum of my experiences"
On arts funding: "We believe in the 'radical joy' you bring Oregon through creativity and expression... Oregon legislators took a major step toward building back the vibrancy of the arts in Oregon. They're not settling for merely 'keeping the lights on' and neither are we."

Board of Directors

Leadership

Lane Shetterly, Chair
Caddy McKeown, Vice Chair (South Coast)
Monica Enand, Treasurer (Metro Portland)
Vanessa Wilkins, Secretary (Central Oregon)

Board Members The board consists of local leaders with diverse interests, skills, and backgrounds representing all regions of Oregon, including members from Metro Portland, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, Northern Willamette Valley, Southern Willamette Valley, North Coast, and other regions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Registration

Create an account in MyOCF, OCF's online grants portal
Organisations applying for the first time should apply early to allow additional setup time (plan for an extra week of response time)

Step 2: Review Resources

OCF provides curated resources to support competitive applications including:
- Sample answers
- Scoring rubric
- FAQs
- Information sessions
Review eligibility criteria and grant programme details carefully

Step 3: Submit Application

Applications must be submitted through the MyOCF online portal
All applications must be submitted by the stated deadline (no late submissions accepted)
For technical assistance with the online system, email grants@oregoncf.org

Eligibility Requirements

501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations
Tribal entities
Government entities (state-supported educational institutions)
Organisations with fiscal sponsors (must provide signed fiscal sponsorship agreement)
All organisations must be based in Oregon or primarily serve Oregon communities

Decision Timeline

Community Grants Programme

Spring Cycle: Applications typically open in December with decisions in May
Autumn Cycle: Applications typically open in June with decisions in December
Funding Distribution: Same day as notification (via cheque or ACH)
Total Timeline: Approximately 4 months from deadline to decision

Thriving Entrepreneurs Grant Programme

Applications typically open in May with decisions in December
Total Timeline: Approximately 5-6 months

Success Rates

Community Grants Programme Statistics

Competition is significant: funding requests historically far exceed available resources
Success rates are not publicly disclosed by OCF

Recent Award Data

2024: 2,000+ organisations received grants and scholarships
2023: 2,049 awards made
2022: 1,848 awards made
2021: 2,092 awards made

Reapplication Policy

For Unsuccessful Applicants

Organisations that applied but did not receive funding may reapply in the next cycle
OCF advises: "It is not advisable to submit the same project unless new circumstances — such as additional funding partners, or strengthened leadership — have made the project more competitive"
Strengthen your application with evidence of new partnerships, improved organisational capacity, or enhanced project design

For Successful Applicants

Community Grants Programme requires a two-cycle sit-out period
Organisations that receive a grant cannot reapply for two full cycles
This policy maintains funding opportunities for a broad array of organisations

Application Success Factors

What OCF Explicitly Values

Clear Demonstration of Impact "A competitive Community Grants application clearly articulates the impact an organisation's programmes and services have on the population served, and demonstrates opportunities for community members to provide input on the direction of the organisations and the services they offer."

Meaningful Community Engagement Applications must show how the community served is meaningfully engaged in the work. Common reasons for decline include applications that "do not adequately demonstrate how the community served is meaningfully engaged in the work."

Priority Organisation Types

OCF gives priority consideration to:

Small rural organisations: Located in communities with population of 35,000 or fewer (not adjacent to metropolitan areas of 50,000+) with operating expenses under $250,000
Culturally specific organisations: Primarily serve and are led by one or more cultural communities
Culturally responsive organisations: Serve communities that have experienced historical underinvestment

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

Food Security

Madras Community Food Pantry: $20,000 for USDA/Oregon Food Bank shopping-style pantry serving Jefferson County

Arts & Culture

Condon Arts Council: Support for creative and cultural engagement in a frontier community of 716 people with "big goals"

Community Development

Fortaleza Atravez Barreras: $30,000 for peer support, trainings, support groups, and advocacy to underserved populations in Marion and Polk Counties
Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society: $20,000

Accessibility & Inclusion

High-quality outdoor recreation programmes for people with disabilities (Central Oregon)
Accessibility upgrades to libraries in Joseph
Expanded legal advice for immigrants in Woodburn
Culinary training for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Portland

Strategic Planning Advice

OCF states: "A solid, strategic plan increases the likelihood of receiving funding." The foundation provides grantwriting tips on their website to help organisations design competitive projects.

Use the Scoring Rubric

OCF provides their scoring rubric publicly. Review this document carefully to understand exactly how applications will be evaluated and ensure your responses address each scoring criterion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Prioritise community engagement: Explicitly demonstrate how the communities you serve provide meaningful input into your work and organisational direction. This is a critical evaluation factor.
Match priority criteria: If your organisation is small rural, culturally specific, or culturally responsive, clearly state this and provide evidence. These organisations receive priority consideration.
Be specific about impact: Move beyond describing activities to articulating the concrete impact your programmes have on the populations served. Use data and stories.
Plan ahead for the two-cycle sit-out: If you receive a Community Grant, you cannot apply again for two full cycles. Plan your funding pipeline accordingly.
Leverage OCF's resources: Use the sample answers, scoring rubric, FAQs, and information sessions provided. These are specifically designed to help you create a competitive application.
Request appropriate amounts: The average award is $15,000-$20,000. Requests up to $40,000 are considered but require exceptional alignment with priorities, clear benefit to priority populations, and strong demonstration of timeliness, feasibility, and impact.
Apply early if you're new: First-time applicants need extra time for system setup. Apply early in the application window and allow an additional week for response time.

References

All sources accessed January 2025.

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