December 2024

Looking Back at the Year from Our ‘Front Row Seat’

Dear friend,

As the year comes to a close, I feel so enriched by our unique vantage point at Oregon Community Foundation. I call it our a “front row seat” to the creative solutions coming from our communities. Whether it's early childhood education, housing for people in crisis, investments in arts and culture, and so much more, OCF is there, helping to build a thriving Oregon. Yet the privilege of this front row seat is to continuously listen to the hands and hearts in communities who know the depth of the needs. We know these needs are great and require us to expand our tent and strengthen longstanding trusted relationships. This year, author john a. powell reminded us that one of our roles is to amplify “bridging” stories and build a sense of “belonging” in Oregon. We can do so much more in the new year and in the years to come. I feel excited to lead this next phase of our work. Thank you for stepping up with us.

Forward!

Lisa Mensah, President and CEO

Check out this year end video looking back at a year of building bridges and belonging. Poet Anis Mojgani asks, “What together do we all sit under? From here where might we go?”

Grantmaking Students Rank Mental Health as Top Concern

Community 101 is a classroom-based program that asks students to become grantmakers. It's an opportunity to think hard about the problems they see that need fixing and give real money to a cause they choose together. Like previous classes before them, these young donors ranked mental health and suicide prevention as the most urgent challenges facing their friends, families and neighbors.

“All my friends, most of my peers, either they know someone that struggles with mental health or suicide, or they themselves are struggling with it,” said senior Allison Brown, 17. Read the story here. 

OCF in the News

See the latest news updates in the OCF Press Room. 

Job Openings at OCF

OCF is a great place to work! Come help us improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy! Find our current job openings here.

Feel free to get in touch!

OCF Offices 

OCF serves the state through five regional offices. Whether you want to donate, seek grants or volunteer, your needs are important to us. Our staff is skilled at collaboration and communication and will facilitate working with you.