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SEPTEMBER 2026
Rural Employers Held Back by Child Care Shortage
Roseburg’s Lone Rock Resources is one of many rural employers who say the lack of child care options for workers hinders economic growth. Courtesy Lone Rock Resources.
When a rural mill can’t find a worker because there’s no child care, the whole crew produces less. When a hospital nurse’s child care provider falls through, patient care suffers and costs climb. Across Oregon, a shortage of child care — especially for infants and toddlers — is squeezing not just families, but employers and local economies too. Statewide, only 23% of infants and toddlers have access to a regulated child care slot. That shortage means businesses can’t hire workers and employees miss out on opportunities.
One promising fix: helping home-based providers start and grow their businesses, since traditional child care centers often don’t pencil out in rural areas. Watch our new video on what it means to support home-based providers like Brenda Barajas in Tillamook.
Flexible Disaster Grants Support Wildfire Response
Photo courtesy Oregon State Fire Marshal.
This month marks six years since the devastating Labor Day fires of 2020 swept across Oregon. Since then, philanthropy has changed how it responds. Two innovations are helping this year’s fire season: the Oregon Disaster Funders Network invites nonprofits and fire agencies to submit a single request to more than 30 funders at once; and donors to Oregon Community Foundation’s Disaster Readiness and Response Fund have already supported 33 grants totaling $421,800 this year. As fires continue to burn across the state, see how this coordinated approach is getting help to communities faster than ever.
Built to Last: Donors Make Giving Part of Their Legacy
For KC Cooper and Jim Hart, giving to causes they love — from community theaters to food banks to a scholarship for girls in STEM — didn’t stop at writing checks. The couple started a fund at Oregon Community Foundation and named OCF as a beneficiary of their estate, ensuring the causes they care about keep getting support long after they’re gone. “It's nice to know that we will still be able to help others after we're gone,” Jim said.
Investing in Bold Arts and Culture Community Projects
From a documentary series lifting up rural Black artists' relationship to land and culture to a touring sculpture exhibit told through touch instead of sight, this year’s 12 Creative Heights grantees show what happens when Oregon artists dream big and build projects rooted in their communities. Find out more about these powerful projects.
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.
PORTLAND
1221 SW YAMHILL ST.
SUITE 100
PORTLAND, OR 97205
(503) 227-6846
BAKER CITY
2043 MAIN STREET
BAKER CITY, OR 97814
(541) 665-8626
BEND
15 SW COLORADO AVE.
SUITE 220
BEND, OR 97702
(541) 382-1170
EUGENE
44 W BROADWAY
SUITE 426
EUGENE, OR 97401
(541) 431-7099
MEDFORD
818 W EIGHTH ST.
MEDFORD, OR 97501
(541) 773-8987
SALEM
530 CENTER STREET NE
SUITE 620
SALEM, OR 97301
(503) 779-1927
