How We Measured Up to Our Grantmaking Priorities in 2020

We are always grateful for the critical work and leadership of our grantees, but we’re especially grateful for their work over the last year and a half. Faced with crisis after crisis, they consistently showed up for communities in Oregon and SW Washington. As a foundation, we’re committed to supporting groups led by and serving people who are closest to the problems – groups led by and serving people who face racism, ableism, and geographic barriers on a daily basis. In 2020, these groups conducted virtual Census outreach in a myriad of languages, created pandemic assistance funds for undocumented Oregonians and others left behind by the state, pushed for policy accountability and racial justice legislation and so much more.

Every year we assess our grantmaking to ensure our funding reflects our commitment to equity. In 2020, we awarded 157 grants to 116 unique groups, totalling $2,503,771 in awarded funds. Here are some of the highlights:

Equity Priorities

Groups that serve our priority communities (communities of color, immigrants and refugees, and/or disability communities) received 75% of total grants and 95% of awarded grant dollars.

• Communities of Color: 50% of grants; 59% of grant dollars

• Disability Communities: 7% of grants; 12% of grant dollars

• Immigrants and Refugees: 18% of grants; 24% of grant dollars

Geography

We awarded 41 grants to groups based outside the Portland Metro region, totaling $1,001,337, approximately 40% of our total grant dollars. 

Groups in SW Washington received 7 grants, totaling $412,000 and 16% of total grant dollars.

Tax Status

In 2020, we gave $1,901,507 to 37 501(c)(4) organizations, up from 23 organizations totaling $1,771,000 in 2019. 

Conversely, our grantmaking dollars to 501(c)(3) organizations decreased. In 2020, we gave $602,264 to 501(c)(3)s, down from $1,597,416 in 2019.

Grant Size

We consider a small grant to be $5,000 or less. The majority of our small grants are made via sponsorships, campaign contributions and the President’s Fund. 

In 2020, we awarded 112 small grants for a grand total of $174,642. Small grants made up 7% of grant dollars spent, and 71% of the number of grants awarded in 2020. 

Our average grant size to equity priority groups was $20,091, and to non-BIPOC organizations $3,436.